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Camping spots on the trail

Roger R. from Jefferson City MO on 03/14/2009 07:19 PM

Hi all,

Planning a solo ride on the trail from Clinton to St. Charles in late May/early June and was wondering about places to camp. I am planning to leave Clinton and ride to Pilot Grove on day 1 (61.3 miles) and camp overnight. Day 2 is Pilot Grove to Jefferson City (60.1 miles) where I will sleep at home! Day 3 is Jeff City to Marthasville (65.5 mi) where I will camp. Day 4 is Marthasville to St. Charles (38.2 mi). My question is about camping spots. The charts and book indicate there is camping at Pilot Grove, and Marthasville. Has anyone camped there? Can you give any details about bathroom facilities, etc. there? I can skip the shower and don't need anything much, but bathroom would be nice!

stevie from saint louis on 03/16/2009 11:17 AM

Both Pilot Grove & Marthasville are City run parks. They do have the facilities you mention, but you need to contact the City to assure 24 hour access for your trip.

kevo from Springfield, MO on 03/29/2009 06:26 PM

We camped at the city park in Pilot Grove 2 summers ago. When we arrived the bathrooms were locked but within an hour the fellow in charge of them came over to unlock them for us. Apparently he lives close by and saw our tent. If you find that they are locked and he doesn't show there is a Caseys just down the street with a restroom! Not sure about marthasville.

DougK from Troy on 03/30/2009 09:47 AM

Do not stay at the campground with the tee-pees. I paid %1.50 for a small (about a shot) of gatorade after trying to convince them to open at 2 in the adternoon. There were no tee-pees when I went through, only knee high weeds.

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Looking for riders to share cost of shuttle from St. Louis to Clinton this summer.

Janet from Columbia, IL on 02/15/2009 03:39 PM

My husband and I are planning a ride this summer and would like to find others to share the cost of a shuttle starting at St. Louis and dropping us off in Clinton. We have not decided on the actual dates but we are looking at sometime in July. This can be changed. Is anyone interested?

Rhona Lococo from St Charles Mo on 02/16/2009 08:06 AM

We are Lococo House ll B&B, we shuttle to Clinton ------ you can call 636-946-0619 or e-mail us a Rhonaloc@charter.net for prices and availabity

Ray (webmaster) on 02/16/2009 08:56 AM

You might also want to add yourself to the Share a Shuttle web page.

Biker from Farmington, MO on 02/18/2009 01:56 PM

Hey Janet-- Why not do the DNR ride? It's sag-supported, includes shuttle, and is a great way to meet other riders...It's June 21-26, if your dates are more flexible...

Janet from Columbia, IL on 02/19/2009 08:15 PM

How much does the DNR ride cost? How do I get more info on the ride?

Anonymous on 02/20/2009 11:09 AM

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Subject: 2009 DNR Ride?

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.....check out the MO Dept. of Natural Resources site at:

www.mostateparks.com/katytrail/2009ride.htm

- posted 1/3/2009 11:10:19 AM by Trek

Biker from Farmington, MO on 02/20/2009 12:06 PM

Hi, Janet. I wish I could remember how much, exactly, my husband and I paid for last year's total trip. We paid more, because we stayed in hotels, and took advantage of the DNR shuttle from the trailhead/camping area to those hotels.

I want to say it was around $1,200 for both of us for the whole, well-choreographed shebang-- shuttle to the starting/ending place, T-shirt, water bottle, gift bags, orientation, hotel shuttles, bike/luggage/camping gear shuttles, sag stops every 10 miles or so (peanut butter, bananas, water, powerade), roving bike mechanics, breakfasts, dinners, evening entertainment, katy trail map/guidebook and ride info, trivia game, poker run-- there's a lot to it.

You might have to pay for lunches and evening entertainment away from the camp siteif you choose to do so, but really, you can even skate by just eating at the SAG areas and taking advantage of the post-dinner entertainment the DNR provides.

It's really special, and would provide a great overview of the trail for you in terms of terrain, history, amenities along the way, etc. Not to mention the fabulous people you can meet.

