Katy Trail Forum

Has any one eaten here? It sounds like a cool place, but I haven't seen any comments on it.

It is an excellent place to dine. Their raspberry chipolte entree is excellent, but I think just depends on what is on the menu on a given day. Excellent tho.

Three things come to mind:

1. expensive!

2. "strange" items on the menu - try to get a normal steak!

3. the only thing open on Sundays...

Bottom line, If you are looking for "normal" cuisine, look somewhere else.

great place to eat. if you like flavor, and chain restaurants don't do it for you, you can't go wrong. i've ate there for lunch w/ friends on a day ride, and I take my g/f there for a nice dinner too. if you are going for dinner make reservations, though.

Strange? I think you mean gourmet! The food is fantastic with wonderful, original recipes on the menu that alternate each day. One of the best chef's in Missouri owns the place. If you love fine food, you'll love this place and while not exactly cheap, the prices seem quite reasonable for the type of food served. I've eaten there a number of times.

I don't think the cater to the bicycle crowd. They didn't look too excited when I walked up in spandex and a light coat of sweat from a 30 mile ride.



Try Trailside Cafe (right in the same town). Eat on the outside patio and watch the action on the trail. Test ride their bikes too!

Don't go to a gourmet restaurant if you're a McDonald's kind of guy. The food is excellent, and for the food served here, the prices are downright cheap! They do cater to trail riders---have them there all the time. Now if you smelled really gross, I can see why you might not be welcome.

They're amateurs

looks yummy

This was the only place in Missouri that had decent bread and lettuce. Loved every bite. They can't be responsible for sweat paranoia. Let us sit there and read the books we had purchased across the street at Pebble Publishing.

Sweat paranoia has nothing to do with it. Their associates are equal to any McDonald's worker in any inner city.



Pebble's and Rocheport is great. While there, go eat at the Trailside Cafe.

The line cook everyone calls a chef that owns it has not been to culinary school. He's just cocky and knows how to read a cook book. Yeah!!! Don't be disillusioned that the hole in the wall restaurant is good. It's just budget gourmet meals microwaved and slapped on a plate served by McDonald's quality staff. Bon Appetit!!!!

Abigail's is hands down one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. Who cares if the chef hasn't been to culinary school? He's got plenty of experience, as you would know if you would have really done your research. He was the head chef at Les Bourgeois winery in Rocheport for a number of years (which has excellent food as well) before he opened Abigail's. If you don't know good food, then don't write negative comments!

They're amatures.



Several other riders have made similar comments on other threads. Where there's smoke...



Guess it depends on how world traveled you are.

I've been there a few times and have always been pleased with the food. Their prices are fair and the desserts are great. However, the menu is a bit different and may not appeal to everyone.

Horrid service. Beyond unprofessional. Other threads on this forum say the same. Don't go.

We eat at Abigail's often and refer many B&B guests as well. Most meals I've had there have been excellent(about 100) and I routinely question our guests about their experiences. Most are very positive about the food and the price. Most comment that an equivalent dinner in a larger town would cost much more money. A small number of guests are disappointed in food and/or price. Several years ago, New York Times travel writers complimented Abigails. About two years ago, Southern Living Magazine named Abigails dessert as their "staff favorite dessert" within Southern Living's circulation area (about 1/3 of USA). They are generally excellent and are accessable to cyclists especially at lunch time. Dressing up a bit from your cycling gear would be nice for dinner time. The owners are competition cyclists and tryathletes and are members of the national champion tryathlon team based in Columbia, MO.

Great. You would only not like the place if you are the franchise type of eater that won't try new eats.

Having thought more about various flames directed at Abigails or others by BikeKatyTrail visitors, I'd like to offer the following comments. When you attack a business, town, etc. it is helpful to the rest of us if you describe your own behavior/appearance/demeaner/expertise/etc. I find it difficult to believe that a successful hospitality business would randomly pick you out for special and bad treatment unless your behavior somehow contributed to the situation. So, please be a better reporter, show some personal insight and tell us what you did and how that contributed to the situation. It's only fair.

I have never been to Abigails, However...I would love to try it. The comments are 50/50 so I say even. I know there are lots of cyclist that rather eat regular stuff. Nothing wrong with that. If I were having a good time, hungry, and not picky, I would try Abilgails. If I were a picky eater, I would bring my own lunch or a bunch'a cereal bars.

