Katy Trail Forum

You may also want to check out my book Exploring Missouri Wine Country, 3rd Edition. At more than 300 pages, it is the definitive guide to Missouri wine country. Many wineries line the edge of the trail and Hwy 94 and Hwy 100 in the Missouri River valley. This guide will give you some great ideas on places to go, towns to visit, and wineries you don't want to miss. Published by Pebble Publishing. Visit my bookstore in Rocheport, call (573) 698-3903 or go online to http://www.pebblepublishing.com/exploring_missouri_wine_country.htm



See you on the trail!

If it's anything like your Katy Trail Guidebook, it's a must have! We're back again this year with our bikes and will pick up your "Wine" book on the way through Rocheport. We're heading east on the trail to wine country.



Carpe diem!



Rick & Mary

Can you tell meabout the wine varieties? Are they European, Native American or Hybrids? I'll be riding the Katy one of these days.

German settlers were responsible for the start of vineyards in Missouri. The Missouri Wine Country website has some good information about Missouri wine. Click on the "Articles" tab and then "Missouri Wine History" for some good information on the history and location of Missouri wineries.



http://www.missouriwinecountry.com/

has anyone used the campground lately? I noticed the comments were 2 years old, and wondered if any improvements have been made.

has anyone used the campground lately? I noticed the comments were 2 years old, and wondered if any improvements have been made.

We've only ridden past, but it doesn't appear that anything has changed in the past few years.

We've only ridden past, but it doesn't appear that anything has changed in the past few years.

Does anyone have an update on the continuation of the trail (north) out of Windsor?

Is there a projected date for beginning or is this a political situation that was only going to

happen while Matt Blunt was the Governor?

I predict that the KC-KATY Connector will be on a faster track without Blunt, but that's just my opinion. MO DNR's Kurt Schaefer is the one primarily responsible for the $18M settlement from Amerern. Now that Schaefer is State Senator-elect for the 19th district, you can rest assured that the connector will have a strong voice in the legislature.



http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/10/20/attorney-seeks-better-representation-19th-district/

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/11/05/schaefer-unseats-graham-wins-19th-district/

If you have any questions regarding the Rock Island connection out of Winsdor please contact Kevin Bolling, out of the department's Kansas City office. He is the liaison of Missouri Department of Natural Resources State Parks Department regarding the trail connections out of the KC area and right now is the primary point of contact for the Rock Island connection. Here is his contact information: kevin.bolling@dnr.mo.gov, (816) 759-7313. Thanks.

Do many people ride the trail in November? We are planning on riding next weekend from St. Charles to Augusta. How is the trail conditions?

Not too many with the sun setting earlier but it sure is pretty out here now. The trail is fantastic and the colors are perfect. You might want to call ahead for availability tho as some places close after Halloween or start their own vacation plans once the amount of riders starts to fall below an amount that would make it worth staying open.

Be sure to wear orange because deer season starts (with guns) very soon in Missouri!

Hi,

I just would like to know how many miles (by bike) are in the Katy Trail from the following location.

From the page extension 364 - parking lot in St. Charles, MO all the way to the Creve Coeur park, go around the park, and return to the page extension parking lot in St. Charles.

I cannot find the distance between these two locations.

Thank you

M. Casillo

From the Page bridge parking lot, around Creve Coeur Lake and back to the parking lot is about 11 miles. This isn't exact but its close within a few tenths of a mile.

I want to say thank you to the two comments above. I am a waitress there and it is a lovely place to hang out and enjoy great food and live music!.... you all should deffinately stop by and see for yourself!

I want to say thank you to the two comments above. I am a waitress there and it is a lovely place to hang out and enjoy great food and live music!.... you all should deffinately stop by and see for yourself!

(paved path between Hwy 40 bridge and Weldon springs)

I know it's been on here before, but the connector opened last weekend. If you're

coming from the highway, you'll never find it (no signs up on the road yet). SO, here's

directions:

Take Highway 40 to Mo Research Park exit, just west of the Boone Bridge (now open east

and westbound). From Hwy 40 westbound, turn right off the round-about and go over

the overpass. From Hwy 40 eastbound, turn right. Follow the road back to the stop

sign. If you look to your left, you will see a drive that heads down into the woods. Take

this quick left down to the Duckett Creek water works (12 Mo Research Park Drive?).

