Katy Trail Forum

We ate breakfast here. It was open early, good food with decent prices. You can see it from the trail & the ball park where we camped.

We ate breakfast here. It was open early, good food with decent prices. You can see it from the trail & the ball park where we camped.

no longer serving breakfast...

no longer serving breakfast...

Can anyone give me the phone number to the Claysville Restaurant that serves that wonderful fried chicken? Also, the address? I have tried w/no luck to contact them. We forgot to leave the waiter a tip this past Sunday and would like to mail one. Thanks. Rhonda

Sorry I do not have the address but I have the phone number

573-696-8443, maybe it will help you contact them. They will have a Hartsburg zip and maybe the postmaster in Hartsburg can help

(573-657-2300)if you can not get a hold of them.

We are planning to take our kids on a Katy ride this week. Does anyone know how far it is from the Weldon Spring trailhead to where Highway 40/61 intersects with the KT? We would appreciate the info. Thanks

I calculate the distance at about 3.25 miles, give or take a quarter mile. Round trip is surely less than seven miles. Have a great trip with the kids!

Thanks for your help!

I've been biking with a GPS unit from the Weldon Spring station. I'd guess that the bridge is 4.75-4.90 miles from the Weldon Spring stop. I know for a fact that I don't hit the bridge when I do four miles down and back - I've only hit it on a 10 or 11 mile round trip. Very nice stretch of trail, thick tree cover except for about .2 miles.

Merkin4, Thanks for the additional comment. We rode that section of the trail with the kids (ages 6,8,9) and it truly was majestic. We saw deer just off the trail 3 different times, found a turtle buring eggs on the edge of the trail, saw herrin in a wetland. We stopped on several occassions so the kids could look for rocks and fossils. It was a wonderful experience and we plan on doing it again soon!

pas, wentzville, sounds like ya'll had the perfect outing as a family. thanx for adding it. i certainly enjoyed reading it.

Glad you had a good time. I did this section again last night. Must have had 20-25 deer sightings, including a baby in the grass just off the trail. This GPSed out at 4.89 miles from Weldon Spring parking lot to directly under the middle of the two bridges. (I'm a little shocked that my original guess was a close as it was!)



I particularly like how there aren't usually a ton of people on this section of the trail - I only saw 2 other people last night on a ten mile ride. The swamps start around mile 3, and I'm sure there would be herons and any number of other critters out there if one slowed down to look. I've even seen deer out wading in the swamp. Frogs, turtles, deer, raccoons, oppossums, rabbits, squirrels, you name it. Then again, I'm still dealing with some nasty poison ivy burns on my hands from about four weeks ago, so it might not be a good section for really little kids.

My family just visited me from Sedalia and told me that Wheel-Inn is in danger of closing due to alterations to the 65 Highway. Is this true? This establishment should be on the National Register of Historic Places. Once on the Register, the owners can apply for federal funds for its up-keep and restoration. This process tales time and commitment from concerned individuals. My husband and I would be willing to help if someone could gather historical info.

Hartsburg is a clean and friendly little town. The only problem is that on a Sunday evening the only place to eat is the Hitching Post.

Dotty's closes at 2:00 and does not reopen until Wednesday, the Summit Lake Winery closes at 4:00 and does not reopen until Thursday. On Monday the only place that is open is the Cycle Depot, food is limited to snacks and drinks until 4:00pm when the Bar reopens.

Tuesday is a lost cause, no place is open, the only thing that can be found is the soda machine on the side of the bike shop. It has been known that if the owners of the bike shop are in they have opened for riders for food and repairs, but don't forget Tuesdays and Wednesdays are there days off. It is a shame that the three main food sources in town(Dottys, Summit Lake and Hitching post) do not work together to provide better coverage for the riders.



Just a little word to the wise, check out places before you ride, call and make sure they are open and never assume that all towns along the trail have places to eat, stay, grocerys or gas stations.

I have encountered similar issues in Hartsburg. I try to honor other people's days off as I am

usually out on the trail on my day off and I really hate it when I have work pestering me when

I am trying to enjoy a day away from the office. It is important for us to respect those small

business owners along the Trail as they are vital to making the Trail experience better!

