Katy Trail Bed & Bikefest (Rocheport)
- + This is a good, little place and perfect for through-riders. I have stayed there a few times. Its not as fancy as the others, nor is it as expensive. We have had to call them for supplies and someone ...
Discussion started 08/01/2008 05:16 PM by Claire - 5 replies (last reply by Brett Dufur at 09/05/2008 07:41 PM)Claire from St. Louis on 08/01/2008 05:16 PM
This is a good, little place and perfect for through-riders. I have stayed there a few times. Its not as fancy as the others, nor is it as expensive. We have had to call them for supplies and someone always came right over. We landed there once after a 60+ mile day and found everything we needed including a laundry we could use for our soaking wet and dirty gear. One time we came we shared the house with another couple were not not very considerate of us. Our room was next to the dining area and they did not even try to be quiet at 6am.
A couple of other quick remarks. They are very forthcoming on their website of what to expect. Please take time to read about the places you are staying in detail so you don't get surprised.
Also, think it is tacky of the Boonville B&B to promote themselves on this comment page - sheesh.
gc from Columbia, Mo. on 08/01/2008 07:54 PM
Claire,
I am sure the owners of Katy Trail Bed & Bikefest would rather take a Missouri River canoe trip or publish a series of books than to ever be so tacky as to use the comment forum to promote any businesses that they may own.
;-)
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Brett Dufur from Rocheport on 09/03/2008 12:24 PM
Claire, Thanks for your thoughts. We really strive to make the B&B a comfortable home away from home. A lot of our guests comment on how cozy and inviting our place is. I'm glad you felt the same way and enjoyed your stay. Hope to see you in Rocheport this fall!
kim from independence, mo on 09/04/2008 01:11 PM
Brett - Have to set the record straight. We did try calling the numbers posted in the kitchen (in search of the elusive TP) but never got a response. Message was left. You offered a free nights stay or free canoe trip. We opted for the canoe trip while on a short camping/biking trip Memorial Weekend of 2007. You (or someone at Mighty MO) called my cell the day before the trip and cancelled the trip. We have never been able to use that free stay/trip.
kim from independence, mo on 09/04/2008 01:19 PM
I imagine it can be quite challenging running a place like this - and I don't want my "missing TP" experience to keep people from riding the trail. I posted the original post when posting general experiences from riding the whole trail. I want to re-state - it's good to know others experiences when planning a ride. I take it all into account when planning. I see good & not so good experiences posted for almost every place that you can stay at, eat at, etc. along the trail. And what is a "great stay" for one person, may not be the same for someone else. And by the way, the Hot Tub at Katy B&B is a great addition for the price - and helped make up for the missing TP. Look at all the places along the trail and see how many you can stay at for the price that have a hot tub. Nothing feels quite so good after a long day on the trail!
Brett Dufur from Rocheport on 09/05/2008 07:41 PM
Hi Kim, Great to hear from you. Yep we have had to cancel numerous floats due to the fluctuating river levels. I know it is frustrating for our guests and for ourselves as well. The river is real low now and we should have two great months ahead of us for floats in Sept & October. Lots of sandbars, and watching the leaves change and the eagles return...
pre-teens alone on trail
- + We are considering allowing my 12-year-old and his buddy to ride a section of the trail by themselves in conjunction with a camping week-end. I would drive a support vehicle and keep in touch via cell...
Discussion started 07/17/2008 07:50 PM by TK - 12 replies (last reply by robert at 09/05/2008 12:55 PM)TK from Alma, MO on 07/17/2008 07:50 PM
We are considering allowing my 12-year-old and his buddy to ride a section of the trail by themselves in conjunction with a camping week-end. I would drive a support vehicle and keep in touch via cell phone. The area they would ride is the Hartsburg-Boonville section. I would let them off drive to the next town, wait for them, then proceed to the next stop, and so on. The boys are quite responsible and the segments are short enough they could walk out if there were mechanical problems. Safety issues are the biggest concern. Two in particular: 1)Is there enough traffic on the week-ends that two-legged predators would not be a problem? My thinking is that if you can go more than a quarter mile without seeing someone that is too unpopulated to be safe. 2)In the case of physical injury, how could they be taken care of? I assume hikers/bikers would lend an assist but how accessable is the trail to emergency vehicles?