Can't miss the trailhead at the bottom.

We had the place to ourselves today, except for the lone mountain biker that followed us,

"because we looked like we knew where we were going" and was surprised to find himself

on the Katy Trail!

It's just as you said it was. It really cuts out some time from Chesterfield to the trail. Thanks for the notice.



Mark

We just went out to Abigail's for my birthday this past Sunday and it was FABULOUS! If it were closer I would definitely make it a weekly visit. The food was amazing and prices were so reasonable. I highly recommend it for any dinner.

We just went out to Abigail's for my birthday this past Sunday and it was FABULOUS! If it were closer I would definitely make it a weekly visit. The food was amazing and prices were so reasonable. I highly recommend it for any dinner.

We ate here on our last trip through town. It is not nearly as good as the steakhouse on Main st. Go to Little Big Horn for GOOD QUALITY BBQ and the best steaks and prime rib. It is the only place we will eat at from now on.

We ate here on our last trip through town. It is not nearly as good as the steakhouse on Main st. Go to Little Big Horn for GOOD QUALITY BBQ and the best steaks and prime rib. It is the only place we will eat at from now on.

It is the only place in town to get food on a Sunday evening, so make reservations before 2:00. Very glad we made reservations and went there for dinner. The menu was upscale and unique. The food was great and the chocolate raspberry pie was fantastic.

It is the only place in town to get food on a Sunday evening, so make reservations before 2:00. Very glad we made reservations and went there for dinner. The menu was upscale and unique. The food was great and the chocolate raspberry pie was fantastic.

We were lucky enough to get a table after one of the longest 50 mile rides in history (four flats in 9 miles) even though we had to call ahead and push our reservation back a few times. Even though we were dead tired and four hours late, Abigails made the trip worth it. We were served huge portions of delicious, unique, pasta, preceded by a very nice salad. The wine list was short but great and we finished the meal off with chocolate raspberry pie. I’ll certainly go back on my next trip through town.

We were lucky enough to get a table after one of the longest 50 mile rides in history (four flats in 9 miles) even though we had to call ahead and push our reservation back a few times. Even though we were dead tired and four hours late, Abigails made the trip worth it. We were served huge portions of delicious, unique, pasta, preceded by a very nice salad. The wine list was short but great and we finished the meal off with chocolate raspberry pie. I’ll certainly go back on my next trip through town.

Yes, Abigails has a fine feel and the freshest of everything. Really adds to the charm of Rocheport. Cyclists, do yourselves a favor.

Yes, Abigails has a fine feel and the freshest of everything. Really adds to the charm of Rocheport. Cyclists, do yourselves a favor.

Our stay was fantastic! Thanks Luci for making our first trek on the trail memorable. We will see you again next year!

Our stay was fantastic! Thanks Luci for making our first trek on the trail memorable. We will see you again next year!

I would highly suggest that everyone stop in Hartsburg and check out the town, eat lunch, stay the the B&B's, or whatever you can do to support the town and their economy for supporting the Katy Trail. More details in the Hartsburg section of the forums.....

Jason, I can't agree with you more. We've been riding the Katy for several years & ALWAYS make it a point to stop in Hartsburg to eat @ Dotty's at least once (sometimes twice). We've also stayed at the Globe Hotel. The folks in Hartsburg are wonderful. I encourage everyone to stop in & help support this great town.

I like Hartsburg. Within a 100 yards of the trail, you can get a decent B&B and good food (Dottie's). I especially like stating out early in the morning, on the trail riding in less than a minute. No traffic worries. Smile as I look in the distance at the bridge at Jeff City that I didn't have to deal with.. Yep, going to get me a love Hartsburg bumper sticker..

My mom is so glad she picked Hartsburg to retire to. After growing up in Columbia, working in Johnson county KS, and living in Independence, she was more than glad to plop down in Hartsburg.

As for Dotty's, thats a breakfast that cant be beat!

Please give the Hartsburg Inn your patronage. I was hiking the trail last year and was unable to use any of the campgrounds I planned on using due to flooding. I had hiked over 20 miles in 90 degree heat and was just unable to go any further. I only had the money to pay for the campgrounds that I depended on so Cathy let me have a few dollars of credit that was immediately paid by the way. She was a lifesaver that day so please stay there as my way of paying it forward.