As far as service goes, I hate bad service. That alone will send me packing. But I agree with last comment, there must be a reason why you got bad service.

I guess I will have to check for myself.

Please keep in mind also, if you went to Mc Donnalds and the food/service was bad...would you take your time and write it in a Forum?

Too each his own.

A friend introduced me to Abigails...quickly a favorite of mine. It is a very quaint and simple place, but the menu is unique and delicious. Everything we have ordered was wonderful. If you are looking for a unique and truly delicious dining experience, then this is the place. The meals are not cheap, but not outrageous either. Don't show up without reservations, or you may miss out. Rocheport is the perfect backdrop for this special place.

"I find it difficult to believe that a successful hospitality business would randomly pick you out for special and bad treatment unless your behavior somehow contributed to the situation. So, please be a better reporter, show some personal insight and tell us what you did and how that contributed to the situation. It's only fair."



(Saturday noonish) I walked in, stood quietly by the door, and stood without being acknowledged for about 8 minutes. The workers looked at me, passed by, and said nothing many times. I stood there and looked at them. They kept working and looked at me. I finally initiated conversation with excuse me... Strange.



My wife and child stood outside on the sidewalk.



All a worker has to do is "I'll be right with you" as they pass by. It's just common courtesy and not too difficult.



They're unprofessional.

Try it, you will like it. Go early for dinner if possible, i.e. reservations for 5:00 or 5:30 pm. If cold outside, don't sit up front by the window. From a senior who rides a Harley and appreciates good food and service.

Am I the only one to read this string and notice that every negative comment is anonymous? This causes me to suspect the motives of the person{s} who posted the negative comments. Having eaten at Abigails several times and found it excellent, my conclusion is that Mr. or Ms. Negativity has an agenda. A competitor perhaps?



David Roundy, Webster Groves, MO

They suck!

I hate them too!!!

They are terrible neigbors. Dirty kitchen too. Their little dog is in the dinning room and kitchen during off hours.



Run - Run!

You might want to take the above three comments with a grain of salt. Not only were they posted within a few minutes of each other, but my web server log indicates that all three came from the same IP address (i.e. all 3 posts came from the same computer).


Based on other comments coming from that same IP address back in April-June, I don't think it's a competitor - probably just someone who had a bad experience there.


The "little dog" comment did make me chuckle though...

Ray,

I knew I was fooling no one - it was kind of a joke. You know I've posted several positive comments about establishments along the trail.



The service is horrible at Abigails, and that little black and white pug type dog is for real!! I've seen it in the restaurant.



Thanks for your service to the trail.

I must reply to "Roger/Jason/Kim." I would really like to know how making negative comments is "kind of a joke?" If you really are a neighbor, please approach me in person so that we might discuss this. My wife and I have owned and ran Abigail's restaurant for 10 years now and in a business where only 20% survive past 2 years, we must be doing something right. That something is the food. I have never called myself a chef and if anyone were to ask (and they do) where I went to culinary school the answer is always the same: "I never went to culinary school." Our menu does change every day and being able to have an ever-rotating menu allows us to try some combinations that some might not expect (or like.) We don't use a microwave - you can stand in front of the open kitchen and watch us cook your food to order when it comes in. I will admit that occasionally (sometimes more than occasionally) we get so "slammed" that patrons are often not helped or seated as soon as they walk in the door; we've had that problem for years. At Abigail's, our food cost is over 30%, compared to the industry standard of 25% or less and, it should be noted that the price you pay for dinner includes your entree, a salad, bread, veggie and starch. We have a ton of regular customers and we love them, just like we love the town of Rocheport. I invite anyone to visit us and please, have a little patience if we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off. Again, I would ask "Roger/Kim/Jason" to visit with me, but I doubt that they will for the same reason they create false names. Thanks to the people who did post positive comments - we get a ton of those in person and they are always appreciated even if we are too busy to acknowledge them as we should.

Oh, by the way, we do have two little dogs and they are Boston Terriers (Jake and Percy are their names) not pugs and they are in the restaurant from time-to-time in our off hours. The cat is not allowed in. Todd

Does anyone have an e-mail address for Greg who has a blog site detailing his hike??

