But Kris Sandgren says the most memorable part of the trip was not the heat, but the people he encountered along the way.
“The highlight was defintely the people I ran into,” Sandgren said. “I had people put me up for the night several times. “
Sandgren said meeting these folks wasn’t a problem.
“When you’re wearing spandex shorts and a bike jersey, you stand out. It gets people asking questions.”
While the oppressive heat and humidty took its toll, Sandgren said the only trouble he ran into was a small pack of dogs chasing him down in Nebraska.
Sandgren’s favorite part of his trek? The end.
“I was totally surprised when I saw all the people in Jefferson City waiting to greet me,” he said. “There were probably 50 people and a television station. They even had my wife there to meet me. I got very emotional over it. I was glad to be home.”
Sandgren’s ride was all to help fund the Fallen Workers Memorial, a monument dedicated to the workers who have given their lives working on Missouri’s highways. Sandgren generated around $5,000 for the memorial.
