Reply to Hartsburg Inn (Hartsburg)

We stayed here after a very cold, rainy ride from Boonville and Cath greeted us and offered to let us use her dryer after saying she didn't want us (we had reservations), but otherwise there's not a lot on offer here. Concrete floors, no place to eat (other than the local bar's frozen pizza, and some locals brought in their leftovers from a fish fry, winning our gratitude.) Breakfast was a packet of oatmeal, a small walmart yogurt, one English muffin to toast and a tin of juice. The owners upstairs were quite noisy til quite late and the beds were hard as a rock. We could hear every word they said and they were banging chairs around like they were having a bar fight. No TV, nothing to read, but plenty of hot water. Pretty pricey for what it was. it's a long stretch with very few options, but unless Dotty's is open, forget Hartsburg and ride on.

I can't agree with this statement, "it's a long stretch with very few options, but unless Dotty's is open, forget Hartsburg and ride on."

While biking the trail back in April, I had a very enjoyable stay at the Globe Hotel, wonderful host with interesting conversation. Yes, Dotty's is great and so is the Globe Hotel.

I would like some more details on her saying "she didn't want us". Seems like something is being left out. Definitely not enough information to justify the attack.

As a reply to Doug, she made this comment after looking at our drenched, exhausted faces and rainsuits, then acted like she was just joking and opened the door after verifying that we had reservations. She offered to let us use her dryer, but that was the last we saw of her. (We HEARD them til midnight since they live above the guest room, apparently.) Then we also couldn't get the heater to work and couldn't find any extra blankets. I guess she figured we'd find the bar for food since it's a small town, but didn't offer any directions or helpful info at all, and I actually would have gone the wrong way. It was so rainy I can't imagine not helping my guests find the only food venue in town if I were running a B&B and charging those prices.
We met up with some other folks that night and the next who stayed at the Globe and they weren't impressed with their accomodation either. To each his own, I guess. Glad you were happy with your experience, but we weren't with ours, and that's what this forum is about, isn't it?

I also question scenario. Cath was awesome when I showed up without a reservation. The oatmeal and yogurt breakfast was exactly what I needed for hiking.

No TV at a B&B is not unusual. A continental breakfast is common along the Katy--I've
learned to read carefully, because I can't have gluten. Sorry you had a bad experience.

For the person with no name, No the comment forum is NOT about whining that you were unhappy with your experience. It is to offer INFORMATION that will help others decide how to plan their trip, not anonymously slamming businesses along the trail by offering partial quotes of an event. You should have stated the whole truth and nothing but the truth from the beginning. Your day might not have been going well and you missed her joke but someone else might have caught the humor of the situation more quickly. I do not dispute your right to state your case but do it fairly, openly, and completely. By remaining anonymous you effectively remove your targets opportunity to rebut. You are certainly not the only customers that have showed up in the rain this year so how could the owners know how to respond? As to her not offering any information about the town, it's possible she didn't even consider it as Hartsburg is very small, or she had something else on her mind, or you might even want to consider your part in that. Examine your behavior and see if there was anything that would have distanced her from you. Often when someone has had a bad day they display their displeasure in such a manner that other people try to avoid contact with them. Just a possibility.

Maybe the riders complaining about Hartsburg shouldn't ride on the Katy Trail if they want steak and wine at every stop. As to telling them where to go in Hartsburg we only have 3 streets in town and it would be hard to get lost. Actually Cath and Jeanette go out of their way to help riders along the trail. I'm sorry we don't have 5 star accomodations for you but we're a town of 108 people and its hard to make a living off the occasional biker in a rain storm. I'm sure Cath was surprised you were out in the bad weather. Don't write us off. Hartsburg citizens are actually nice people for the most part.

"I were running a B&B and charging those prices." Looking at their website the cost is around $30 a night per person.....that's too high??

Trek, where did you find $30 a night? Their website says rooms start at $70 a night.

The poster said "We stayed" and if that was 2 at $70 a night it cost each of them around $30 a night. Well okay....$35 plus tax. Thats a small price to pay to use a dryer and to get out of the rain to me. Not something to complain about anyway.

I read your post too fast trek and missed the "per person" part. Oops.

I am reluctant to dive into this wasp's nest :-) but I would like to say I think a few of you are being a little too harsh. The original poster *did* offer specific criticisms, despite Doug's argument otherwise. He may have been whiney, but it didn't seem like an "attack" to me. And as far as "By remaining anonymous you effectively remove your targets opportunity to rebut", Mr. Anonymous is really not that much more anonymous than someone going by "Trek" or "Arkie". I would hope we can keep our forum a little more civil by giving people the benefit of the doubt and politely asking for clarification and/or simply relating our own experiences as rebuttal instead of berating them.

For instance, my stay at the Globe a few weeks ago was AWESOME (as I posted shortly thereafter) & Jeanette couldn't have been friendlier or more accommodating.