Am I giving the boys too much freedom? Any comments/suggestions would be very welcome.
Thanks,
Tom
Anonymous on 07/17/2008 10:22 PM
We all parent differently, but if you doubt that it's a good idea, it probably isn't.
Gary near Tebbetts from Tebbetts on 07/17/2008 10:24 PM
That stretch usually has some heavy weekend traffic and good people willing to help other bikers in need of assistance. Depending on your cell provider, you may experience parts of it without service. When I rode it in the past using sprint, my service would usually drop out west of Hartsburg and I wouldn't try to use it again until I got to McBaine. I recently switched to Verizon but have not tried that section yet. ATT/Cingular people seemed to sometimes have coverage where mine dropped out.
Be sure to have them take plenty of water if they are riding in the heat, they will need it especially on the stretch from Rocheport to Boonville since it does not have much tree cover. Sun screen is an important necessity also.
Tubes with slime sealant in them would be a good idea to help prevent flats along the way if they are not mechanically inclined.
DougK from Troy on 07/17/2008 10:29 PM
The trail is safe but something like a breakdown or accident would be more of a concern to me.
emerson from STL on 07/18/2008 12:38 AM
Aww let him go... 12 is not the same thing as 8 or 10. Give he and his buddy a tent, some food, and a cell phone, and they'll be fine. The Katy Trail is about the safest place you can be. Follow along if you must.
Will I say the same thing when I have kids? Probably not.
Cliff from Edwardsville KS on 07/18/2008 08:23 AM
They will be fine. One thing I would do though is to change the route and go east instead of west. The ride is much more scenic with lots of benches to stop and rest on. The trail is used alot more heavier in that direction and on the weekend there should be alot of people riding from and to Columbia. Just check the map on this site and it will give you the towns going east so you can plan your check in and pickup sites. They will have a great time.
Ray (webmaster) on 07/18/2008 09:09 AM
Regarding emergency vehicles, most of the places where the trail crosses a major road have gates that can be unlocked and swung open to allow for full-sized vehicles. And most places where it crosses driveways or smaller gravel roads, there's nothing to block motor vehicles at all. I'm sure the local authorities know how to get to points on the trail pretty quickly if need be.
I would imagine that there have been a few emergencies on the trail, but honestly I've never heard of any.
It might help your peace of mind to print out this web page:
contact numbers for sheriff's departments and hospitals along the Katy Trail.
Pat from Home of Harry Truman on 07/18/2008 09:27 AM
Tom-The boys will be fine. All the other advice posted is good, and it sounds like you have a good plan laid out. Have fun and be safe.
jd from gkc on 07/18/2008 10:13 AM
You might ask your boys not to approach the Missouri River for any reason, not even to throw sticks or stones into it from the trail. Also, have them avoid any soft shoulders on the river side of the trail. One slip there could be dangerous. Basically - stay on the main trail and enjoy it.
TK from Alma, MO on 07/18/2008 09:41 PM
Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts. You've inspired the confidence my wife and I needed.
Thanks,
Tom
Matt from St. Charles on 08/16/2008 12:43 AM
I've been riding and hiking the Katy Trail since I was teenager and I have only encounter good, friendly people. If someone has a son or daughter interested in using the trail, go riding with them, and let the child be involved in the planning and preparation for the ride. I think that two 12 year olds with some experience on the trail and experience camping could do fine on an overnighter.
Barb from LS on 09/04/2008 02:04 PM
Hi,
I would be curious to hear how the trip went.
I know that when my son was in scouts they took trips...and let the fast boys go on ahead and stayed with the slower ones.
This is about ages 10? and up.
