My friend Eddie and I arrived in St Charles MO on Sunday evening and on Monday early we met at the bike stop café in Saint Charles and rode with 11 other riders to the western end of the trail: Clinton, Missouri. Since we met in Saint Charles at 8 AM, we weren’t able to start riding until about 1 PM after we arrived in Clinton at the beginning. 
The trail is very well maintained and a nice ride. We passed the high point today and stopped for a break. (Here is Eddie’s YouTube video for Day One.)
Almost every time we stopped, we spent time with the crew from the shuttle. There were six older guys who ride all over the country each year. They are fun!
At the high point pavilion, a gentleman was super kind to take our picture as long as we didn’t mind if he rolled a Doobie and smoked it! Mr. Doobie had completed the west to east portion and was on his way to finishing the east to West ride. He was then planning on taking the Rock Island spur and riding it to Kansas City for his flight home. We also met two older ladies there who told us about them biking across the entire United States; and one of them twice!
We are really enjoying meeting new people. One lady was there supporting a group of bikers and offered us bananas! So kind! 
So far much of the trail is shaded and provides a really nice view of farmland on either side. Occasionally, we come across small rural towns that do not have very many amenities.
Eddie and I intended on riding further today but got way too tired and stopped in Sedalia Missouri. The Missouri State fair grounds have a campsite and camping is $15 per tent in the primitive sites. 
After day one, our bodies are sore, we are a bit dehydrated, but we are clean, well-fed, and ready for a nights rest so we can begin day two!
Day one total: 37 miles
Toby DeHay 