Janet from Columbia, IL on 02/21/2009 02:58 PM

Thanks Biker for all the info. I'll have to check it out. I'm not sure if we will be able to get off work in June but we will look into it. Thanks again, Janet

J.B from PITTSBURGH (SIX-BURGH), PA on 02/22/2009 12:33 PM

FORGET THE SHUTTLE--TAKE AMTRAK TO SEDALIA NAD PEDAL TO CLINTON. TRUTHFULLY, THE SECTION FROM CLINTON TO SEDALIA IS UNREMARKABLE...YOU WILL MISS NOTHING IF YOU EXCLUDE IT. IF THE SCHEDULE IS THE SAME AS 2005 AMTRAK WILL HAVE YOU IN SEDALIA SOMETIME AROUND NOON...AN EASY DISTANCE TO BOONEVILLE FROM THERE.

Janet from Columbia, IL on 02/26/2009 10:15 PM

Thanks for the suggestion, but we cannot take Amtrak with a tandem bike because you have to box it up and check it. The Sedalia stop does not have a check baggage station so we wouldn't be able to get our bike off the train.

Trek on 02/27/2009 08:49 AM

The in store amount due for a U-Haul in Clinton is approx. $90 for a one way to St. Charles.....of course you'd have gas expense on top of that. Shuttleing yourself would let you move at you're own pace and check out things along the way. Sometimes it's nice to know the lay of the land before you get there by bike. Although hills are not as much an issue as they are on a half bike, the U-Haul would let you check out the highway leading up to the bistro in Rocheport, the ferry ride across the Gasconade River south west of Hermann to eat at the River's Edge restaurant, Hermann Hill B&B, etc. I don't know how this stacks up pricewise here in MO with the shuttle folks, but it is an option that lets you move at your own pace and make a few discoveries that are worth a short diversion off I-70 and the trail.

Biker from Farmington, MO on 02/27/2009 10:52 AM

Yippeee! DNR just posted the info for the June 21-26 ride. JANET-- I was wrong, I think it's much cheaper than the $1,200 I estimated earlier. To participate and camp, it's only $250 per adult rider (that includes meals except lunch).

Rhona Lococo from St Charles Mo on 02/27/2009 08:04 PM

to Janet in Columbia ---- call me at 636-946-0619 ---- we can shuttle a tandem ----- I will let you know costs and detais

Rhona Lococo from St Charles Mo on 02/27/2009 08:07 PM

to Steve in KC ----we can take you from ST. Charles to Lambert, then to train station ------ call 636-946-0619 for details

Janet from Columbia, IL on 03/02/2009 06:45 PM

Hey Trek, Uhaul is a great idea. We are now looking into it. What a great suggestion we hadn't thought of that! Thanks a lot!!!!!

Trek on 03/03/2009 09:02 AM

You're welcome....it's an out of the box method to some, but it's known to work as long as the rental/drop off points are doable. And, their smallest truck is plenty big to haul a bike....even a longbike. We have half bikes that we ride on the trails and a longbike for the pavement. We did ride the longbike last summer on the Katy and got along alright with it. It has 700x28's on it and they worked fine. I hate seeing my baby so dusty tho!

Paulie from Knoxville on 03/07/2009 08:16 AM

Trek, You must be a genius. Your always providing great advice to Katy trail users. Thanks! And I agree, why pay for an overpriced shuttle when better methods of transportation are available.

Paulie

Janet from Columbia, IL on 03/07/2009 10:00 PM

Trek, did you directly call Uhaul? I have been looking online and it looks like we will have to get a truck for over $200 for the trip from St. Charles to Clinton. Did you rent a small pick up or van? The small pickups and vans look like they are only for local hauling not for one way trips. How did you get a deal of $90?

Trek on 03/08/2009 11:12 AM

Looking online at the small truck...."The in store amount due for a U-Haul in Clinton is approx. $90 for a one way to St. Charles..." It may cost more to U-Haul from St. Charles to Clinton. It may be more cost effective for you to drive to Clinton and U-Haul to St. Chuck. U-Hauling is a viable option "as long as the rental/drop off points are doable."

stevie from saint louis on 03/09/2009 12:03 PM

Out of curiosity, I ran the Clinton to St. Charles route, and then the St. Charles to Clinton route through the UHaul website and get the $90(Clinton to St. Charles) vs. $200(St. Charles to Clinton) charges.

