Katy Trail Forum

We ate at a lot of good places on our ride last week, but I wanted to spotlight Abigail's. We were actually looking for the BBQ place that others recommended, but a group of folks standing outside Abigail's convinced us to try it. I like different, and Abigail's was certainly that. We ordered chicken quesadillas with blackberry sauce (who knew that would work?). The funky antiques kept us intrigued while we waited for our food. Portions were good-sized, but maybe too heavy for trail riders on lunch.

Abigail seemed very business-like, but our server Dean was funny and cordial and suggested other places to eat down the trail. Highly recommended.

Abigail's is the best restaurant in all of Missouri IMO. Terrific food (quality and variety) and great people. I go there every time I'm on the KT (unless it's Mon or Tues, when they're closed) and in many dozens of visits over the years, they've never disappointed. It's as close to a religious experience as you'll get at a restaurant (and that's saying something; although that may also have something to do with riding 50 miles or so beforehand.) Superb food for the end of a ride, and even better in the middle of one. But- they are closed b/t 2 and 5, and after 5 you'll need a reservation.

A large tree has fallen across the trail near Windsor between the 251-252 mile markers. It is blocking the trail. Able-bodied travelers can portage around it.

Did our first full Katy ride his past week. As noted elsewhere, the wind can come from any direction in Missouri. We went East to West because of convenience, but others espouse going West to East for favorable winds. My observations were that you can't really plan a long ride based on the wind, because it will vary so much day-to-day. For quite a while, we were riding West with a steady 12 mph wind from the SW. So it was an offset headwind to us. In the open areas, it slowed us down to 7 mph. But in the trees, we were able to maintain a comfortable 10 mph. Since most of the Katy is tree-lined, the wind was not as much of a problem as we expected. The funny thing is, we met several groups coming the other way (with an offset tailwind) and they remarked how they thought the wind was blowing directly at them!

What was really interesting was riding along the bluffs from St. Charles to Rocheport. The wind hits the bluffs and spins in many directions. One minute it’s in your face, and the next it’s propelling you from behind.

On our final trek from Sedalia to Clinton, there were quite a few open areas, but the wind was coming out of the NE at 16mph. We enjoyed several miles of very easy riding. But those who chose to start West-East that day, and there were quite a few, faced a strong headwind.

It’s important to note that a doubling of wind speed means a quadrupling of wind resistance. In other words, it’s about 4 times as hard to pedal against a 12mph headwind as a 6mph headwind. So our lessons learned were: 1) to plan our ride as if it’s going to be all headwinds (and be happy when it’s not) and 2) if we do face a headwind, it is not worth the much higher effort to keep our speed up to a peak level. This was just our experience/opinion.

Hope this helps others.

The Best Western was closed some time ago. The property is now operated by a Magnuson hotel affiliate that goes by the name of "M-Star Hotel". Reviews on the new owners remain favorable.
M-Star Hotel Clinton
106 South Baird Street,
Clinton, MO 64735,
United State

Phone Numbers:
Phone: 660 885 2206
Fax: 660 885 6398

Got it - thanks for the heads-up!

We just got home from a week-end at Monette's Bed and Breakfast and it was fabulous. We just wanted to get away to the country and relax and go to look at fall colors. It was so nice. The front porch is awesome! We sat and drank our coffee in the mornings and fed the goats and played with the neighborhood cat. They have everything you need plus the most wonderful hot tub. The best part of all, was the morning breakfasts. I have never had such wonderful food. It was like nothing I have ever tasted. All I can say is, you will love it!!!!!!! Thanks so much!

Very nice accommodations. Very nice and clean, but not fancy. Perfect for a family stay. Late check in was super easy. Very close to the trail. TV could have been a little bigger.

I was getting a daily email with updated comments on the forum. However I'm not able recieve emails at that address any more. I cannot find where I signed up to recieve the emails Are you still doing this. I loved to read about everyones experience on the trail

Glad to hear that you enjoy the forum digests. Just send me your new email address, and I'll add it to the distribution list. Not just Tonya, but anyone who would like a daily summary of forum postings can send me your email address, and I'll add you to the mailing list.

You can email me at

I have a to-do list of some website enhancements for the winter season, including building a web page where you can sign up for the digests, but I'll just handle it manually until then.

We stayed here to start our Katy Ride. Neat historic house not far from downtown shops. They shuttled us to/from dinner, and Rhona fixed us a large breakfast. They took good care of our bikes and gear. We will stay here again.

Had a similar positive experience here in June. Would not hesitate to return.

