Reply to Machens : closest secure parking for 6 or 7 days

Ok, so it is decided we need to make advance overnite accommodations. So what about extended parking on the east end? Nothing at the terminus; anything in Black Walnut or is it necessary to go back to St. charles? This would involve shuttle service, or renting a car to go back to Clinton, pre-ride. Thoughts on this?
$400 seems like a lot to shuttle our vehicle from Clinton to the east end, but seems the easiest. Thoughts on this?

I don't mean to be tedious, I'm sure these questions have been posed a million times. I just haven't found the answers yet.

I guess $400 seems like a lot, but to drive a vehicle from end-to-end on the KATY is an 8-hour day for someone. It's a 3 1/2 hour drive one way. Then they have to get back. That's 7 hours not including breaks. So maybe $400 isn't so bad. I guess it depends on how much the convenience is worth.

Parking at Black Walnut is okay but I don't know if I'd want to leave my car somewhere in a secluded spot for 5 or 6 days. Downtown St. Charles might be a better choice.

The Bike Stop Cafe in St. Charles lets you leave your vehicle with them if you use their shuttle to go to Clinton. If you are getting to Clinton a different way and somehow leaving your vehicle towards the east end of the trail, then St. Charles is definitely the safest place.

Yeah, I'd use Trail Stop or another shuttle service that has good parking in St Charles.

Well, here's a thought. For a leisurely ride, why not park in Clinton at the Community Center (about 1/2 mile from the start); very safe there and there's camping at the Community Center, then ride east to the terminus at Machens. There's only a kiosk and bathroom there, so the only reason to go there is to do the entire trail. Then back to St Charles, remain overnight (it's 12 miles one way between Machens and St Charles). You could then start heading back West, and catch the Amtrak at either Washington or Hermann. There are bike routes to St Louis Union Station or Kirkwood Amtrak from St Charles, but that might be more than you want to try. You have to cross the Missouri River at either Washington or Hermann, but neither way is that bad if you're used to riding with motor vehicle traffic. Just ride WITH the traffic. Of the two, Hermann is better on a bike. Then catch the Amtrak back to Sedalia, making sure you reserve a spot for your bikes. Then ride back to Clinton. It's longer, but the eastern half is flat, so it doesn't matter what direction you're going. You could go on to Warrensburg (next stop west from Sedalia) on the Amtrak and shuttle back to Clinton; would NOT recommend riding State Hwy 13 between Warrensburg and Clinton. It's only about 24 miles, but there's no shoulder for most of the way, so it's just not safe. There are shuttles between Warrensburg and Clinton; you'll have to search around on this site for them. It does extend your trip, and Amtrak may adjust its schedules daily, so you do have to be flexible. You'll be on the trail longer, but depending on how far you ride each day, not a lot. For example, it's a little over 60 miles from St Charles to McKittrick (Hermann), so that adds a day. Depending on whether you camp or stay in lodging, you could eat into that $400 savings from not taking the shuttle, but you can perhaps visit some sites that you missed on the first leg. By the way, forget about prevailing winds and weather forecasts; it will be the opposite during your trip. Take rain gear and have a great trip.