The gentleman who lives just north of the trail is a lifesaver. This eccentric saint was kind enough to sell us a tire and install it. He also adjusted the brakes and made sure everything was tip top before we headed down the trail. We practically had to force him to take any payment for his trouble. He doesn’t have a lot of new parts for sale but if you need something adjusted or repaired keep him in mind. Thanks Al!

We stopped in for lunch in October. Cheeseburgers and chili were great! Not to mention we were able to witness the most profane woman ever! Very impressive.

We stopped in for lunch in October. Cheeseburgers and chili were great! Not to mention we were able to witness the most profane woman ever! Very impressive.

We had breakfast at the Mokane Bar and Grill June 22, 2007. Very friendly owner and the omlets are the best ever.

We had breakfast at the Mokane Bar and Grill June 22, 2007. Very friendly owner and the omlets are the best ever.

I also had breakfast here a couple of times. Must be the only bar and grill on the whole trail that serves breakfast, other than possibly the Twin Gables in Marthasville.

I also had breakfast here a couple of times. Must be the only bar and grill on the whole trail that serves breakfast, other than possibly the Twin Gables in Marthasville.

Oops. Forgot about Trailside Bar & Grill in Rhineland.

Oops. Forgot about Trailside Bar & Grill in Rhineland.

Stopped at Jim's and he scared the heck out of me with his Hell's Angels outfit. I forgot it was Halloween. The supreme pizza was one of the best I've had in a long while. Reminded me of the Bandera's that used to be near Saint Louis U.

Stopped at Jim's and he scared the heck out of me with his Hell's Angels outfit. I forgot it was Halloween. The supreme pizza was one of the best I've had in a long while. Reminded me of the Bandera's that used to be near Saint Louis U.

A biker commented recently that he was going to store items along the trail as most places are closed in the winter. Towns along the trail are working on Heritage Tourism and are wanting to band together on a Manitou Bluffs Organizationn that would include winerys, delis, bike shops, goat cheese farms, melons, grapes etc. Perhaps an organization such as this could also provide items needed for bikers as they play a large part of tourism for the little towns along the trail. What items are you talking about. Hartsburg is interested in year round visitors. Lets talk.

Don't bike shops, grocery stores, etc. now provide items for bikers? I've not needed goat cheese or melons on any trips on the Katy, but I guess I'm not really sure what you are talking about michael. Although at times a well stocked bike shop every ten miles would be handy, I don't see the feasibility.

In Sedalia there is lots of things open for Trail Riders. Restaurants, grocery stores, bike

shops and Katy Trail souviners. Call for any directions to these places, most are within 6

blocks or less of the trailheads.

Linda

While the average marathon biker wouldn't like an organization consisting of B & B's, cafes, delis, goat cheese farms, pumpkin farms etc we think many people would see us as a destination. Somewhere to go and stay a week and to sample 100 to 200 business in our organization. It has worked well in the area south of St Louis and we are now trying to organize here. Some or all of these business might be willing to have on hand items needed for bikers or hikers or joggers if we knew of the need. The Manitou Bluffs group met yesterday for the first time and are in the preliminary stages of getting organized. Anyone along the KATY Trail or MISSOURI River should be interested as this could increase usage and facilities.

My appologies for my confusion....but I still am trying to understand what it is that you are talking about. What do you mean that the average marathon biker wouldn't like an organization consisting of B & B's, etc.? Why or how so? All bike riders sleep and eat at some point in time. And how are people to arrive at an organization as a trip destination? Is this so called organization a place? What is actually happening south of St. Louis that we should be interested in?

The Missouri Regional Cuisines Project began in Missouri, south of St Louis, as the Mississippi River Hills project in 2003. Future projects will be the Manitou Bluffs (Boonville to Hermann), The Old Trails Region (Boonville to KC), and Missouri River Valley, (Hermann to St Louis). It helps promote and market Missouri wine and food products based on ecological regions in the state. The target audience is regional food producers, wineries, tourism destinations. locally owned B & Bs, resturants and arts and crafts shops featuring Missouri products, and economic and tourism development. By banding together it is our hope that all of the above can pool their resources to help each other in advertising the KATY Trail and the Missouri River and its attractions. By helping each other, through advertising, money and meetings we hope to increase usage of the trail and river which should help riders on the trail. More business could mean more places to get supplies or get a tire fixed or a place to stay that is historically interesting enough to get you to stay there and to find out more about the entire area. For more info you should contact Dr Elizabeth Barham. Leader, Missouri Regional Cuisines Project of the University of Missouri. her EMAIL is http://extension.missouri.edu/cuisines. I think a plan to organize and share will help us all as we try to increase tourism and usage of these two great resources.

