Katy Trail Forum

My friend, Matt Rees, Bob(our jogging stroller) and I finished our run

across Missouri (including the whole Katy Trail, the longest of all

the rails to trails) at the St. Louis arch on Saturday, July 25 (2:30

pm). We started our journey on Sunday, July 19th at Klapmeyer Park

(State Line Rd)in Kansas City. The journey was hard with a few 50 mile

plus days. Due to the swelling of my feet and an allergic reaction

with the lime found on the trail (mixed with sweat) I had to take a

day off (thus only running 250 miles across Missouri and 155 miles of

the Katy Trail. Meanwhile, my friend, Matt, never quit and was able

to run the whole way. I joined Matt a day later, 70 miles down the

trail to run the last 60 to 70 miles in together. We finished the

Katy Trail in St. Charles Friday night at 9:43pm to the hoots and

hollers of Matt's family. His time for completing the whole 225 mile

long Katy Trail trail was 107 hrs, 13 minutes and 25 seconds. I

imagine that would be a record for crossing the whole Katy Trail on

foot. I am in the process of writing a report which I will post later.

Here are some pictures of the journey:

http://picasaweb.google.com/David.Stores/RunAcrossMissouri2009#

Wow, very impressive! Congrats on a BIG accomplishment!

Congrats David! What an accomplishment! And you even got to see Eddie Murphy! ;)



Great pictures...

Almost unbelievable. Congratulations! That's faster than some of us can ride it. :) :) Looking forward to your report.

This article just came out of the Missourian about the run: http://www.emissourian.com/site/news.cfm?

newsid=20351999&BRD=1409&PAG=461&dept_id=544656&rfi=6

holy smoke-a-roos david. i am impressed. i can't even imagine that, let alone do it. congrats on a great accomplishment.

That is so incredible! I read the article and think your fund raising on the Katy Trail was a great idea. Congratulations, and I wish you, your family, your running partner and "Bob" all the best.

Thats an awesome time I was thinking of doing a thru "run" next May 2014. That time will be a challenge. Was this a supported or unsupported effort? If you where pushing "Bob" then probably unsupported.

Is there a place to eat lunch in McBaine that is open? (on Friday the 27th)

Lucy's Bar & Grill is the only place to eat in McBaine, you will need to call and see if she is open during the time frame you are going to be passing through.

my brother and I are planning a late fall ride and need a place that has either two beds in a bedroom or two single rooms that we don't have to take a mortgage out on. Any suggestions?

The KatyRest Caboose in Hartsburg has two beds, it runs about $60 a night.

Katy Trail Shuttle temp #660-537-4238. 660-537-0164 is temp down.

We're flying into Kansas City and back from St. Louis. Plan on starting the trail in Sedalia. Is it possible to rent a bike one way? Like in KC or Sedalia ( or Booneville) and drop it off in St. Louis?

Thanks

Kt Caboose is open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays for the fall season 2013. Bike rentals are not available this season but they will be available 2014. Our phone #636-433-2616. Thanks.

I went with a group of 9 riders from New Franklin to Columbia for lunch and then back to New Franklin. Stopped and saw some sights. Had fun. The MKT side spur was great! It takes you through some very nice scenery, and eventually deposits you right into Columbia. Very shady as you get closer to Columbia. The grades were never difficult. I'd ride this section again anytime! You could even stay IN Columbia, and ride the MKT south to Huntsdale, and back to Columbia, if you were with people that didn't want too long of a ride! Very pretty area. Kudos to whoever created these rail trails! Kansas now needs to get it's act together better about such things! (What about it, Governor?)

The Round House camp site was fine. Though the old cinders and clinkers left on the ground from the old days was difficult to get tent stakes to go in very far. The grounds were clean. Nice manners from other campers. Never met the hosts. There was no toilet paper (ever) when I camped there. Had my own fortunately. Bring bug spray, though! Missouri in summer is very buggy. We had some showers which kept things cool one morning. Nice. Bring flip-flops for the shower! I had a great time, all in all! Just about any bike will work on The Katy.

