Blufton to Hermann

J:  Today was our shortest biking day - only 12 miles.  While we are doing fine - we both could use some time away from the bikes.  Before we knew it we were in Herman.  Here I am on the bridge crossing over the Missouri River.

We stopped for some baked goods at the German bakery in town.  Delicious!  We're staying at the Captain Wohlt Inn which has an interesting history.  I've snipped a page from the Inn's website to give you some history of Captain Wohlt and the Inn.

In 1843, at age 10, Heinrich Wohlt came to "Rhine Country," from Germany, with his mother and stepfather. They lived at First Creek and at an early age he was apprenticed to a shoemaker, which was his trade for several years.  In 1852, at age 19, he married Miss Christine Burkhard. They continued living at First Creek for 10 years until they moved to Fredericksburg. It was here that he fell in love with the river and with steamboats in particular.

He built an impractical craft that was anything but a success. However, his industriousness attracted the attention of Hermann people and with their backing, he was able to build the steamer "Fawn" in 1880.  The "Fawn" did ferry service and also commanded the Gasconade River trade, proving to be a success and a good investment to his backers. It became the nucleus for the Hermann Packet and Ferry Boat Company with Captain Wohlt as a charter member of that group.

In 1882, his wife died and, due to ill health, he abandoned the river and steamboats.  In 1891, being of innate industrious habits, he engaged in the milling business at Spring Creek in Franklin County. He had, in the meantime, married Mrs. Frederike Krech.  The home at 123 East Third Street (now the Captain Wohlt Inn bed and breakfast) was built in 1886, as a prospective retirement home, with the 121 East Third Street property purchased to be an income property.

Ten years later, in 1896, his second wife died and he lived out his remaining days with a widowed daughter, Mrs. Mary Plattner.  After Captain Wohlt's death, the Hermann Packet and Ferry Company named a new steamboat in his honor and memory.

Since we arrived at the Inn so early (11AM) we weren't expecting to get into our room.  None-the-less they were very accommodating and let us store our belongings and get freshened up prior to cleaning our room.  When storing the bikes and trailer I noticed that the trailer had a flat.  Why not?  Shouldn't all three vehicles be impacted by troubles?  Good thing there was a local bike shop nearby and I was able to buy a new tube for the trailer.  I couldn't patch the tube since the valve (schraeder) doesn't work with my bike pump (presta).  Oh well - now we have an extra tube (once patched) in case we need it.

We couldn't get back into our room until about 2PM so we went to the library, had lunch and some delicious chocolates from a local chocolatier.  They were pricey but outstanding.  I'm sure Marie will weigh in on this one as well.

We plan to have a leisurely late afternoon / early evening.  We probably won't visit any of the areas many wineries, because we'll have a chance to do that tomorrow in Augusta.

We'll get back with you all then.  Thanks for your comments!