Das Gast Haus Nadler (Defiance)
- + What a great B&B!! The house is just beautiful, very comfortable, clean
and an incredible breakfast!! We loved the way each of the guest rooms
had their own private door onto the big wrap a...
Discussion started 11/02/2009 10:42 AM by Maria - 1 reply (last reply by anonymous at 03/24/2010 09:52 PM)Maria from Brighton, MI on 11/02/2009 10:42 AM
What a great B&B!! The house is just beautiful, very comfortable, clean
and an incredible breakfast!! We loved the way each of the guest rooms
had their own private door onto the big wrap around porch!
Maria from Brighton, MI on 11/02/2009 10:42 AM
What a great B&B!! The house is just beautiful, very comfortable, clean
and an incredible breakfast!! We loved the way each of the guest rooms
had their own private door onto the big wrap around porch!
Anonymous on 03/24/2010 09:52 PM
YEAH!! LOOKING FORWARD AGAIN TO THE VISIT!
Anonymous on 03/24/2010 09:52 PM
YEAH!! LOOKING FORWARD AGAIN TO THE VISIT!
Katy Trail
- + The two ruts across trail at mile mark 121 have been filled and are much smoother! Thanks to whomever!
Discussion started 03/22/2010 10:18 PM by Doug - 0 repliesDoug from Bluffton on 03/22/2010 10:18 PM
The two ruts across trail at mile mark 121 have been filled and are much smoother! Thanks to whomever!
Maple Leaf Tea Room (Sedalia)
- + Fabulous salads-Charming atmosphere. The owner even let us park our bikes inside. Great prices!
Discussion started 07/05/2007 10:20 AM by MJ - 1 reply (last reply by SASHA AND SAM at 03/22/2010 10:49 AM)MJ from Indianapolis on 07/05/2007 10:20 AM
Fabulous salads-Charming atmosphere. The owner even let us park our bikes inside. Great prices!
MJ from Indianapolis on 07/05/2007 10:20 AM
Fabulous salads-Charming atmosphere. The owner even let us park our bikes inside. Great prices!
SASHA AND SAM from CAPE GIRADEAU, MISSOURI on 03/22/2010 10:49 AM
RIGHT AT THE UNION PACIFIC TRAIN STATION/STOP. EXCELLENT FOOD, FUN PLACE TO STOP.
SASHA AND SAM from CAPE GIRADEAU, MISSOURI on 03/22/2010 10:49 AM
RIGHT AT THE UNION PACIFIC TRAIN STATION/STOP. EXCELLENT FOOD, FUN PLACE TO STOP.
Trail Conditions since Rain and Flooding
- +
Has any of the streams or river backed up on the trail anywhere? Any flat land flooding on the roads or trail or any trail washouts now?
Any big mushy areas?
Will ride the trail west t...
Discussion started 03/20/2010 11:30 PM by Don - 1 reply (last reply by jd at 03/21/2010 08:34 AM)Don from Plainfield, IL on 03/20/2010 11:30 PM
Has any of the streams or river backed up on the trail anywhere? Any flat land flooding on the roads or trail or any trail washouts now?
Any big mushy areas?
Will ride the trail west to east Mar. 30 - Apr. 2.
jd from gkc on 03/21/2010 08:34 AM
Apparenly so, according to a comment on the '4 guys' post. Rain and snow at the moment.
4 bikers
- + Ran across a group Monday 3 electra's and 1 hilbilly nice bunch of guys other than the one on the townie without fenders had quite the physical presence other than the tail he had flapping in the wind...
Discussion started 03/20/2010 11:43 AM - 2 replies (last reply by Kenneth Jones at 03/20/2010 06:36 PM)Anonymous from Jefferson City on 03/20/2010 11:43 AM
Ran across a group Monday 3 electra's and 1 hilbilly nice bunch of guys other than the one on the townie without fenders had quite the physical presence other than the tail he had flapping in the wind! Trail was in great shape between north jefferson and Hartsburg
Anonymous on 03/20/2010 05:17 PM
Yes I saw the 4 in question don't think they saw me though they did notice my blue lawn chair I believe. The one with the tail was langing behind not sure why. Those Townies with fenders and those pan seats are really nice! The Ironhorse hilbilly was also a very nice ride. Hope this weather doesn't mess with the trail too bad!