This is Greg of the hiking website. What would you like to know?

Greg,

I'll be hiking from Machens to Clinton in June. Are there any problem areas I need to watch for? I guess I'd like to know if you encountered long stretches without water, how much water did you carry, and what type of food you brought.

P.S. Love the blog site!!

Doug

You should have a blast.

I can only speak for the 160-mile stretch from McKittrick to Clinton. I am planning to do the stretch from McKittrick to St. Charles (or Machens) sometime the coming Spring.

In no particular order, here are some thoughts:

--Are you going to have a support person or go self-contained? I live in Columbia, so I was able to sleep at home for five nights. I didnt have to carry a lot of gear on those days.

--Camping or B&Bs? I did a little of both. Campgrounds are pretty sparse in some areas. I hear great things about Steamboat Junction in Bluffton. I camped in Steedman. The bar was OK, but don't expect it to be quiet on weekend nights. Those folks like to party! Pilot Grove allows camping in their park, and it has restrooms and a pool in the summer.

If you are doing B&Bs/hotels, I can recommend Birk's in Hermann (across the river from McKittrick). Rick will pick you up from the trail, and they are great. I stayed at the Hotel Bothwell in Sedalia, and it was pretty cool.

--Water is a problem at times. Many of the trailheads don't have running water, especially in the eastern part. Many of the businesses nearby do offer water, but that means getting off the trail. Never very far, but after 10-15 miles, it gets a little long, and you have to consider when these places are open for business. Another consideration is restroom availability. A good portion of the trailheads are outhouses. Some were pretty clean, but others were frankly beyond filthy. I am not squeamish, but when there is excrement encrusted toilets and floors (Mokane, I am thinking of you), I am not using them.

You probably already know about the best resources for planning the trip, this website. I could not have done what I did without it. High Kudos to Ray for all his work!

I know this is getting long. If you have more specific questions, I will be happy to tell you anything that I know. Have a great walk!

Though it has not been finalized yet(usually not until Feb. 2007), the DNR bike ride next year should begin in Clinton, MO around June 18 and proceed to St. Charles.



So, in theory, someone leaving St. Charles in early June could hike to Clinton and be there around June 18, and then catch the 5-day DNR bike ride back to St. Charles. Just something to think about.

The 2007 DNR ride is June 18 - 22.



Walk'n the Katy then turning right around and ride'n it sounds like a good way to get sore feet and a sore hind quarter all in a few weeks time with the summer to recover.

Too True, Trek.

Wow, illiteration and everything!

SJK,

Thanks for the heads=up. I think I'll pass on the ride back, I think I'll be about Katy Trailed out for a few weeks after my little hike (LOL).

Hey Doug,

Now it is your turn. How long have you been hiking? Have you done any portions of the trail before? etc, etc.

I did quite a bit when in the Army (retired now). I can honestly say I've hiked the entire Katy over the last 2 years, just not the whole thing at once. I've spent a lot of time on PracticalBackpacking.com to research the different non-military (thus lighter) that's out there. I'm 45, I think doing the trail is my mid-life crisis!!

Claysville is only open on weekends.

Saturday: 4:00 to 8:00

Sunday:12:30 to 4:00

The ivy cottage tea rooms food is a amazeing it's all home made its like eating at your grandmas place and very cute and butiful the waitresses are very nice and sweet it is open in the after noons and also dose cattering might i add they have a differnt speical everyday but in a nut shell its a wonderful place full of woderful people and food! but dont take my word for it check it out your self!

The ivy cottage tea rooms food is a amazeing it's all home made its like eating at your grandmas place and very cute and butiful the waitresses are very nice and sweet it is open in the after noons and also dose cattering might i add they have a differnt speical everyday but in a nut shell its a wonderful place full of woderful people and food! but dont take my word for it check it out your self!

I think anyone who is a vistor to Sedalia and needs some where to eat they should definetly go to the Ivy Cottage Tearoom.It is all sooo good! It is very friendly and helpful.The cooks and staff are very friendly.It makes you feel right at home!

I think anyone who is a vistor to Sedalia and needs some where to eat they should definetly go to the Ivy Cottage Tearoom.It is all sooo good! It is very friendly and helpful.The cooks and staff are very friendly.It makes you feel right at home!