We stayed here on our last night on the Katy. The hotel was built in the 1920's and unlike a lot of refurbished older hotels, they have chosen to keep a lot of the period plumbing, woodwork, etc. It must be a massive job to find replacement parts, so our hats are off to them. The rooms are more European style (smaller), but have character and charm that the chains do not have. And despite being a 7-story downtown hotel, they do an excellent job in catering to Katy riders. You leave your bike in the lobby and they take it to a non-public area downstairs to store it overnight. Continental breakfast is served starting at 6 a.m., so you can get on the trail early. Highly recommended!

We stayed at Polly's this past week. She is such a wonderful host and her place is really neat. She has such a large variety of food, snacks and beverages available that it is your fault if you go hungry/thirsty! We will definitely stay there again next time around.

What is the weather like mid to end of Oct?

The weather is Missouri mid-October is almost a daily surprise. We have already had frost and evening temperatures in the mid-30's. Tomorrow it is predicted to be near 80 degrees with severe T-storms later in the day. I realize it is hard to plan very far in advance with this news and I wish I could tell you differntly, but this is how MO weather is.

Agree with Robin. The past week it was sunny, drizzly, warmish, cold, and very windy. The wind came out of EVERY direction except straight North. The best you can do is to stay flexible and reasonable.

Agree. If you are close enough to the trail and flexible enough with your schedule you can catch some wonderful, wonderful riding days.

Also be aware that many of the businesses begin shutting down for the season in the next few weeks, but I have always been able to find/carry what I need without any big hassles. Just don't count on everything being open.

Enjoy!

We stopped at this place on our ride from St. Charles to Sedalia on a Sunday anticipating good food. We were so wrong. First, this place was busy (usually a good sign) but we were completely ignored by all the employees. Everyone in the place was friendly to each other, just not friendly to the bicyclists. I finally had to interupt someone to inquire about getting some food and I was completely shut down by the cashier. "we are busy can't you see? you will have to wait 2 hours." This was after politely waiting about 8 minutes and being ignored by every employee in the place. All we wanted was a piece of chicken or SOMETHING and a glass of water to wash it down. We had ridden about 30 miles before noon and were counting on this place for food. This place really pissed me off. CLAYSVILLE STORE SUCKS. We went down the trail 5 miles and ate at DOTTIES CAFE, she actually stayed open for us AND had two tall glasses of ice water waiting on the counter. WAY TO GO DOTTIE! I will never go to the Claysville store again, AND I will post bad reviews about it on every bike trail post I know of. Word of mouth travels fast in the biking community, too bad for you Claysville store. :(

Since this cafe is only open short hours on the weekends catering to the local Sat-night-out and the Sun-after-church crowds, they're probably doing okay with it. They might not want to rock their boat beyond that repeat clientele. I hear both of the owners have other careers during the week.



Still. the earlier post said their biscuits were great. But after reading these posts I would only stop there in 'civies.' But I probably won't ever do that either. More power to them. You did well by going to Dotties.



However, if anyone wants good fried chicken, the Trailside Cafe in Rhineland puts out a great lunch. I hear Nicks in North Jeff has great fried chicken as well. It's located on Airport Road a few blocks south of the trailhead and near the east side of the main highway. Of course, most of the other family places slong the trail put out good food, too. There's more than one chicken place on this trail! :)

I don't care how busy you are, or how much you cater to the hometown crowd. There is no excuse for rudeness. I've biked the Greenbrier River Trail in W.Va. numerous times, we stop in a small cafe in Marlinton some time the service is quick sometimes really slow but they make you feel at home and greet you with a smile.

Everyone has an "off day" but I hate simple rudeness and you can tell the difference. When I'm treated that way I make it a point to never go back and most times I'll walk out.

Todd S.,



I happen to know the owners of Claysville Store and everyone that works there. I also happen to know that the owners of Claysville Store have worked on rider's bikes, aired up their tires for them, even given them rides to Jefferson City. Also, I know the employees that work there, and know FOR FACT that they would never say that to a customer. I am sure that if you were to call the owners and tell them about this experience, they would be more than willing to send you a gift certificate so you would come back to try their place out again and realize how nice everyone is there. I'll even give you their # 636-8443

There are no better people on the KATY Trail than Mark and Laura Hooibrink, owners of the Claysville Store. The angry tone of the complainer is sicking and these fine people don't deserve such. They are so busy most days that they often turn away 50 to 75 people who haven't made reservations. There are other places to eat, if you want to settle for less, but Claysville still remains the best for food or people. If you don't come back thats fine with me.

To the folks above who, in their opinion, believe the Claysville Store "sucks". Don't be such prima donnas. You're precisely the type that give cyclists bad names. The Claysville Store serves cyclists; many times my husband and I eat there in cycle clothing after a day or an afternoon on the Trail. It's small, family run business, only open on weekends, and only for a relatively short period of time. It's become so popular that one just about has to have reservations to get in unless you hit it at just the right time. We love Dottie's, too. Chill.