My guess is that rider population is not great enough on days near the first of the week to mandate staying open then.....so many places don't. The same issues are there in Rocheport....Hermann....and so on.



The great part is that this fantastic website lists most of the businesses along the trail to help us plan our trip.



— Support the Katy! Ride 24/7!

Given that more than less folks pedal the KATY on week-ends pretty well speaks as to why vendors on the trail take "odd" days off. When my brothers and I did our KATY trip we took a meal in Marthasville and the restaurant owner where we ate told us that she wasn't exactly getting rich off of the trail population of riders. I deeply believe that the KATY will get more and more popular and that vendors will then spend more time available for customers, until then its probably only what the market will benefit so to speak. I also am a proponent of the KATY being a "border-to-border" trail and also of constant partonage. Kindest Regards....Mark of the Dalton Boys

Birks Gasthaus is a wonderful and classic B&B. Rick and Diane are intuitive and accommodating innkeepers. I would stay longer next time.

I stayed at Birks Gasthaus and had a very enjoyable stay. After a long hot day on the Katy, Rick greeted me with a cold beer. The breakfest was excellent! My room was comfortable and the rates were very reasonable.

I stayed at the Birks this past Monday night. After bike problems a friend "rescued" my mother and I from the trail and drove us into town. We arrived hot, hungry, tired, and dirty. Rick brought us two big glasses of cold water, a plate full of brownies and crumb cakes, and even went as far as to give our friend, our "knight in shining armor" , a cold Schafly's. Breakfast was wonderful. The mattress was heaven. The claw foot tub was luxurious.

My man Rick! If there is a more hospitable host in Hermann, you gotta be lying! He and his wife do an excellent job. The rooms are private, the beds are great, the service is exceptional! The rates were great, the breakfast was fantastic, and the conversation was interesting! It is easily the best value in town! Don't miss this opportunity! I highly recommend that you stay here!

I can only echo the positive comments that precede mine. Not only were the accommodations great, Rick went so far as to fill my water bottle and put it in the freezer on the morning I left (what a nice surprise!). He also put a Glad wrap with the elastic band over my water bottle to keep the infamous Katy Trail dust off the drinking end, and even sent me off with some banana nut bread.

We have stayed at Birks Gasthaus almost every summer for the last 10 years. All of the previous comments are true...we love the place and Rick and Dianne.

Hello



Rest and go Bicycle shop does good work on bikes.I was on Vac. at LostValley Resort. I had back tire was rubbing alot so I stop see they could help me . He got in right start working on . He was just replace excle on back tire. But come found out it was to bad off . So We had replace hole back tire .

He got it fex .Its work good know and I got ride my bike more on Vac.

He does good work there.Thanks for working on it that min.

whos the dj of coach's now please let em kneow

In response to the question of places to eat near the MKT. You have to try FlatBranch Brewery at near the trailhead. 5th & Cherry I think is the intersection it is near. Great food, nice outdoor seating and very good microbrew to cure what ale's ya! (no pun intended)

Stu - off topic, but given your residence in Quincy, IL. "Thank-You" for the towns many years of hosting the World FreeFall Convention... I attended 6 of 'em when the raucousness was better contained by the skydivers and before it got out of hand and then moved to Rantoul. But I never walked more than 5 minutes after an off field landing before getting a ride from a Quincy local....awesome time of my life and glad you enjoyed the KATY again thanks....Mark of the Dalton Boys

I wanted to say that I think they should allow small motorized bikes on the Katy Trail....maybe just certain days of the week..there are alot of srs. out there with the money to spend at the B&B and restaurants..they will never be able to view the trail because of bad knees, legs, etc. We have paid taxes all of our lives and I know alot of tax money goes into the upkeep for this trail...this is something to think about and if you know who I could contact about this situation...please email me....thanks

I have some thoughts on this. While I appreciate that people with disabilities may want to access the trail I question that one would want to use an expensive motorized device. The trail is definitely dirty and dusty and at time rough. A breakdown on a hot summer's day could be problem as there are miles between trailheads/access points. Gas powered vehicles should not be allowed which leaves battery-powered and just how many miles can one go without a recharge? So my point is, just like equestrian use is restricted to certain sections of the KT Trail, if motorized handicap vehicles were allowed, they too should be restricted to special use areas that could made more appropriate for that use (ex. paved, more frequent access, water, no crossing of highways...).

