Tag: Katy Trail

Routes and Stats

First of all, happiest of anniversaries to my husband, Tom! Ten years and going strong!

We can cross off the Katy Trail from our bucket list. But this accomplishment only leads to additions to the list. #neverendinglist #goodproblemtohave

Another great day of cycling! Here’s our finish pic in St. Charles. Cool that we finished our little adventure in the very place Captains Clark and Lewis chose to lead the Corps of Discovery to begin their epic journey to the Pacific. “Ocean in view. O the joy!”

We are staying in a 1928 Sears Roebuck home kit delivered on the train. It’s old. It’s beautiful. If only walls could talk.

We began our day at Klondike Campground which is a 5 Star campground with a capital 5! Clean, spacious and with hot showers! Plus they have a stellar camp kitchen to make coffee. (Our Bic lighter malfunctioned.) Tom boiled water in our pint sized cook pan on these jumbo burners. Treated ourselves to two cups each this morning. #itsthelittlethings

We cycled close to our old friend the Missouri River most of the day. River on one side; bluffs on the other.

Final critter count:

Turtles: 8 (7 box, 1 oversized painted), Snakes: 2, Toads: 2, Goats: 1, Lizards (Komodo dragons): 2, Beaver: 1, Peacock: 1. And I forgot we saw a herd of alpacas three days ago. No armadillos spotted. Evidently they are a “thing” here.

Found this guy who needed a driver.

Once in St. Charles we still had 20 more miles to ride to the train station in Kirkwood. Doable but probs the most challenging ride of the week.

Once at the Kirkwood station I wanted to get these fascinating (to me) shots of the station exterior. These are all the layers of paint the station has worn over the years. To run your fingers across it is like touching many eras at the same time.

Tom loaded up our bikes lickety split and we went straight to Burger King where we split a Whopper and sucked down two large Icees.  And that was that!

Route and Stats

Pure joy!

That’s all I can say! Stellar day of cycling. Felt super in the morning with a bit of gitty-up-and-go.

Have been meeting so many great peeps. Carrie and Tim from Kansas schooled us on gravel grinding. Tim you’re amazing and Carrie I want to be one of your 6th grade ELA students. #teachershaveclass

Is the sky blue or what? Absolutely the best cycling weather.

We met 77yo Betsy who has cycled around the world. Her four fave destinations? South Africa, Iceland, Vietnam and Cuba. Count us in for all those. Self supported.

Betsy first cycled across the US in 1988 with two other women using a AAA Trip Tick. #respect

I’ve been thinking about our two little loves, Charlie and Archie and can’t wait to give our grands lots of hugs!

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Critter count is now:

Turtles: 6, Snakes: 2, Toads: 2,Goats: 1, Lizards (Komodo dragons): 2 and wait for it…  1 Beaver (and I’m not kidding)

There’s plenty of time for solitude on the trail and to give thanks. Grateful hearts are happy hearts and ours are overflowing.

If only I could just relax a little…

Route and Stats

Day Three brought another stellar day for cycling.

And it was short on cycling but long on animals spots! I thought we hit the jackpot before breakfast with this little guy who camped out on Tom’s bike bag.

But no, there were two Komodo dragon sitings before 10am. Ok so maybe they weren’t Kimodos. More like lizards.

But Tom earns the animal spot of the day with a dang mountain goat on a bluff. And a black one at that.

This morning we said goodbye to Sherry who has been camping near us all week. Back to Chattanooga she goes!

This evening we camp by the mighty Missouri with little to do but enjoy each other, the outdoors and look forward to another day on the Katy tomorrow.

Happy trails!

Routes and Stats

You don’t have to travel all the way to Missouri to hug an old tree but if you want to hug a 350 year old tree you’ll need to park your bike next to the tree just outside of Huntsdale.

Today brought short, steep hikes to spectacular overlooks and even a visit to a local little league game for pork nachos and a hot dog. In a town of 106 residents a night out is a night out. #ballparkdogsarebest

We encountered our first proper tunnel.

And we listened carefully while William Clark’s great, great, great, great grandson explained how he is creating an authentic dug out canoe. Yep he does this while living in his Marmot tent by the Missouri River. The vessel weighs 400 pounds and he claims it’s unsinkable.

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But the biggest news? We’ve gotten reacquainted with the mighty Missouri! We will follow along her banks all the way to St. Charles.

And in case anyone is keeping score… it’s turtles 4, snakes 2.

More you ask? I’m chillaxing comfortably with my jelly beans after our visit to the great American ball park and my beloved pulls out his own stash. There is no man cave in our tent, my love. Finish before you enter.

Best part of the day was the cycling. Small towns, hands down the best weather, light winds and easy terrain.

And I love this!

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The Katy goes right through Boonvillle. #nodetours

We started the day out like this.

And ended it like this.

Routes and Stats
The trail could not have been more accommodating today and either could the weather. Up early and out of the gate before eight we started when it was cool.

Below see the proverbial start pic.

Off we went heading toward St. Charles finding one of the first “high” points below.

Since I left my iPhone at wimp junction today pics of the actual ride are sparse.  Tom, aka, “Rocket” is able to motor forward at a fairly good clip while I limp up the inclines and pedal as fast as I can down hill.

It was clear blue sky all day with bright sun shining on prairies that peeked through the tree line along the Katy. Just a beautiful day!

And oh yea if you happen to be a data person we saw four box turtles and one black snake.
Pilot Grove, where we are legally camping, has a Casey’s we visited three times. Because. Ice cream is a necessity. And it packs poorly in panniers.

Busch cans however were made for Tom’s Co-Op! #wheninMO #drinklocal

Tom was on dinner duty tonight. He also hung the clothes line and set up the tent. What can I say? Wimp junction for me today.

Tomorrow I will do better. Because. I found the Jelly Belly jelly beans in the ” kitchen” and they’re goin’ in the day bag on the back of my bike tomorrow!

#jellybeanssavelives

Pretty sure my sleeping bag beckons. #firststariseetonight

Route and Stats

We made it! We hopped on the train at the Kirkwood Station, rode it to Sedalia where we saddled up on the bikes and rode about 40 miles to Clinton which is the start of the Katy Trail.

Nothing says “get out of my way” like a train.

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Unfortunately the recommended place to camp at the Community Center is closed. Everything is closed in Clinton.

So.

It’s stealth camping tonight. As we are rule followers, we are a little out of our element but there is a sling shot, solo female camper in the same situation so she has her tent pitched near ours.

Here’s our camp spot. Right in that grassy area in front of the railroad car. I won’t sleep a wink worried we will get a camping ticket. Or worse. Eric, Clayton, do you know any good bail bondmen in Missouri?

So how was the ride? Remarkable? No. Epic? No. Fun. Yep! And the people are always the best! BTW I saw one box turtle.

After the ride we cooked up a little dinner and took a sink bath and chillaxed.

These trail angels Tim and Kat that we met near Windsor circled back this evening for a neighborly visit and brought provisions. #midwesternerssrock

And guess what else happened!? Tom and I grew telephone poles out of our heads!

God Bless and good night!