When the KATY Trail was being planned the locals were against it bacause they were afraid of problems with big city folks like Todd. This incident, while rare lately, just reinforces the anti trail element. The Hooibrink family is great and their food is the best for 50-100 miles around. Grow up.

Agree with Michael, get over it. Travel involves new experiences - some better than others. We have all been slighted or had an experience not as favorable as hoped for when we venture out. To have the burning drive to sit down later and write a full criticism of a lunch encounter at at a general store should be of concern for the writer. If this was the only 'bump' on the ride then you did well. Our travels along the Katy have usually been positive, but then we always look at the bottle as 'half full'. Spring is around the corner, time to start streching and checking out the bike.

Todd made one post here almost a month ago and hasn't commented about it here again.



It appears that the ones who are not over it are those who keep trying to make sure that Todd is over it.

Maybe the Claysville Store workers were having a bad day. Maybe they are normally great people. But Todd S. is entitled to write his experience as he saw it. He also included the positive experience he had at Dotties, so he wasn't just out to bad mouth somebody. I don't think his comments were inappropriate. For all the people who criticised Todd - you are the ones that need to chill.

I rode the trail from N. Jefferson City last Sunday afternoon. I arrived at Claysville store just in time for a fried chicken dinner. It was so good and the owner stopped by to say thanks for coming and eating there. I love the place and the staff was very polite. I will return as often as I can. So if you don't like them get on down the road and let them be, we won't miss you at all.

I've gone to the Claysville store 6-7 times in the last 4 years, Mark usually stops by the table to make sure everything was right. When they are busy, he has to stay in the kitchen. I don't know how you keep people from "loving something to death"- that's what humans do. Smile. Breathe. Relax.

I have eaten at the Claysville Store a number of times. Mark and Laura Hooibrink are great folks, have great food, and its lovely atmostphere. I thing the whiner that obviously "embesslished" his/her experience should be ashamed of themselves! I have NEVER been treated rudely or disrespectfully. If you want to be poor and pitiful cause you rode 30 miles and showed up without a reservation to a place that asks you to make one in advance then you go mop up your tears with the food you should have packed your damned self!

We apologize for the inconvenience, but the restrooms at the Boonville trailhead will be temporarily closed while we repair a sewer line. We hope to have the restrooms open by mid-week.

SOUTH HOWARD CO HISTORICAL SOCIETY VISITORS CENTER & MUSEUM Small historical museum located in the heart of downdown NF near information boards OPEN 1-3 Tues,Thur,Sat Sun thru Oct. Or call 888-0836/660-848-2672

Hi.

Can anyone recommend overnight lodging places where they accept pets, especially in the part of the trail from Bluffton Eastward to St. Charles? B&B or Inn-type places would be preferred, but hotels or motels would work, also. We are not campers, however.

Thanks for any ideas.

Look up the Rendleman Home at Bluffton, Doug is a dog lover!

what size dog and how many ----are they crated at night? ---call 636-946-0619

Thanks for the replies, folks.
We may be set for this trip. We're planning on:
1. Comfort Suites in St. Charles
2. Concord Hill B & B in Marthasville
3. Les lavandes B & B in Rhineland

We'll see how these work out.

Hi this is Maggie at the Concord Hill B & B in Marthasville, MO. We are at the Peers stop on the Katy Trail. We are dog lovers too and allow friendly house broken dogs. Sorry no cats though, we are severely allergic...

I can recommend Marvin Cotten for shuttles on the western end of the trail. He shuttled us from Sedalia to Clinton and from Tebbetts back to Sedalia last week and I found him to be friendly and reliable.

thanks guys hope you had a great ride.

What is the phone/e-mail contact for Marvin Cotten. I cannor find him listed anywhere on this website. Thanks.

660-537-0164

my phone broke tring to get another one call 660-882-7070 tell I get knew phone.leave your # with leanne and I will call you back.

phone is working know call 660-537-0164 sorry if i mest your call

Members of our small group ate here two consecutive nights. The food was excellent and bargain priced. Try the home-made vegetable beef soup, the cheese burger, or the catfish filet sandwich, which is a genuine filet, not a brick shaped piece of compressed and battered fish pieces. Most of the patrons seemed to know each other. Everyone was friendly.

Uhmmmmm! A Catfish fillet sandwich sounds good. Where would that be?

Sounds like the Mokane Bar & Grill to me...

We stayed here on a cross-country bicycle trip. Be sure to ask for the "Stay and Play Package," you have to ask for it. Cost is the same as a room PLUS you get 2 buffet dinners and a $10 gambling voucher. The buffet dinner is excellent and $18 on its own.

Chuck's Bike Shop is literally right across the street if you need anything. Chuck answered a call from the hotel concierge at 9 pm to help us out. My husband fell and broke his collarbone and we wanted to arrange getting his bike packed and shipped home the next day.

