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Just finished a 2 1/2 day trip on the Katy trail - our first of many to come. Wow! What fun. We stayed two nights at the Riverscene B&B. Very nice folks. The first day we biked from the Riverscene (New Franklin - actually the outskirts of Booneville) to Rocheport. Beautiful weather and no problems on the trail. We had a late lunch at Trailside Cafe & Bike Shop (really super friendly folks and simple but good food) and a lovely dinner at the goreous Les Bourgeois Bistro - probably the prettiest view in all of MO. The Bistro folks fit us into their very busy restaurant and served us wonderful food, well presented. Also rode into New Franklin but absolutely nothing is open until the last week in May according to town folks.

The next day we drove to Rocheport and began our cycling trip. We stopped for an early lunch at Lucy's in McBaine. Not the friendliest folks in MO, in fact my guess is they don't care for cylists at all.

Leaving Lucy's we cycled less than two miles before one of our cyclists had a flat. We checked the entire tire and could find nothing wrong so we used our C02 kit to inflate, but the tube started leaking again immediately - our spare tube would not fit that bike. While two walked back to McBride, we rode ahead to inquire about a service station in the area. The folks at Lucy's were not helpful. We asked about a compressor (which they had since they were working with one in the back on renovation), they simply directed us to try the cement plant (where no one was available). We then asked if anyone would be willing to give one cyclist a ride back to Rocheport (we were willing to pay) - they looked at us like we were from another planet even though there were at least 15 people in Lucys. Next we tried the emergency trail numbers - the closest ride pickup was 1.5 hours away.

We finally sent two cyclists back to Rocheport where the people at Trailside Cafe and Bike Shop were very helpful, giving us directions to drive a vehic

As I've said in so many ways and times, you've got to be prepared. To ride on the KATY trail without a tube is an invitation for a long hike. That said, I'm sorry about your experience at Lucy's. I've never been there. My experience with people and businesses along the KATY trail is a mixed bag. Some have learned to capitalize on the trail while still leading a quiet, rural life (but some are rather showy). Others resent the trail and are rather gruff when they encounter KATY trail users.

We stopped in at Lucy's just to check out the menu, since there hasn't been anything at McBaine for a while, and they were very friendly and welcoming--offered to fill our water bottles without being asked, offered us a copy of the menu to take with us, etc. I would say they welcome bike riders. BTW, as we rode out on Monday there was no drinking fountain at McBaine. On Tuesday there was! It wasn't running yet, but installed. I understand that it is a donation fromt the City of Columbia, whose water treatment plant is right there.