Kenneth Jones from Houston on 03/20/2010 06:36 PM
Just had a dissappointing visit to the Katy. Cloudy, cold and a very wet muddy trail. Felt like plowing through sludge - killed the knees, killed the trip. Won't be back until I KNOW the trail is dry and not covered with river mud. Great folks along the way, though.
Suggestions for three days of riding
- + I've got three days to ride the Katy next week with my first grader on our new tandem
(DaVinci JV). He's an experience rider. Last year we did some touring in Europe with him
on a tag-along w...
Discussion started 03/15/2010 11:30 PM by Scott Carney - 8 replies (last reply by Trek at 03/17/2010 08:13 AM)Scott Carney from Champaign on 03/15/2010 11:30 PM
I've got three days to ride the Katy next week with my first grader on our new tandem
(DaVinci JV). He's an experience rider. Last year we did some touring in Europe with him
on a tag-along with a few 150km days and 300km+ three-day rides on mixed surfaces
like the Katy. My wife will drop us off, stay with family in central MO and pick us up a few
days later. I'm still trying to decide on the camping gear, but am leaning toward fast/light
credit card touring.
Where would you suggest getting on and which direction would you go?
Thanks.
Anonymous on 03/16/2010 07:54 AM
Stay at the many B&B's along the trail, best use of the light credit card touring. Do the whole trail Clinton to St. Charles, or knock off 40 miles and start in Sedalia. Much more interesting to finish in St Charles.
Anonymous on 03/16/2010 12:25 PM
Hope the weather cooperates with the timing of your trip. I'm sitting here in my office in Jefferson City looking out the window. Heavy cloud cover and a high so far today (Noon) of 46 degrees Fahrenheit.
Anonymous on 03/16/2010 01:22 PM
Are you a government employee?
Anonymous on 03/16/2010 08:30 PM
I live in a country with a government of the people, by the people, for the people. I guess that makes us all government employees.
Anonymous on 03/16/2010 08:57 PM
Not so much.
Anonymous on 03/17/2010 07:35 AM
I used to live in a country with a government of the people, by the people, for the people; now, I live in a country with a government of the politicians, by the politicians, for the politicians and the rest of us be darned.
Anonymous on 03/17/2010 07:59 AM
I would suggest some alternate roads along the trail just in case the trail is bogged down or rained out during this time of the year.
Don
Trek on 03/17/2010 08:13 AM
Our Santana is a fair weather machine. She gets pampered and keeps a firm footing...off the chat trail when it's wet.
Hanging Food Away from the animals when Camping
- + When camping on the trail (designated campgrounds) is it necessary to hang food from trees so animals don’t get in it? I know it is in different States, but not sure what protocol is for The Katy.
Discussion started 03/12/2010 12:31 PM by Steve - 5 replies (last reply by anonymous at 03/17/2010 07:35 AM)Steve on 03/12/2010 12:31 PM
When camping on the trail (designated campgrounds) is it necessary to hang food from trees so animals don’t get in it? I know it is in different States, but not sure what protocol is for The Katy.
Mark from Columbia, MO on 03/12/2010 12:43 PM
There are no bears to worry about, but raccoons are a real possibility. It would be best if you could somehow secure the food in a hard container.
Rick Shaw from St Charles on 03/13/2010 12:27 AM
I concur with Mark......beware of the racoons. If you have something that smells remotely edible...the raccoons will try to get into it. Did an overnight with two toddlers at Klondike Park. After yelling and chucking rocks at the little masked &*@#$%&* in the middle of the night (they were trying to get into the Chariot child carrier....possibly attracted by residual goldfish (well known toddler forage).....), I finally ended up putting the child carrier on top of the picnic table shelter roof which ended our little skirmish. I once toured from Anchorage, AK to eastern Oklahoma (many miles of bear country)......and the Klondike incident was one of my most restless cycle touring nights. Moral of the story....beware of the raccoons. If you have anything that smells edible, place it somewhere/someway that raccoons are disinclined to attempt to retrieve it. By the way....if you end up in St. Charles and are tired of peddalling, look up St. Charles Pedicab to get you around historic downtown St. Charles. Ride on.
Trek on 03/15/2010 02:56 PM
If you are hiking or biking, chances are you won't be carring a cart full of perishable food items. When we've camped, we've taken the pannier with food in it and/or food that was in the trailer and put it in the tent with us. But you know....I'd think if a coon could break into a can of tuna she'd probably deserve to have it.
