Day 6 video recap Hermann, MO to St Charles

Day 6 video recap of the Katy Trail ride from Hermann, MO to St Charles. Trail is officially on the books. http://youtu.be/FfimcI1syWA

Day 6 Augusta to St Charles Last Day

The smell of good coffee woke us early at the Lindenhoff B&B this morning.  Our hosts prepared a fantastic breakfast melon with mint, agave juice and lime, followed up w/ strawberry and blueberry topped french toast filled w/ cream cheese and jam, and a baked egg dish that had cream and havarti cheese.  Im always interested to learn how the hosts got into the b&b life and a downward economy and that feeling of working for oneself was their motivation.  One from our group ended up at the hospital this am working through kidney stones and was released by early afternoon.  We were on the trail by 830 and thought we might get wet this am with the forecast looking rather ominous.  We rode about 7 mi to Defiance and the bike store was open for me to grab two tubes, just for that peace of mind.  We passed a few more planted fields and crossed some small streams as in days passed.  There was a large limestone bluff that looked like an amphitheatre that was interesting. Rae has a tradition of getting  her pic beside the mileage marker of her age, so a stop was in order.  The one big difference as we wrapped up the last few miles were the amount of subdivisions and people on the trail.  We knew we had reached St Charles when Frontier Park was ahead of us.  What a great trip this has been with great weather and company along the way. 

Day 5 Hermann to Augusta

Yesterday was a nice, relatively short day that was started after a nice full breakfast at the Captain Wolhit Inn.  We met two nice older couples from Missouri that were riding tandem bikes.  Each year they take time to ride the trail.  We all lobbied for them to take a road trip and experience the Pgh to DC trip.  We got started eariler than previous days and were on the trail by 8:15.  There were lots of farms and small streams and the french influence in the area was even more evident in many of the names of the small stream crossings.  We passed a gentleman early that was walking across the country and another that was walking to San Francisco, both using the Katy to make their miles.  There were alot of box turtles on this ride and one of the walkers we met held the smallest turtle any of us had ever seen.  At some point, a small sharp piece of limestone pierces my tire and punctured my tube.  I carry two spares for each of us so I knew this was only going to be a minor setback.  When putting the first tube on, the tube must have pinched and tore...off it came and the last spare went on fine.  Little bit of stress now knowing that I'll be relying on the patch kit for the last 27 mi into St Charles.  As we continued, the tribs to the Missouri have become deeper and even more silted and sandy.  I missed a pic of a deer on a bluff overlooking the Missouri...he saw me and ran.  Probably thinking "damn papparazzi!"  We stopped off in Marthasville for a quick light lunch and then made the last 10 miles.  The trail was exposed to the sun mostly and it was a hot afternoon finish.  We arrived in Augusta around 2:30 and stopped at Augusta Brewing for a shandy that was just off the trail.  Augusta is situated close to the trail but with a hearty steep grade to get up.  Our b&b host greeted us with cold waters, fresh homemade cookies and bread.  We cleaned up and walked a block to one of the many wineries in Augusta.  Russ arranged to have dinner in and we were all together for out last night, sharing stories of the trip.  Rae said its always a little sad when we wind down our trip and I think that is true of this adventure as well.  We will ride our last 27 miles on the Katy today into St Charles, hopefully avoiding some severe weather north of us.  Its been a great trip. 

A little character building along the Katy

Sharp small stone punctured my rear tire this am. Changed out and the first tube tore so Im out of spares. Grabbing lunch in Marthasville before the last 11 miles into Augusta.

Day 4 video update Jefferson City to Hermann, MO

http://youtu.be/QTkupMH8UBU

Day 4 Jefferson City to Hermann

Lenore at Cliff  Manor B&B provided an excellent start to our morning  with an apple dumpling followed by eggs, sausage and toast.  She is such a nice innkeeper and the b&b was immaculate with everything to soothe sore muscles.  Perfect weather and a tailwind was with us for most of the day and we were between beautiful limestone bluffs, prairie and farms most of the 40+ mile ride today. We stopped off at Riverboat Grill in Portland for lunch.  Its a dive with great trail food and was a good midway point.  Rae & I both had the BLT and stocked up on powerades.  Open trail meant sun and we rode through the hottest part of the day being sure to stay hydrated and took frequent stops whenver we could in the shade.  We passed a few older farms that looked like there junk car crop was just about to be harvested, but the cows didnt  seem to mind.   We also passed Standing Rock which was a very interesting geological feature.  Found some more info on it when we returned to the b&b http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM557C_Mystery_of_Standing_Rock_Steadman_MO  We got off the trail by 230 and had a short ride across the Missouri into the german town of Hermann.  Its a great historic town and we took some cold showers after checking in at The Captain Wohlt Inn.  Its a neat little town with alot of small shoppes and hidden gems, all with german flair.  We stopped at Tin Mill Brewing to sample their 6 drafts all brewed onsite and how about our bar tender was from North Braddock!  Recognized the Pirates cap and on once again Pittsburgh is alot smaller than you think.  Grabbed a bite w/ Russ and most of the crew at the Hermann Wurst Haus. We sampled a few smoked brats and had two great meals.  The b&b has a nice patio and we are all planning to relax and enjoy some down time together tonight.  Rain in the forecast tomorrow and its a short day into Augusta.  Great trip!  