Mu first response WAS only asking for clarification, after learning more I DID berate the poster for not fully disclosing the events from the start, and no name or pseudonym the opportunity to defend oneself is severely hampered. AS I said, I do support the right to comment about an experience but do it fairly. I feel that I am being civil to the RECIPIENT of the criticism when I comment. Glad to hear something positive! People along the trail are struggling with limited budgets and sporadic clientele to provide services to the best of their ability. I do not agree with Mike that people shouldn't be on the trail if they don't have what they want at every stop. However, enjoying the trail for what it is not what you want it to be wouldn't hurt. An old cycling adage is "If you're not having fun, lower your standards" Enjoy life!

Well said! I could not agree more Doug! It is what it is. And what it is, is a rail bed that has been converted to a trail that passes through rural Missouri.

When you embark on your Katy journey....know that you are passing through rural American and that for that time you are living in their world....as it is in many rural Missouri communities.

"Enjoy the trail for what it is not what you want it to be." - Doug

Thought I would reply to the first negative posting I've had in 5 years. I did say, "I don't want you!" as a joke. They were soaking wet and muddy. Bad timing on my part and I apologize. I did offer to dry their clothes. I did point out the Hitching Post as the only place in town to eat and also left two complimentary drink coupons in the room. The floors are concrete because it floods here. There are area rugs. There were 3 of us in the kitchen upstairs. It was Memorial Day and it was over by 9 p.m. There are two extra blankets in the wardrobe. True, no TV after the digital switch. But there is a bike book by Jerry Dusterhoff, the Katy Trail Guide Book, promotional material about the area and a history book on the area all located in the room. The beds are firm and the water is hot. Breakfast includes coffee, tea, juice, hot chocolate, yogurt, English muffins with butter and jam and oatmeal.

"Enjoy the trail for what it is not what you want it to be." - Doug, as quoted by Trek.

I approached my trail "trek" last month from Sedalia to Hermann a little differently and it gave me a whole new perspective and appreciation for what a gem we all share in the Katy Trail. I camped! This was my first big camping trip and, while it was definitely rougher than hotels, I felt a real sense of accomplishment and felt closer to nature after it was all over. Corny, but true. So, you're right -- get to know the trail & what it has to offer, not what you expect based on your experiences from other vacations.

PS - I did spend one night in a B&B (the aforementioned Globe), and -- even though tent camping is fun -- the nice bed, washer/dryer, and indoor breakfast were a welcome respite in the middle of the week!!!

It’s great that you had that experience Brian. And to me anyway…..no, it’s not corny. I know that there are a lot of MO’s for riding the Katy, but whatever it is the underlying element is that the trail is a rural path through many very small communities. It is what it is…..nothing more, nothing less. Some towns have two choices to eat and others have too many to choose from. Sleeping accommodations range from a $5 hostel to $200 plus B&B’s.

Every trail we ride including the Katy, we slog along taking pictures (we still need more for some reason) and stop periodically to visit with others (locals and riders). We take what we can from these experiences and are grateful. We camp, stay in historic hotels, and also enjoy the B&B scene. We eat GU and tuna at trailheads because that’s all we have and we eat at the more expensive locations too, like the burger joints and the linen tablecloth places.

I followed a couple’s journey on crazyguyonabike.com a year or two ago as they traveled from the west coast heading east. They were on a TransAm trip to get out of the rat race. I kept a close watch as they approached Missouri because of their intent to cut through on the Katy. I wanted their perspective on this gem! A few days after they were off the Katy in Illinois, they ended their trip and returned home. In their ride journal they mentioned how they discovered that by being out on the road they never had left the rat race. The real escape was on the Katy. Having discovered that it was time to be grateful and head home!

Doug,
Comment forum means comment forum, and comments can be positive or negative. If I put all the facts in, this would turn into a small book, but thought comments were to share a BRIEF comment about your impressions/experience at that particular locale. `The ride was rainy for the whole trail but we didn't complain about any other experiences and overall, rated our ride as excellent and will do it again.
To the folks who were so nice by sharing their fish fry at the Hitching Post, and the bartender who did her best with what she had, thanks very much, we REALLY appreciated it!
Never saw any drink coupons or were told about them, were only told to leave our check on the dresser. And yes, I already acknowledged that Cath offered to let us use her dryer (in the very first sentence of my original comment.) We are small towners with midwestern roots, so do not feel we had unrealistic expectations at all, just felt the experience at this particular location was less than hospitable or considerate of their guests, other than the one offer, which we didn't utilize. I have actually worked at a B&B myself and we always went out of our way to make our guests feel welcome, comfortable and that we appreciated their business (and would tell their friends to come!)
To attack us for sharing a negative experience is what I feel is missing the point of this forum. Overall, we were very impressed with the hospitality we received along the trail and wrote several positive comments on the appropriate listings. This was the only negative one we wrote and I hardly feel it was as negative as Doug wants to interpret!!! Perhaps Cath will (has) learn(ed) something and will impress her next guests with a more positive experience.