DougK from Troy on 03/16/2010 09:24 PM
Keep your food in a pouch and hang it between 2 trees so it hangs between the trees at a minimum of 10 feet high. Hang your food as far feom the tent as possible. Trust me, you do not want to spend half the night keeping a racoon from trying to get the milky way bar wrapper you forgot to toss.
Anonymous on 03/17/2010 07:35 AM
In Pilot Grove I wouldn't hang my meat anywhere near Deon's Bar and grill. There are some critters in that bar who will eat anything..
Is it too muddy
- + We were planning to get out this weekend (3/14) is it too muddy around Columbia, McBaine, Rocheport?
Discussion started 03/09/2010 01:31 PM by ksols - 1 reply (last reply by robert Johnson at 03/16/2010 02:10 PM)ksols on 03/09/2010 01:31 PM
We were planning to get out this weekend (3/14) is it too muddy around Columbia, McBaine, Rocheport?
ksols on 03/09/2010 01:31 PM
We were planning to get out this weekend (3/14) is it too muddy around Columbia, McBaine, Rocheport?
ksols on 03/09/2010 01:31 PM
We were planning to get out this weekend (3/14) is it too muddy around Columbia, McBaine, Rocheport?
robert Johnson from columbia on 03/16/2010 02:10 PM
The MKT that runs from McBaine to Columbia is a muddy mess and the local P and R is
replacing two of the bridges so its basically unrideable right now.
robert Johnson from columbia on 03/16/2010 02:10 PM
The MKT that runs from McBaine to Columbia is a muddy mess and the local P and R is
replacing two of the bridges so its basically unrideable right now.
robert Johnson from columbia on 03/16/2010 02:10 PM
The MKT that runs from McBaine to Columbia is a muddy mess and the local P and R is
replacing two of the bridges so its basically unrideable right now.
Lodging near train station in Sedalia
- + I'll be getting to Sedalia around 8:00 P.M. and would like to stay the night before I start my ride. Is there a good (cheap) place to stay near the train station?
Thanks,
John
Discussion started 02/27/2010 06:59 PM by John - 11 replies (last reply by John at 03/14/2010 09:46 AM)John from East Jordan on 02/27/2010 06:59 PM
I'll be getting to Sedalia around 8:00 P.M. and would like to stay the night before I start my ride. Is there a good (cheap) place to stay near the train station?
Thanks,
John
Gene on 02/28/2010 01:50 AM
Are you camping on this trip? If you can get on the trail and head west, you'll cross over the
main Hwy in Sedalia. The next exit a few hundred yards (+/-) west is the Missouri State
Fairgrounds which has available tent camping nearby. It might be free. Check the ladies at
the Katy Train Museum as they are excellent resources. Also, the Best Western Motel is near
the Fairgrounds (about $70) and they have a breakfast buffet for guests. After riding Amtrak,
you'll probably want better arrangements than camping.
Skyguy9999 on 02/28/2010 02:02 AM
From looking at a quick listing of hotels/motels, it seems the thing that's the shortest distance away from where you would end up is the Hotel Bothwell (and shortest away from meeting up on the trail proper).
All the others will be on the main highways going through Sedalia (50 and 65). If you want to take these the best way would be to find the trail and then go west until you run into the fairgrounds and then go north or south as necessary.
The best option if you do camp is indeed the Fairgrounds. http://www.bikekatytrail.com/site.aspx?sid=127 . It's a $10 fee, security will usually pick it up. Be careful, though, that you are in the right place and are ready to pay the fee, because camping elsewhere would be illegal.
But given you will be going in at 8pm, it will be dark on the day you indicated you were going (in previous posts). Be mindful to have adequate lighting when/if you travel, and that (technically) using the trail at night is illegal and someone might have something to say.
Skyguy9999 on 02/28/2010 02:07 AM
To clarify another comment I made previously (awaiting moderation for submission as I write this one), by lighting I mean something you can legitimately use to see in front of you in darkness and not something meant more for pointing you out to others. Especially for the Katy Trail at dark, there will be little to no light.