I see lots of "seniors" out on the Trail riding bikes, walking, etc. I see folks riding 'hand

bikes" who are usually in wheelchairs due to the loss of use of their lower limbs.

Katy Bike Rentals in Defiance has a three-wheel bike that is powered by a battery. I believe the battery lasts 2 hours on the trail. They have several specialized bikes for people who have disabilities. They just ask that people call and reserve them ahead of time. If anyone has riden the 3 wheeler, post something here...I'd like to know how you liked it, because we are going to get my mother out on it when the weather gets cooler. George at KBR is the best!

According to the MO DNR official Katy Trail State Park brochure, "Electrically assisted pedal-powered bicycles and tricycles (maximum speed of 20 mph) as well as electrically powered-mobility devices for persons with disabilities such as motorized wheelchairs and scooters are allowed."



I tend to agree that it may not be wise to take one in case of breakdown if the electrical power is your primary source of energy (as opposed to you). However, if you were able to pedal a bi/tricycle that is motor ASSISTED, I would think that is fine.

Ok I'll be doing my first full run of the Katy Trail full through, or hope to make it that far. I'm hiking in instead of biking so my timing of towns will be different. My first day I'm hoping to hit Weldon Spring or Defiance. There is no camping there though and I'm not sure if I'll make Defiance. Does anyone have any ideas for camping over night? My first day of packing is always slow but I hope to speed up to 20 miles a day. And is there only water at the towns? My second day I hope to make it to Marthasville. Any help I can get on camping advice and water advice will be greatly appricated. One more thing is there many unsavory characters on the trail? Thansk for the advice.

Good luck, Bella!

I am planning on doing the same hike, but heading west to east, starting Labor Day weekend. I am looking forward to your reports.

Some of the trailheads have running water and others in smaller remote areas do not. Water availability may be day of the week dependent. For example, there is no water at the trailhead in Clifton City and none of the few businesses are open on Sunday. My advice would be to fill or top off your camel at each and every opportunity.



From my experience, the unsavory to savory character ratio is very, very low. Probably one per every 500 miles. The odds are in your favor here. I seem to see about one Unsav per year. I always know where I am on the trail and have the appropriate emergency numbers programmed in my cell phone (Ray has those posted on this website) and I carry marking pepper spray. I take a call from time to time and occasionally make one, but have never had to use the phone in an emergency because of an Unsav. I know where the pepper spray is, but have never even test sprayed it for fear I would have it pointed in the wrong direction.

Speaking of unsavory characters, Missouri is one of 47 states that have some form of License to Carry of handguns for self defense. Missouri also allows permit holders to carry concealed weapons (CCW) in State parks. Since the Katie Trail is a state park a CWW permit holder can carry there. I know some people will react badly to this fact but keep in mind that only law abiding citizens that have received at least 8 hours of training (range and legal) and have passed state and federal (FBI) background checks can obtain a CCW permit.

Thanks for the advice. I'll make sure I top off my water bags at every opportunity.



Thanks for the precautions too.



gc, I'll definatly come back with and post about the trip. It should be an adventure. *smile*



Bella

My experience with Katy's Little Lodge can now be looked at in a funny way, but at the time of our stay, it was not. The Inn Keeper was not home when we pulled in around 3:00. We decided to go to Katfish Katy's Campground store for a cold drink. The sign said open, but they were closed. In the distance we could see a terrible storm brewing. We headed back to the lodge in hopes that someone would be there to greet us. NOT! Around 5:00, we were getting desperate. The storm was getting closer with winds and thunder. Since we could not make any contact by phone with the Inn Keeper either, we decided to head to Columbia to look for lodging. About 1/4 way there, the Inn Keeper called me and apologized for his tardiness. We then headed back to the lodge. We were greeted by a man who was holding a half drunk pint of whiskey and a cigerette hanging out his mouth. We were at his mercy then because of the time and the storm. We headed to our room, which was upstairs. The lodge was sooo hot, but he did turn the a/c on for us and supplied a fan. There is a lot more to this story, I just gave you a quick synopsis of our ordeal. We can laugh about it now as we recall the night. This is the only negative thing that happened on our whole 6 day trip.