I have had the pleasure of riding the KATY on many occassions over the past 4 years including a 3 day through ride from Clinton to St. Charles 2 years ago this week and a 32 mile section of it as recently as a week ago.



One thing I would find helpful is some consistency in when shops and restuarants are opened. I realize it is hard for shop keepers, etc. to be open all of the time as they are most often "mom and pop" businesses, but I have often been surprised that something is closed during what I would consider to be fairly standard/normal times.



I now never leave for a ride on the KATY without calling the places I depend on for resupply to make sure they are going to be opened. That is kind of a hassle, but maybe it is the only option/solution.



My wife is not interested in riding as I am, but is often ready to come along with me to search some of the small speciality stores, antique shops or other shopping adventures along the KATY. She will always be interested in more options in that regard.



The KATY is a phenominal resource in my opinion. Every time I ride it I applaud the visionary leadership that went into it's creation and the work that goes into to keeping it in such good condition.



I wish my state of residence (neighboring Kansas) had leadership that was willing to think in such visionary ways and on such a grand scale. Despite good faith efforts on the part of a few, there does not seem to be the political will to take such bold steps.



Best wishes in your promotion of the trail.

I agree with ElToro on open hours. For the working folk that wants to hit the trail for a few days, a very viable option is to use a couple of vacation days in conjunction with the weekend.



If we burn a Thursday and a Friday we are generally ok finding places open along the trail because we are heading home on the Sunday closed shop day. But if we go Monday and Tuesday, then with Sunday and Monday closings we are bound to find ourselves looking at closed doors for two days in the middle of the trip.



Because we're from Missouri and ride often, we know the Monday closed gig and carry an adequate supply of food and water. And we use this site to find out who is open and when and carry that information with us when we ride. For those that are less familiar with the trail closings it is probably a bigger issue when they get stranded out....and then they post here wondering what on earth the deal is beings they got shanked into being stuck out on the trail without the basics.

There can never be too many stops along the trail. There are stretches that are quite long,

and if one store is closed for the day/season--it can be a long stretch for water or a snack.

We try to pack along as much as we can, but like to stop and grab bottles of water and

snacks/light lunch (ice cream in the summer!) when available. Even installing a soda

machine out front is a godsend. I understand winter is not peak season, but there are still

some of us out there, happy to support the locals. (Our new retirement plan is a house

along the trail, where I can sell snacks from my rocker on the front porch! A box of

cookies and cooler of water on the honor system for days I sleep in!)

The Hartsburg Cycle Depot,now in Jefferson city, is looking into installing a dispensing machine, much like a coke machine, that would dispense tubes, stems etc in Hartsburg. Has anyone ever tried one of these? Would you use it? I guess it could also put out water or ????

If there was a machine like that, I think it would be beneficial to have a credit card slot on it as well. I'm sure a lot of people will have cash with them, but I'm sure most will have debit/credit cards along to save weight......and they are a bit more secure along the trail.

For anyone who likes outstanding root beer floats, this is the place!!!

The young man and woman that were working in there last Friday didn't impress me one bit. I would be very surprised if they knew their own names.....

What would it take to make you happy, Jason?

He probably needs a new mask.

Jason....with several threads here about businesses along the trail learning to become biker friendly, it may be prudent to keep in mind that there exists a two way street between the biker and the business. Comments that imply that someone is so challenged that they don't even know their own name does little to build a good working relationship between the Katy rider and the business that we wish to serve us.



You can be part of the solution....or you can be part of the problem.



You had a bad experience at the Trailside.....so be it. It is not always someone elses fault when that happens. You can continue to bash them here at will....but in this case, they are not the one looking immature.

I'm actually just having fun with EB. Chill....

The problem with such comments is that folks cannot "read between the lines" and know this was done in fun, and thus assume it is a negative comment on the business, person, service, or whatever.



Let's keep life positive!

Oh, it was originally a negative comment on the everything you listed. I was not impressed at all, but it has seemed to have turned into a bit of a fun crow-fest with EB, which is sorta fun too. lol