John from East Jordan on 02/28/2010 04:39 AM
Thanks Gene,
Yes, I'll be camping, but because I expect it to be dark, or near dark, when I arrive, if the train's on time, I thought it best to get a motel room that night. In fact I'll have way more equipment than I'll need as the trip is a shake down trial of all my gear that I'll eventually use on a long term trip. I want to try everything out.
How close is the Best Western in terms of miles? It sounds like it's pretty doable.
Since I'm going to try to shuttle the next day to Clinton, is it possible to get a shuttle at that time of day to Clinton. That way i could start right out in the morning from the end of the trail.
Thanks,
John
Skyguy9999 on 03/01/2010 06:38 AM
>How close is the Best Western in terms of miles? It sounds like
>it's pretty doable.
It looks like the best to do if you wish to go there is go down the Katy going west. It's about 0.4 mi to get to the Katy from the train station. Then go down the Katy until you hit Clarendon Road (the equestrian loading area, about 2.8 miles).
Then from there my best guess would be to go south on Clarendon slightly then go east on SouthWest Blvd (left turn) and then follow it south and then take a left turn onto Plaza Ave which will put you relatively close to it on 65 highway. A little over 4 miles one way, all told.
Hope that helps.
Trek on 03/01/2010 11:16 AM
The Bothwell is only .3 from the Amtak station.....Holiday Inn Express is 5 miles. It appears that the Bothwell is about $20 less than the HIE. There are places to eat in the area also. I'd save riding in the dark (and a few $$'s) and have an easy nite at the Bothwell with quick access (a few blocks east) to the Katy the next morning.
Linda @Sedalia Katy Depot from Sedalia on 03/01/2010 02:01 PM
If you are coming in by Amtrac, the closest Hotel(only 4 blocks ) from the station is the Hotel
Bothwell. They do give Katy Trail riders a discount(just mention it when you call). They are
part of the Clarion chain of hotels. They are only 6 blocks from the Trail Head here at the
Katy Depot. You can check them out on line at Hotel Bothwell, Sedalia, Mo.
John from East Jordan on 03/02/2010 01:39 AM
Thanks for all your replies. They've been very helpful. I've decided to take a shuttle to Clinton the night I get into Sedalia. I'll be able to start the ride the next day with a good nights rest in Clinton.
I'll do a search to find a good motel in Clinton.
Again, thanks to all who replied.
John
Gene on 03/11/2010 09:38 PM
John--you got me thinking. I'd get in the Hotel Bothwell or other places in Sedalia. The
Union Pacific Railroad has two lines to Kansas City with so many trains they use directional
operating--except for Amtrak. Amtrak trains get put on sidings so freights can clear. The
UP RR, State of Missouri and the Federal Railroad Administration are paying to have sidings
extended to 10,000 feet to facilitate their trains and Amtrak too. Plugged is a railroad term
where not much moves. I hope you're on time but if you're not, you'll know.
Doug from Bluffton on 03/12/2010 06:43 AM
John, not sure from your comments but if you have not contacted a shuttle to be sure they can be there you should. Without a reservation with one you might not be able to get one at the time you arrive.
John from East Jordan on 03/14/2010 09:46 AM
Doug,
I've contacted a shuttle and have pretty much decided to stay at the Bothwell. All that being said, it would appear I'm going to have a job interview that week and may have to delay my plans.
Again, thanks for all the good advice.
John
3 items of info
- + Beautiful day and I got out for a bit
1. From McKittrick to Mokane the trail is soft but ridable on 27c tires
2. At mile mark 121 east of Steedman the farmer there has been working and his tract...
Discussion started 03/10/2010 09:50 PM by Doug - 1 reply (last reply by anonymous at 03/12/2010 08:31 AM)Doug from Bluffton on 03/10/2010 09:50 PM
Beautiful day and I got out for a bit
1. From McKittrick to Mokane the trail is soft but ridable on 27c tires
2. At mile mark 121 east of Steedman the farmer there has been working and his tractor has cut two ruts 4-5 inches deep across the trail. Can be ridden with caution but if unaware it is a teeth rattling experience. The driveway is about 15 feet east of the mile mark sign.
3. The bar in Steedman is showing signs of progress. When I stopped today the clean up crew was working and told me the carpenters are done and they (the cleaners) are doing their thing and will be done soon. They did not know of an opening date tho. It is looking like a nice place to stop.
Anonymous on 03/12/2010 08:31 AM
Thanks for the report....