 

Day 3 And then the wind showed up

The Katy Trail B&B was a great stay.  After some coffee and eggs, we were off.  The sky was a bit cloudy and there was a slight breeze around 9. Rae really cranked out the miles and we passed many bluffs the first 15 mi or so as we hugged the Missouri early.  The trail weaved away and we found ourselves among the flood plains and farmland again.  The wind was brutal today with what felt like 40-50 mph gusts.  Where the trees provided some break, the open prairie was merciless.  We felt like we were on a treadmill, pedaling just to make small strides.  We saw three older dogs (one we mistaked for a sick fox that from 100 yds we thought was going to tear our heads off) all were very friendly though.  Today was about 40 miles or so and along the way we saw alot of Lewis & Clark historical markers for campsites and crossings.  I have to admit I wish I would have read up on their journeyalong  these 250 mi or so...no worries, Rae says we can stop & read them all next trip :)  we are all checked in at the Cliff Manor b&b which is really spectacular.  Grabbed an early dinner at Madisons just up the street from the State Capitol dome. Everyone agrees a little rest is needed today so probably an early night.  

Trailside update

http://youtu.be/cdzMlA3edDc

Day 2 Sedalia to Rocheport video update

http://youtu.be/vActO6w7udI

Long day down

Our longest day was today with 50+ miles from Sedalia to Rocheport.  Out of Sedalia the trail remains unimproved so its marked on the road and we rode through quiet neighborhoods on this Sunday am. We crossed over into the Ozark region and it became noticeably different with more rocky features.  Pilot Grove was our stop for lunch around the 25 mi mark.  The Tyler Market is new and the sandwiches were piled high and Matthew the sandwich maker was so incredibly hospitable.  There was an interesting story told about a woman whose pig was killed by the train and they wouldnt pay for it so every day she would spread lard on the tracks, and the trains couldnt make the slight grade.  After a few days the train company paid her in full.  The hill we heard was named Lard Hill.  We rolled along another 10 miles to Boonville and ended up stopping at the Isle of Capri casino for lunch that consisted of a Farmer Burger (1/2 lb pattie, split hot dog,american, swiss, tomato, lettuce and pickle).  Despite the heart palpatations and spiked cholesterol, we made it the last 13 miles to The Katy Trail B&B. Awesome stay after a very long day w/  our group some good wine and a bonfire.  Rae wants to thank Jon Murchak her personal trainer for making today a little less painful :)

Recap of Day 1 Clinton to Sedalia

http://youtu.be/ejk3Xoja1P8

Summited!

Today wa an early start as we got an early wake up from St Charles for the 4 hr shuttle to Clinton where the Katy starts.  We were on the trail by noon for the 38 mi ride to Sedalia.  The trail is crushed limestone and rides very much like the GAP but is wider and has a firmer base.  The trail scenery today was prairies, farms and surprisingly woods.  Saw some large lizards or slamanders run along the trail along with some great birds We've never seen.  Some unexpected longer easy grade hills lead us to the whopping 955' summit of the Katy.  The towns were very small we traveled through and we were glad to reach Sedalia by 5 where we checked in at Hotell Bothwell.  Harry Truman actually visited this hotel and announced his bid for the US Senate.  Dinner w/ the Pittsburgh crew and we are turning in early.  Big 50+ mi day tomorrow to Rocheport.  

St Charles before our trip begins...and where it will end

We got a nice jump on the trip driving to Columbus last night and then making the 6 hr drive into St Charles, MO today.  St Charles is well known for its renedvouz point for Lewis & Clark's Corps of Discovery.  Just so happened that Lewis & Clark Days is going on here in St Charles this weekend so we had a chance to see the reenactment camps being setup along with meeting the great great great grandson of Clark.  He shared with us that the original boat for the Corps was actually made in Elizabeth, PA and when they traced the voyage in 2003, that is where they started.  St Charles' historic district is very nice with about 20 blocks of small, quaint shops and little cafes.  We grabbed a quick bite at the Bike Stop Cafe right off the Katy Trail today.   Trailhead Brewing is a stones throw from our stay tonight so that will be an early dinner...shuttle and first day on the trail tomorrow beginning 237 miles away in Clinton, MO.  The journey on the Katy begins!  

Back In The Saddle

Rae said the other morning while we were gearing up for a 40+ mi day, "I wonder how many people have to train and get in shape for their vacations." Funny.  While riding we talked about what it is that we like so much about bicycle touring and travel in general, and we both agreed that its the stories we have when we return.  Later this week we will be heading to Missouri to once again add some pages to that story book while bicycling 237 miles along the Katy Trail.   It was an old rail line that served Missouri, Kansas and Texas that was known as the MKT or the Katy. Restored train depots and rail cars will be along the way according to the guidebooks but its the small towns, inn keepers, wineries and getting back to life on the trail we are both looking forward to experiencing.  Really looking forward to getting back on the trail.