Stayed here after riding from Defiance. Room is very nice, big and clean. Included a kitchenette. There was even wifi. There was the option to eat dinner, which we did. Dinner was outstanding and the price was very reasonable: Fresh vegetables from her garden, jerk chicken, rice, meat pies. Desert was coconut cream pie. She even offered wine and various other interesting drinks (kefir, Meade, ...) everything was made by her from scratch (except the wine). Simply outstanding. Talked for a long time after dinner with Joey and Richard. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. If I rode this way again I would definitely stop again. I believe they also serve lunch on Sunday and it would be worth a ride for that.

I left a sack with my Kindle in it as well as some gatorade energy chews sitting on the bench either at Weldon Springs or Augusta. If you happened to find it, please give me a call...636-541-9775 Thanks.

If it was a black bag, I think I saw it sitting on the trailhead bench at Augusta, maybe check with that bike shop there hopefully someone turned it in?

What an excellent B&B! Natasha and Mike were wonderful hosts. The house was lovely and the breakfast was delicious. They were helpful in giving us suggestions of places to eat and even gave us a lift to dinner since they were going that way anyway. Such wonderful hospitality-I look forward to going back soon.

I was riding back to McBaine from Rocheport Saturday afternoon when a guy buzzed past me (wearing black and gray) doing 10mph faster and kicking up a lot of dust. He suddenly stopped and I was glad until I saw it was to help a lady sitting down in the middle of the trail and a guy behind her with his hands on her neck helping her. They were trying to keep her calm, and since there was a small crowd I rode on and didn't stop. I only visit mid-MO to visit my parents and ride the trail, so I didn't know until today that the lady suffered an accident and passed away. You can read the story on the Columbia Daily Tribue's website. Even though the trail is beautiful, it can still be dangerous. Prayers for the family.

I am very sadden by this story. The KT can be inviting but it is a serious trail in its loose surface, ruts, and sharp drop offs. I did read the Columbia article and hers is a note "The three set out on bicycles some time before 4 p.m. and hadn't been pedaling long when the woman said she was ready to turn around. Her husband recalled that, in an instant, his wife lost control of her bike and ran off the trail, falling about 3 feet down an embankment. The right side of her body slammed into concrete and then onto the ground.". This unfortunate incident can happen in a split second on the KT. Everyone please be careful and wear a helmet even just for short ride.

Hello,

Does anyone know if the facilities are still available in late September? I am thinking of making the ride; however, I will wait until next year if everything is closed for the season.

In my experience, September is PRIME TIME for riding the KATY and I have found most facilities and businesses open and taking advantage of the multitude of riders.

I rode Clinton to St. Charles in early October a few years back with no problems accessing resources.

Thanks!

That's good to know. I'm planning on riding from Topeka Ks to Clinton to start the Katy. Then ride to St Louis and catching the train back to KC. I'm leaving Topeka on October 9th and hope to be to Clinton on the 11th or 12th

If you're on the KATY on a Monday in October, in my experience, you will find VERY FEW places open for business in terms of food, etc.

Someone more knowledgeable that me can let you know when they shut the water off at the trailheads.

Have a good ride.

Normally the restrooms with running water and drinking fountains are winterized and closed Nov 1 - Mar 31.

Thanks MidSouth. This is helpful information.

The water is usually turned off by October 15th. Also there are not many business open on Monday or Tuesday. Take your lots of food along.

No, the water is not usually turned off by Oct. 15th. It is turned off Nov. 1st.

Mid don't you know by now that you can't argue with someone that doesn't know their own name? Facts are obviously irrelevant.

I plan on carrying plenty of water and food along with me but only enough for 2 or 3 days to keep my load relatively light.

I saw conflicting information on the website about this, a few comments said that there were primative sites near the katy trail spur, any help would be appreciated. I'm taking the amtrak and will have to ride to the trailhead at dusk and would like to know exactly where I'm sleeping that night!
Thanks!

