Episode 196: Wes Murray

The TransAmerica Trail Angel who has hosted over 300 Cyclists since 2012

Since 2012 Wes Murray has been hosting people cycling the TransAmerica Trail which passes right by his house in Houston, Missouri. Wes estimates that he has hosted well over 300 cyclists since he and his late wife Judy started hosting allowing those on their bike adventure to stay at ‘The Shack’, a standalone house on their property.

I was interested to hear from Wes how it all started and how someone who doesn’t cycle themselves has become a ‘superhost’ on the TransAmerica Trail. Wes shared how he had always wondered what the cycling signs on the roadside near his house meant, and after asking around he soon discovered that people were riding across the country. When he enquired where they were staying he learnt many would be in tents at the city park. One day he happened to be collecting the mail to his property when one of these cyclists was riding by. He stopped to chat to the person, then on a whim invited him to stay the night at ‘The Shack’. It was a positive experience and was the start of what has been a phenomenal run of almost 15 years of hosting.

Wes is modest, and repeatedly told me that in reality he doesn’t have much to offer passing cyclists, but what he does have is a safe place to stay, that is warm, dry and a comfortable place to stay the night. From the messages I’ve received from those he has hosted I can confidently say he goes well above and beyond. Indeed, many people setting off on their journey across the USA on the TransAmerica Trail will have staying at Wes’ place at the Shack as a milestone on their ride. Once they stay at Wes’ they also make a point of telling others they pass going the other way that they need to stop in and spend the night at Wes’ place. Word of mouth spreads fast on the trail, and more recently Wes was even added to the TransAmerica Trail official maps.

Something Wes is passionate about is showing off the best of his part of Missouri. Often that means taking the cyclists to The Corner Store, a local cafe that is renowned for their frozen custard. Wes told me from a poll he has taken the most popular flavour on the menu is muddy boots – a chocolate variety. Something else that is great is the swapping of stories from the cyclists with the staff who work at the Corner Store. Each sharing experiences from their different parts of the world. I personally think this is the best part of hosting people on bike adventures. The learning which takes place, sharing insights from experiences and showing that people out there are inherently good and kind.

Wes also shares how he has often driven to the city park in town on the lookout for any cyclists to let them know there is a safe place of shelter at his home and the shack. The latter is the official name for the standalone hut on Wes’ property which becomes the domain of the touring cyclist when they stay. IT’s fitted out with a bed, kitchen, bathroom, washer and dryer, has all the creature comforts anyone could ask for and also a fridge full of cold drinks kindly supplied by the local Piney River Brewery. When cyclists arrive at Wes’ place they will often decide to take what is known as a ‘zero day’, a day off from riding on the trail and enjoy Wes’ company and learn more about what he believes makes Houston, Missouri so special.

As Wes told me, Missouri is a flyover state, there often is no reason for people to feel compelled to visit, but he wants to be able to make it memorable from those passing through, so that once they leave his place, they’ll be able to recall their time there especially. When you are on a ride across the USA, it could be easy for days to blend into each other, so he wants to make sure that isn’t the case for their time in Missouri.

The other thing Wes leaves many of his guests with is the motto ‘Don’t miss an opportunity’. This was a message many people shared with me who had stayed with Wes. When I asked him about it he shared how it was a motto both he and his beloved late wife Judy shared, to never pass up an opportunity. To say yes, open yourself up to trying new experiences and live life to the full.

Often the last act of kindness from Wes for cyclists staying with him is to shout them breakfast at the hospital where he used to work. A legacy from his time in charge of the hospital was to make the food there accessible to others in the community. It’s also another opportunity to introduce more in the community to those cycling through the town, and once again the swapping of stories and exchanging of experiences between locals and the cyclists takes place.

There is a reason why a stay with Wes at the Shack is a highlight for so many cycling the TransAmerica Trail and the kindness and hospitality which came across during my interview with Wes was ever present. The world indeed would be a far greater place if more people like Wes were in it. Never miss an opportunity, show kindness and make each day on your bike adventure memorable. Hosting a stranger can be a gift to yourself and I hope when you listen to this episode that it perhaps prompts you to pay it forward and do the same if possible.

Thanks for being a legend Wes!