I checked another big town to little town route and vice versa, and get similar differences. I'm no economist, but I would guess these differences is caused by the old "economies of scale theory" or some variation of it.

Jim from St. Thomas on 03/09/2009 03:00 PM

The difference in 1-way rates is based on how likely it will be that the unit gets rented at the target destination. In other words, there is a much better chance someone will rent the unit in St. Charles than there is that it will be rented in Clinton.

Brad on 03/11/2009 05:43 AM

We have a tandem and are also interested in a shuttle from St. Louis to Clinton in July. Give me a call at 618-278-4791.

J.B. from PITTSBURGH (SIXBURGH), PA on 03/14/2009 08:50 PM

CAN'T HELP IT BUT I KEEP THINKING ABOUT THIS LOGISTICAL PROBLEM....

I HAD MENTIONED AMTRAK NOT KNOWING THERE WAS A TANDEM INVOLVED. HOWEVER, OVERALL LENGTH OF THE BICYCLE I TOOK ON THE TRAIN WAS 66". THE FRAME OF MY TANDEM IS JUST OVER THAT. ONE THOUGHT--BAG THE WHEELS, THE FRAME WILL FIT IN THE BIKE SPACE ON THE TRAIN (HAVE YOUR BUNGEE CORDS READY). WRAP THE CHAIN IN SARAN WRAP, TAPE CARDBOARD AROUND THE REAR DERAILLER, HAVE THE BARS TURNED 90 DEGREES. BOARD THE TRAIN IN ST. LOUIS WHERE THEY HAVE A LITTLE LAY TIME.

WILL IT FLY? THE TANDEM FRAME USES THE SAME AMOUNT OF SPACE AS A SINGLE BIKE. THE WHEELS IN BAGS ARE CARRY-ON LUGGAGE. THE TRAIN CREW I RODE WITH WAS VERY CUSTOMER FRIENDLY--NOT LIKE THE CAPITOL LIMITED. A WELL PLACED $20.00 BILL MAY HELP.

THE OTHER OPTION I THOUGHT OF WAS TO SHIP YOUR BOXED BIKE TO EITHER SEDALIA OR CLINTON VIA UPS. THERE WAS A BIKE SHOP IN SEDALIA WHEN I WAS THERE IN '06. SHIPPING IT THERE COULD BE AN OPTION.

J.B.

J.B. from PITTSBURGH (SIXBURGH), PA on 03/15/2009 10:29 AM

AS A POST-SCRIPT TO MY LAST COMMENT.....

IF YOU LIVE CLOSE TO ST. LOUIS STOP BY THE STATION WHEN THE TRAIN IS THERE (VERY EARLY) AND TALK TO THE CONDUCTOR ABOUT TAKING THE TANDEM FRAME ON-BOARD. THEY HAVE WIGGLE ROOM AS TO WHAT THEY CAN DO.....I SAW A GENT BRING A TRAILER ON BOARD WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE A NO-NO.

Trek on 03/15/2009 11:44 AM

Some good ideas JB. If you bag wheels, etc. and ship your bike to your start point, what do you do with all that stuff while on your ride? S & S couplers do work well, but there is an issue of the what to do with the hard case...I guess send them back to your end point UPS?

J.B. from PITTSBURGH (SIXBURGH), PA on 03/15/2009 02:47 PM

TREK,

TO SHIP A TANDEM, GET TWO CARDBOARD BIKE BOXES FROM YOUR DEALER (THEY ARE SHIPPED IN CARDBOARD) AND TELESCOPE THE BOXES OR GET A CARDBOARD BOX A TANDEM WAS SHIPPED TO A DEALER IN. A LITTLE SHIPPING TAPE, SOME STYRAFOAM BLOCKS, A LITTLE INGENUITY, PROBLEM SOLVED. THE GENT WHO OPERATES "GEAR TO GO TANDEMS" (ELMIRA, NY) WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS LIKE THESE ON HIS WEB SITE.

J.B.