I just took the train to Jefferson City two weeks arriving at 6:25pm and was able to ride back 12 miles to Hartsburg before dark and camp in the park which is about 100 ft from the trailhead it doesn't look like a park it looks like a small yard with a swing set, gazebo, and a picnic table and grille. You can leave a donation to the lions club across the street at Doty's in the morning when your having breakfast. Also you might want to try the Grand just around the corner for dinner after you set up camp.

J.Lynn if you are asking about camping at Jefferson City it is right across the bridge and instead of taking the spur to the trail make a left and go to the river. Traffic noise but decent place to camp. If you are going east on Katy would be no reason to go to Hartsburg. Turner shelter in Tebbetts would be just as easy to get to and you would be inside plus it is actually the way you would be going.

My wife and I plan to ride the trail next month and can't decide if we should ride from Clinton to Sedalia the first day since we do not expect to get to Clinton before 1 PM. We will be riding touring bikes and carrying panniers. We are not fast but we are not overly slow either. We average about 10 mph with loaded bikes on pavement in the southern piedmont of NC. For example, yesterday's ride of 25 miles included 1500 feet elevation gain. Would it be advisable to try to make it to Sedalia if we can't get on the trail until 1 PM? Also what is the condition of the trail? I assume the earlier flood damage has been taken care of.

The ride from Clinton to Sedalia starting at 1 p.m. is doable before dark as long as you ride steady. It is a relatively flat section with minor elevation gains. Be sure you know where to jump off the trail if you are staying at the State Fair campgrounds. It can be tricky, especially if the sun is going down. You don't wanna get stuck riding through the town of Sedalia at night. Been there...done that.

I don't think you will have any problem getting from Clinton to Sedalia, even if you don't start until 1:00. The sun goes down about 7:00 now, so next month that should give you at least 5+ hours to do it. It's about 35 miles, you are likely to have a tail wind (or no wind at all because of the tree tunnel), and there is no elevation to speak of (rail bed). You might lose a mile or so mph on the Katy surface, but you should still average close to the10 mph you do on the road when rolling.

Make sure you see old downtown Sedalia. It is about 5-6 blocks west of the old train station. It looks like a 1930's movie set! Then, the next day, you get to do my favorite part of the trail: Sedalia to Booneville. slightly up hill from Clifton City to near Pilot Grove with no water, so have plenty of water and food, enjoy the ride, and stop in Pilot Grove for a bite to eat.

Is the Sedalia Depot (trailhead) the actual amtrack stop?

No. Scroll down to the map on the Sedalia page and you will see the blue icon.

Our stay at the Bothwell hotel was great. We had 4 seperate rooms and each one was different. The staff was so helpful and fun. Be sure to check your computers on your bikes after there stay in the basement :-) Would highly reccomend a night at the hotel.

Are you saying there are ghosts in the basement that like to ride??

Just was strange that one of our computers was really off both mileage and speed I mean really off....hummmmm makes ya wonder.

Off by more or off by less?

There is actually a tale of a ghost in this Hotel. The Hotel is featured under the ghosts of

Missouri.

Under what ghosts of Missouri?



Is that a book or website or something? Where are these ghosts featured?

I can't remember the exact mileage, but I think it said her max. speed was 166 mph it was very strange. Yes we have heard the hotel has ghosts also, but did not see any, just the bike computer thing. If the hotel is haunted I think they are fun loving, after all they seemed to have a nice bike ride ha...

Any ghost that likes to ride can't be all that bad!

My computer does that if I get it too close to my iPhone for some reason - but I have a wireless computer (trek incite) and suspect it's just similar enough frequency to wireless or bluetooth or something that does it...

Sounds like a good place to stay if your wheel breaks a "spook"...

My speedometer does that when I go 166 mph. But it's rare, I've only done it a few times under ideal conditions. :-DDD

Sedalia MO is one of the prettiest little towns I've ever seen...

Fantastic hotel our group stayed the night on 9/6 during a St Charles to Clinton tour. The rooms were fantastic. Staff very attentive they kept our bikes in the Grand Ballroom. The meals we had there were stellar. Customer service - They Get It!

great place to stay. We keep our bikes in our rooms with us. Hotels don't have a problem with it.