I have taken sections of it myself....and with my 2 girls since they where 8 and 10.
We always had good experiences.
I do keep the local sheriff number in my phone though...of the area...never needed it though.
robert from columbia on 09/05/2008 12:55 PM
The biggest danger is getting hit by a car. They need to stop at the intersections, LOOK
BOTH WAYS and then proceed with care. If you doubt they are mature enough for that
then they are not ready.
Its easy to get lulled into a false sense of safety on that trail but it crosses many highways.
Since the highways are not that busy that could also lull the young guys into a false sense
of security after they stop at the first two and see that no one is around.
I would not worry a bit about child molesters or that sort of thing.
Napoli (Boonville)
- + If you ask me, the food is excellent, they're just never open. They close from 2:00 P.M - 5:00 P.M!
Discussion started 01/21/2008 10:31 AM by someone - 7 replies (last reply by Steve R. at 09/05/2008 09:25 AM)someone from Boonville, MO on 01/21/2008 10:31 AM
If you ask me, the food is excellent, they're just never open. They close from 2:00 P.M - 5:00 P.M!
someone from Boonville, MO on 01/21/2008 10:31 AM
If you ask me, the food is excellent, they're just never open. They close from 2:00 P.M - 5:00 P.M!
Anonymous on 01/21/2008 12:59 PM
They've been open everytime we've eaten there.
Anonymous on 01/21/2008 12:59 PM
They've been open everytime we've eaten there.
GC from Columbia, Mo. on 01/22/2008 06:58 AM
How handy! They were open every time you ate there? Probably a little harder to eat there when they are closed, huh?
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
;-)
GC from Columbia, Mo. on 01/22/2008 06:58 AM
How handy! They were open every time you ate there? Probably a little harder to eat there when they are closed, huh?
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
;-)
Trek on 01/22/2008 08:00 AM
Ahhhh.....my point exactly GC! The food is excellent, they're just never open....thats what someone says anyway.
Trek on 01/22/2008 08:00 AM
Ahhhh.....my point exactly GC! The food is excellent, they're just never open....thats what someone says anyway.
Jim from St. Thomas on 01/22/2008 11:04 AM
I've been wanting to buy a restaurant that's never open but my bank won't give me a loan.
Jim from St. Thomas on 01/22/2008 11:04 AM
I've been wanting to buy a restaurant that's never open but my bank won't give me a loan.
Resident Biker from Boonville on 05/20/2008 11:21 AM
Cafe Napoli is open Monday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Tuesday - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Resident Biker from Boonville on 05/20/2008 11:21 AM
Cafe Napoli is open Monday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Tuesday - Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Anonymous on 05/20/2008 04:15 PM
OK, so they open for lunch and dinner. Why would that be a problem? I wouldn't sit around for three hours to serve MAYBE two people either.
Anonymous on 05/20/2008 04:15 PM
OK, so they open for lunch and dinner. Why would that be a problem? I wouldn't sit around for three hours to serve MAYBE two people either.
Steve R. on 09/05/2008 09:25 AM
WOW.... closed from 2-5 P.M. Just like all of Rome last time I visited. This is TRULY an Italian Resturant!!
Steve R. on 09/05/2008 09:25 AM
WOW.... closed from 2-5 P.M. Just like all of Rome last time I visited. This is TRULY an Italian Resturant!!
Does anyone know?
- + My niece and her husband want to ride the trail from southern Missouri to St. Charles, MO. (They live in Arkansas.) I thought that I heard on a news report that part of the Trail had been damaged b...
Discussion started 09/03/2008 01:47 PM by Terry - 1 reply (last reply by Marvin Winston at 09/04/2008 09:42 PM)Terry from Granite City on 09/03/2008 01:47 PM
My niece and her husband want to ride the trail from southern Missouri to St. Charles, MO. (They live in Arkansas.) I thought that I heard on a news report that part of the Trail had been damaged by flooding. Does anyone know where that was and has it been reparied?