Special thanks to Newton, the Isle shuttle driver, who ferried Don and his bike from the hospital to the hotel. In fact, every Isle employee we met had a smile and helpful, can-do attitude. Why would you stay anywhere else?

We stayed here on a coast to coast bike ride. Joey's is RIGHT OFF the Trail, I took a photo of McKittrick station from the kitchen window. No two mile extra ride into Hermann :)

Of our six nights in Katy lodgings, Joey's was by far the best value. Really cute, an old post office converted into a *duplex.* Everything you could possibly need is provided, includimg easily $20 in food and cold beers in the fridge. Ours had a full kitchen and we were welcome to pick whatever we wanted from the garden. I loved the setup where homemade breads, eggs, butter, milk, OJ, bagels, fruit, and all sorts of snacks were there and you didn't have to attend a B & B breakfast. We managed to eat or pack up everything but a bag of pretzels!

Additionally, next door is "The Mercantile," where Joey runs a restaurant on weekends. Too bad we ate dinner before arriving because Rich offered us leftovers. Upstairs in The Mercantile is a 2,000 sq ft ballroom big enough for groups with sleeping bags to rent. They were just leveling ground for a tenting group coming in,that weekend, so add camping to the accommodations.

Joey's was our favorite stay on the Katy for half the price of most Katy lodging!

The pedal up the summit was a bit of an
undertaking, but after we arrived, we were
well pleased. The staff was friendly and rooms were very clean. Laundry services were available. The ride back to the trail was a blast!

Our family stayed at the Boxcar October 2nd.
Enjoyed everything about the experience; clean
facilities, quiet, and unique. Breakfast in
the main house was a nice "extra" touch.
Thanks. Hope to be back again.

Thanks for a great B&B&D experience. Our family
loved the rooms and dining at the Mercantile.
We highly recommend Joey's Birdhouse and hope to
come back sometime.

Motel at 106 S. Baird,Clinton, Mo
is now called the M Star. Very friendly,
clean and economical. Our family stayed there
Sept. 30, 2012.

I'm planning on biking the trail over Thanksgiving Day weekend. My plan is to bike from St. Louis ( greyhound depot ) and then go west on the trail for. Is the weather usually good to bike at that time of the year? And is biking from St. Louis a good idea, or should I consider a shuttle service? Thanks.

Weather will be a "crap shoot". Who knows. Could be nice...could be awful that time of year. You'll just have to watch the forecast.

I WOULD NOT ride to St. Charles from the Greyhound/Amtrak station. Could catch MetroLink commuter train west to Handley Road or someplace like that for about 2 bucks. At least would make a MUCH CHEAPER shuttle to get the rest of the way to St. Charles... Some B&Bs (i.e. Lococo House) will also pick you up at Handley Road for a small additional fee if you are staying with them.

Hope this helps. Enjoy!

Weather could be very cold. Also, the winds are crazy if you ride east to west. Much better riding west to east from Clinton. We rode the whole thing from Clinton to St. Charles, then back for 12 miles and that 12 miles killed me! Felt like you were going nowhere!

If I am not mistaken some, if not all, of the restrooms are closed after Oct 31 until April 1. I think that many of the businesses are also closed during the winter.

That time of year is a big risk for the trail conditions and the weather. And what most have said everything is closed for the season. If it rains or snows for many days before, you won't have a good time at all either. Or you could get lucky and have a week before warm but I doubt it. You can go to a weather website for the past 2-3 years during that weekend to get an idea what the weather will be.

Thank you all for your replies. Looks like I'll be planning for a spring trip instead.

When you do go on your ride, you may want to consider getting to the Katy through Illinois. Take the downtown trail to the Chain of Rocks Bridge, get on the Madison County Trails to Alton and take Hwy 67 to Hwy 94 to the Machens trailhead. A little more scenic (well, except for the Refineries of Madison County) and less traffic than metro St. Louis.

That being said, I like the idea of taking the Metro west to avoid some traffic, too.

1)RIDE WEST TO EAST
2)WEATHER MAY SUCK BIG TIME!
3)MOST SERVICES HAVE ROLLED UP THE SIDEWALK FOR WINTER!

Come and stay at the new historic Haysler House Bed and Breakfast in Clinton. We will be open over Thanksgiving and can store your car for you and arrange pick up/delivery to the Clinton Katy Trail station. See my Facebook page: Haysler House Bed and Breakfast Inn.

We just spent our second weekend at the Lindenhoff Bed and Breakfast. It is a home away from home. We have met and welcomed many new people to Missouri each time we are there. The owners are such wonderful hosts. We feel as if we have known them for many years. The breakfasts are great, especially Bill's bacon. Having stayed at several inns this has been my favorite.