Hello Ms. Patty here. I know that this is late but, I am just leaning how to access PC world :). I was not aware at this forum until last week when a friend of mine printed a cpy of your comment. I am Very Very sorry that your experience was not as I would have hoped for you, I hired Jim to take care of the B@B while I was on vacation,(Family Reunion) upon my return I too found that his actions were not acceptable and he is NO longer and will never work for me again. I hope that you will consider visiting Katy's Little Lodge again. I promise it will be a much Better & Enjoyable experience!

Thank you - Ms. Patty / Katy's Little Lodge

They have an awesome hamburger, and are very biker friendly. We were there arougn 5 or pm and the bar was full, and the service was great.

You must clear camping with the Sheriff. 660-834-4300.

Groundskeeper number is 660-647-3130. Ruth is no longer the contact.

Thanks Dwight - I have updated the info.

We just stayed at the Lindenhof, which is close to the trail in Augusta. WE are new to the St.Louis area and this was our first time on the trail. The B&B was great. It was a lovely place to relax. It was very clean and the house and it's surroundings beautiful. Our host, Debbie, was warm and gracious. I would highly recommend a stay at the Lindenhof.

A freind and I stayed at the Lindenhof B&B as part of our ride of the Katy. Although it was a bit of a climb from the trail to get there, it was worth it. This is the cleanest and most beautifully decorated B&B I have ever stayed in! Our hostess, Debbie was very kind and gracious. She really made us feel at home. The breakfast was fabulous! I will definitely stay there again!

The Bothwell is a perfect classic hotel for cyclists. The accomodations are extremely clean and Katy Trail rates are very inexpensive. Sunday's however are a challenge because the downtown area has no restraunts that are open. We called Bob's Shuttle service and he drove us around town so we could pick. We ate Sunday evening at the Kehtee BBQ which is fabulous. THANKS BOB!

I stayed at the Bothwell Hotel and enjoyed my stay. They were very accommidating in allowing me to keep my bike in my room. Even though this is a very old Hotel, it looks like it has had extensive remodeling and is in great shape. I would certainly stay there again!

Does anyone have recommendations on lodging in Augusta? We plan to stay there 2, possibly 3 nights & cycle in both directions from home base.

The Cottage Inn is tops. Stayed there twice.

We've stayed as H.S. Clay House Bed and Breakfast several times now -- it's exceptional. We keep coming back because the evening appetizers and breakfast in the morning is gourmet, not to mention the owners are really nice people. Their website has a large collection of photos of the place. There's a link to their site on this page.
www.hsclayhouse.com

We stayed at the Lindenhof and it was great. Breakfast was awesome.

Our children had given us an overnight at the Swan Haven Inn. We had to reschedule multiple times and Jacqui and Gene were VERY kind about it. The Inn is historic, charming, clean and comfortable. The wine and cheese was delicious and the breakfast was complete with fruit, fritata and scones. The hospitality was outstanding. Take a soak in the footed bathtub after the trail! What a reward!!!

This cozy cottage built for two was just what the doctor ordered. My husband and I are both

athletic and rather competitive, so it was a delight to be able to come back to the privacy of

the cottage after a day on the trail. We relaxed, shared a little wine and spoke for hours on

the large covered porch. The cottage was just perfect in a storybook kind of way; the fun

didn’t end once we left the trail.

During a recent tour on the Katy we had a chance to stay at The Lindenhof in Augusta. It was the cleanest B&B on the trail and meticulously maintained inside and out. The innkeeper Debbie is most personable and a pretty good cyclist in her own right. Thanks again, Debbie for a terrific stay!