Marvin Winston from Maumelle on 09/04/2008 09:42 PM
We rode the trail from Clinton to St. Charles the last week in July and the trail was in great shape. Read about it here:
www.mwkatytrail.blogspot.com
Scenic choices...need advice
- + We are going to make a few short two way trips on the trail this month and will most likely get on at McKittrick, Hermann, and Washington. We are novice cyclist and will probably ride about 10 miles o...
Discussion started 09/03/2008 04:26 PM by DaveinSEMO - 2 replies (last reply by Doug at 09/04/2008 07:23 PM)DaveinSEMO from Sikeston on 09/03/2008 04:26 PM
We are going to make a few short two way trips on the trail this month and will most likely get on at McKittrick, Hermann, and Washington. We are novice cyclist and will probably ride about 10 miles one way then turn around and return to the vehicle. From these 3 places, which direction would you recommend for the most scenic rides? Thanks for any help you can give!
fc on 09/04/2008 04:47 PM
daveinbsemo, sikeston,
can't help ya'll much on that part. me and wifey have ridden from st. charles to about 2 miles past green bottoms road, and defiance to augusta. i have ridden from boneville to no. jefferson trail head. i personally think the hartsburg to no. jeff is the best. however defiance to augusta is very nice also.
wherever ya'll ride, be careful and have fun.
Doug from Bluffton on 09/04/2008 07:23 PM
At McKittrick if you ride west 10 miles you will have lots of harvest to view and some beautiful bluffs. You also have the town of Rhineland for refreshments. If you are up to a 1 mile detour you can ride up to Starkenburg and see the original church buildings and have a view of the valley. If you ride east you will not have any towns to stop in but will have views of the harvest, the bluffs and in addition some places with good views of the river. There are some benches overlooking the river and if you take a picnic lunch can watch the river roll by as you eat. The Loutre Market at McKittrick is a good source for supplies. In short, both directions are fantastic this time of year.
Except today. Today they are soaking wet and grey. But then, that makes getting inside more rewarding.
St. Chuck - St.Louis Bike route?
- + Can anyone recommend a bike route from the St.Charles trailhead to downtown St. Louis? I'm a seasoned urban rider and don't mind rodes with moderate traffic. Thanks for your help.
Discussion started 09/02/2008 07:22 PM by Prolific Tom - 3 replies (last reply by stevie at 09/04/2008 09:57 AM)Prolific Tom from Kansas City on 09/02/2008 07:22 PM
Can anyone recommend a bike route from the St.Charles trailhead to downtown St. Louis? I'm a seasoned urban rider and don't mind rodes with moderate traffic. Thanks for your help.
Ray (webmaster) on 09/03/2008 11:29 AM
Anonymous on 09/04/2008 06:52 AM
Just go back up the trail to Washington, get a B&B, spend a relaxing evening without all the hassles of the big city and catch a train the next morning...
stevie from saint louis on 09/04/2008 09:57 AM
Anonymous, your advice presumes that this individual wants to get on a train and go back to wherever they came from, which is not even implied in the question.
Then, there is also the issue of getting to Washington, MO via a bike, which involves a potentially difficult ride across a very narrow Missouri River bridge to Washington, MO, not to mention the fact that Hwy 94 has no shoulders for much of that route.
Creasons Katy Trail Shuttle Services (Sedalia)
- + I have been trying to reach Gary for the past few days without success (the phone always rings busy). Is there another phone number other than the one posted?
Discussion started 08/30/2008 03:47 PM by Jean - 2 replies (last reply by Jean at 09/03/2008 11:10 PM)Jean from Anchorage, AK on 08/30/2008 03:47 PM
I have been trying to reach Gary for the past few days without success (the phone always rings busy). Is there another phone number other than the one posted?
Anonymous on 09/03/2008 10:28 PM
his (creason's) number may have changed. here is the latest one I've seen 573-694-2027
Jean from Anchorage, AK on 09/03/2008 11:10 PM
That's the number I have been trying.