We locked our bikes and walked in to the greetings of "hello" from about 5 employees.This was a great beginnining and was followed by a wonderful lunch at a great price. It's a 1904 building and the young owners are trying to instill the hominess from that time.I wish I were going to be around to try their Friday night steak special.If it's anything like today,it would be hard to beat....great food, and a wonderful atmosphere...great fudge to go, by the way.



John from New Jersey

We locked our bikes and walked in to the greetings of "hello" from about 5 employees.This was a great beginnining and was followed by a wonderful lunch at a great price. It's a 1904 building and the young owners are trying to instill the hominess from that time.I wish I were going to be around to try their Friday night steak special.If it's anything like today,it would be hard to beat....great food, and a wonderful atmosphere...great fudge to go, by the way.



John from New Jersey

I am planning a trip for next spring and was curious how safe the trailhead parking areas are since we will be leaving our car for several days.

The link above to the Amtrak timetable is two years out of date. The correct link to the current timetable is:



http://www.amtrak.com/timetable/oct06/W21.pdf

Thank you - I always appreciate any help keeping up with old links or links that no longer work. I have updated the schedule link on the Amtrak page.

I am sure it has been done in even less time than that but I plan on crunching it out this weekend 11/10 to 11/11 and wanted to hear any other riders input. I plan on having to hump it out about 115 miles the first day to jefferson city. Then on the second day to St charles.

I am looking to get input from other riders. anything about the trek, average miles per hour, and helpful info.

Thanks,

Shane

It has been done in less than 24 hours. It is easily doable in 3 days. Trail conditions will be critical. Given all of the rain of late you will have to deal with some really crappy conditions at some locales and that will cut down your velocity. That in combination with the time change will keep you humping. Have fun.

A lot of it depends on how strong of a rider you are and the conditions. I thought that I was in really good shape but when we did the trail, it was tougher than we thought. The heat, wind, and trail condition made us average around 10-11mph. We had some gear, but nothing crazy. Riding on the gravel is not at all like riding on the pavement. Our longest day was 75 miles and it took us (taking our time) from 7am to about 5pm. You will definitely have to go fast and take little to no breaks. Even if you average 17 (which would be a fast pace), the riding time would be almost 7 hours. The trail is beautiful and you will miss a lot going that fast, but to each his own. Good luck and let us know how you do!

If I had any desire to ride the Katy in two days (I don't!) I would want to do it when the weather is warmer and the daylight hours are longer. Covering 115 miles this time of year sounds uncomfortable and stressful to me. If you go this weekend, you might consider wearing some 'blaze orange'. Don't be alarmed by the gun shots, it is just opening weekend of the firearms deer season!

And a good point that is!



We often ride the Steamboat Trace which is maintained by Nemaha county government in Nebraska. It was once rail service hauling coal for the Nebraska Public Power District from Nebraska City to the power plant south of Brownville.



The Steamboat Trace is posted as closed during Nebraska deer firearms season.

I know the weather was VERY warm this week in MO. Not to discourage you, but have you read the forecast for THIS weekend in mid MO? Two day ride in that sounds crazy to me! Good luck! :)

Did you get the Trail done in 2 days?



I did it in three in mid-October with day one being 114 miles from Clinton to Hartsburg. Took it easy on day two with a 50 miler to Rheinland and finished up with 67 to St. Charles on day 3.



It got me thinking about a day 2 ride. In my opinion, day one would be the hardest as the route is toughest from Clinton to Booneville (in my opinion).



Good luck - have fun!

Hello,

My wife and I are planning a trip to MO to ride the Katy. We are mostly roadies and have only ridden paved asphalt trails in Indiana and Ohio. How is the packed AG lime surface of the Katy to ride? Are we OK using 700C X 23 tires or should go wider for better control?

Thanks for your support.

Hello there, my buddy and I have ridden almost the entire Katy using our roadies and they worked out great. I however wouldn't recommend anything smaller than a 700x25 tire though. It will help reduce the # of flats. I used the 700x25 setup for 180 miles and only got 1 flat and that was because of a faulty tube. We even rode an entire day in the rain and we didn't have any problems at all with the 700x25's. I think if you step up a size or 2 over the 23's you will be set. Have fun and enjoy your ride!!