Trek on 03/15/2009 06:09 PM

Thanks J.B...... But, I didn't ask how to ship a longbike. I've shipped ours and understand the packing rigors. My questions were in relation to the original post. Let's pretend Janet ships her tandem to Clinton and then picks it up at the local UPS store. (Now enter my questions....something to think about if in fact she did ship her longbike to Clinton as suggested). She picks her bike up and has either a sizeable cardboard box and packing that she needs to dispose of....or if her bike has an S&S system possibly a hard case that she may need to then ship back to her ride trip end point.

J.B. from PITTSBURGH (SIXBURGH), PA on 03/15/2009 07:31 PM

OK, LAST POST.....

SHIP THE TANDEM TO A BIKE SHOP IN SEDALIA (THERE ARE 2), PAY THEM TO PUT IT TOGETHER--THE SHOP CAN DISPOSE OF THE PACKING. GO TO SEDALIA BY AMTRAK. THE CLINTON TO SEDALIA SECTION IS RATHER BORING ANYWAY.

THAT'S THE LAST 2 CENTS I GOT. GOOD LUCK ON THE TRIP.

J.B.

Linda@Katy depot from Sedalia on 03/16/2009 09:44 AM

If you need a place to ship the bike, we get Fedex and UPS shipments here daily and I would

be happy to receive it and store it until she gets here. We can get rid of the packing so that's

not an issue. I am afraid I could not put it together for her but I am sure she could manage

that. We are always willing to help the bikers in any way we can and we are right on the Trail.

Janet from Columbia, IL on 03/27/2009 09:59 PM

We have a tandem and are also interested in a shuttle from St. Louis to Clinton in July. Give me a call at 618-278-4791.

- posted 3/11/2009 5:43:59 AM by Brad

Brad, I am sorry for not getting back to you sooner. I will call you to see if you are still wanting to share a shuttle. I am not sure how much a shuttle would be so I will have to call some of the shuttle services. We are planning on getting to Clinton on July 26 and starting our ride July 27. Thanks.

Janet from Columbia, IL on 03/29/2009 09:27 PM

Brad, I am sorry for not getting back to you sooner. I will call you to see if you are still wanting to share a shuttle. I am not sure how much a shuttle would be so I will have to call some of the shuttle services. We are planning on getting to Clinton on July 26 and starting our ride July 27. Thanks.

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st charles trailhead

Lisa from Paducah on 03/23/2009 08:01 PM

Has anyone ever parked their car overnight for 3 nights here?

recorduck on 03/24/2009 09:24 PM

yes, many times. Just let the St Charles police know and you should have no problems

kevo from Springfield, MO on 03/29/2009 06:11 PM

We parked it for 5 days last year, no problems at all! When we called the police they said we diddn't really need to tell them and that they seldom have problems reported! Never hurts to give them a ring though! Enjoy your ride.

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St Charles

Steve from Overland Park on 03/23/2009 09:59 AM

Does anyone have a bike route from Frontier Park to the Amtrak Station in Kirkwood. I have been quoted $70 for a two rider/bike schuttle and would prefer to ride the route if possible/safe. Thanks much.

Rhona Lococo from St Charles Mo on 03/25/2009 08:02 AM

we will shuttle for 25.00 plus a nights stay at the beginning or end of your ride -----call 636-946-0619 ----- Lococo House ll

Baboo from Shawnee, KS on 03/28/2009 03:45 PM

You can take the trail to the Page ave bridge which has a bike path, then to Creve Couer Park here is a link to a discussion about this.

http://www.bikekatytrail.com/amtrak.asp

Allen

Baboo from Shawnee, KS on 03/28/2009 03:48 PM

you can take the trail back to Page ave bridge which has a bike path. Here is a link to a discussion about this.http://www.bikekatytrail.com/amtrak.asp

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Tagged: St Charles

Rocheport General Store (Rocheport)

Baboo from Shawnee, KS on 03/16/2009 07:14 PM

Are there any groceries at the general store?

Wren from Columbia, MO on 03/17/2009 11:27 AM

I was just at the General Store last Saturday. They have a small stock of sundries and basics food items such as milk, bread, snacks, water, beer, wine, etc. They sell ice cream and I think they have a small deli case with some cheese and meats. It is also a cafe, and they have great live music on Friday and Saturday nights. Check them out at www.rocheportgeneralstore.com

Baboo from Shawnee, KS on 03/28/2009 03:23 PM

Thanks Wren.

Allen

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