I don't want to discourage you from riding the trail, but don't show up expecting to be riding on ag lime. The trail is surface with what is variously referred to as crusher dust or mineral matter depending on its final use. Although the material is fine, and usually packed quite well, the particle distribution included a significant amount of material of to 1/4" in diamter, and some larger than that. It is not a silky smooth ride but careful navigation will be make it the great experience that it is.

The trail also has a variety of material depending on where you are. In wooded areas expects sticks, branches, leaves and other forms of organic material. In wet areas there can be mud or wash-out material and good sized rocks near the bluffs. For the most part, do expect a nice crushed stone surface.

I agree that the surface is not all that great. I rode the 290 miles on the trail with 700x28 tires and had 10-12 times when I almost went down due to the surface. There are lots of leaves, twigs, sticks, rocks, walnuts, etc that make it tough riding in some places. I am an experienced rider and would not recommend anything smaller than a 28cc tire. I would also make sure to get a tire with a Kevlar belt and a puncture resistant tube. I have no flats only because of good tires and tubes. Good luck and have fun!

My experience on a 100+ mile ride a couple weeks ago was very good. I was surprised how ridable the surface was, since the first day of my ride & the prior two days were quite rainy. There were a couple places (mostly on the Columbia Spur) with some fairly deep (3"?) ruts and a little mud, but overall the surface was smooth & hard-packed & the rain actually helped keep the dust down. The comments above about "organic material" are very true - there were tons of leaves & branches on the trail, but they didn't cause too many problems. BTW, I rode on 700x28s with Kevlar tires. Great ride!

I pulled off the miracle of all miracles last month when I did the trail from end to end and many side trips. I finished with 298.7 miles and no flats! I owe it all to good living and modern chemistry in the form of puncture-resistant tires and tubes. The cheapest insurance you can buy and well worth the investment to keep kids along the trail from learning oilfield language while changing flats.

I rode from Clinton to St. Charles (231 miles) in mid-October and found the trail to be wonderful! There are plenty of leaves, etc. on the Trail as others have noted, but had absolutely no problems (and no flats) riding a Fuji Cross with 700 x 28 Kevlar tires. A great experience that I would strongly recommend. Can't wait to do it again!

We recently had the luxury of staying three nights in the Hermann area. Each morning we were treated to a fabulous breakfast at this great old house. Rick and Dianne went out of their way to make sure we had just what we needed and wanted. We're seasons B&Bers, and found this one to be an absolute delight.

I recently received the following note (thanks J.C.!) regarding puncture hazards near Weldon Spring. The highway 40 overpass is 5 miles north/east of the Weldon Spring trailhead. I have notified the MO DNR, but this sort of thing may be very hard to clean up. As always, travel with spare tubes and a pump!

I have had recurrent problems with flat tires along a short section of the trail under the highway 40 bridge in the Weldon Spring area. A friend has had similar difficuties. The problem has occurred in the past couple of weeks. We have been almost daily trail users for several years and have never encountered this problem previously. We have found numerous slivers of glass in that area, but we have been unable to clear them ourselves. I would appreciate your help addressing this problem.

I didn't notice that much glass there, but I did notice that when passing through Sedalia some mean little something or another had managed to burst glass bottles at almost every street crossing the trail took through town! After about the third occurence it became obvious that it was deliberate and I slowed down to avoid the messes.

I have read comments about various locations along the trail turning off their water for the winter. I have a map (from this website) showing me where I can get water, but how can I find out which water sources are still available throughout the winter months?

I have updated the website to include all the seasonal closings that I know of. So as you browse through the website or use the "Plan-a-Ride" feature, you'll see "Closed for the season" appear in red for those businesses/services. If anyone is aware of any seasonally closed businesses that are not marked as such on the website, please let me know. Closings mostly include trailhead facilities with running water and bike shops along the trail. Some trail-based businesses also operate on reduced hours in the winter - call ahead to be sure.



SM, if you were using the Plan-a-Ride feature to get water locations, be sure you also check the boxes for the Grocery and Vending options. Most of these will have bottled water or sports drink that you can buy - even if they only have soda, that's better than getting dehydrated.



Good luck!

Thank you! That's very helpful.