Katy trail ride report

We report here on several segments of the Katy trail state park in Missouri.
Our overall trip was a mixed one (two weddings, a visit with family and a
vacation for us) so we couldn't focus on the trail as much as we would have
liked. We rode four segments of the trail as "out and back" day trips. The
trail is old rail bed that runs part of the time in the Missouri river flood
plain. It is 225 miles long and about 8 feet wide, making me suspect it is the
skinniest park ever.

The first segment started in Defiance, MO. This is a tiny town with a large
bike rental place. We rode 20 miles total in an out and back from there. We
went west because of advice that the scenery was better to the west. The
trail was very flat and traveled along the edges of soybean fields where we
were often shaded by trees. The trail is very smooth and composed of fine
white gravel, possibly the local limestone. The worst trail hazzards were the
occasional clusters of black walnuts lying on the trail.

That night we camped at Hermann, MO. We had to drive across the Missouri river
on a bridge that is not suitable for bicycling. It is just wide enough for
two trucks to pass by each other. The camp ground, which is part of the city
park, was nice, showers and nice grass for the tent for $10 per night.

The next day we started in Rhineland, MO. This is another tiny town. We rode
another "out and back" for a total ride of about 26 miles. Then we drove on to
find a camp site in Hartsburg. The campground here is the city park and we
decided to move on to a more formal campground. While there we ran into Gary
Creason, the operator of a Katy trail shuttle service. He advised us to be
sure to see the stretch between Rocheport and McBaine. With this information
we drove on to Franklin (next to New Franklin) and camped at the Katy
Roundhouse. This served our interests well. We took a short ride after
setting up our camp, to give us a total for the day of 32 miles, to the one
place the trail crosses the Missouri river. We were disappointed to cross on
the highway bridge rather than the old rail trestle. The camp ground is set up
to accommodate bicycle tourists with bike racks sprinkled around the tent
grounds.

Our last day took us from New Franklin, MO to McBaine, MO and back for 38
miles. The ride included the recommended scenic segment and a 50 yard long
tunnel. Midway on the ride we came to Rocheport. This is another small (but
not tiny) town that boasts "The Cracked Crab" restaurant. It is a very nice
looking place and seemed out of place (how far is the Chesapeake?).

All the sections of the trail we rode were quite nice. There were occasional
warnings about "rough surface" that made us laugh after all the trail insults
we've endured here in the last year. The most amusing warning came in the form
of cautions about "5% grade." On the two such spots we encountered (the river
bridge didn't count). I was looking forward to a nice brisk climb, but the
longest such challenge was all of 5 yards long. I think this would be
essential information for a wheelchair bound trail user. We had quite a few
non-biting flies on the first day and saw two nice large black snakes on the
last (stretched half way across the trail).

We now want to go back and ride the whole thing, probably in the fall. Now we
must decided on using Amtrak, Mr. Creason's shuttle service or roping a family
member into providing shuttle service to connect us with our car once done.
Gary Creason told us that his was the only shuttle service to survive the
aftermath of the 9/11/02 bombing. It seems that most of his clients were from
overseas. Many Americans do just what we were doing, "out and back" rides.
Mr. Creason can be reached at 1-573-694-2027 and gives a URL of
www.katytrailstatepark.com

Tom Gibb

TBGibb wrote:

Thanks. Nice report. I almost made it to the Katy Trail once, but had a
premature end to my tour, so I look forward to really making it there
some day.

We now want to go back and ride the whole thing, probably in the fall. Now we
must decided on using Amtrak,

I suppose you are aware of this, but it should be stated for all to
hear. The Amtrak train from Kansas City to St. Louis essentially follows
the Katy Trail. It is also one of the Amtrak routes that allows a
limited number of unboxed bikes (roll ons), so the Amtrak train would be
an ideal shuttle. (The Amtrak route from St. Louis to Chicago is the same.)

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************

Thanks for the report and shuttle information. My granddaughters and I did
a small section of the trail last summer and are looking forward to a
return trip.

Beverly

"TBGibb" wrote in message
...
We report here on several segments of the Katy trail state park in
Missouri.
Our overall trip was a mixed one (two weddings, a visit with family and a
vacation for us) so we couldn't focus on the trail as much as we would
have
liked. We rode four segments of the trail as "out and back" day trips.
The
trail is old rail bed that runs part of the time in the Missouri river
flood
plain. It is 225 miles long and about 8 feet wide, making me suspect it
is the
skinniest park ever.

The first segment started in Defiance, MO. This is a tiny town with a
large
bike rental place. We rode 20 miles total in an out and back from there.
We
went west because of advice that the scenery was better to the west.
The
trail was very flat and traveled along the edges of soybean fields where
we
were often shaded by trees. The trail is very smooth and composed of
fine
white gravel, possibly the local limestone. The worst trail hazzards
were the
occasional clusters of black walnuts lying on the trail.

That night we camped at Hermann, MO. We had to drive across the Missouri
river
on a bridge that is not suitable for bicycling. It is just wide enough
for
two trucks to pass by each other. The camp ground, which is part of the
city
park, was nice, showers and nice grass for the tent for $10 per night.

The next day we started in Rhineland, MO. This is another tiny town. We
rode
another "out and back" for a total ride of about 26 miles. Then we drove
on to
find a camp site in Hartsburg. The campground here is the city park and
we
decided to move on to a more formal campground. While there we ran into
Gary
Creason, the operator of a Katy trail shuttle service. He advised us to
be
sure to see the stretch between Rocheport and McBaine. With this
information
we drove on to Franklin (next to New Franklin) and camped at the Katy
Roundhouse. This served our interests well. We took a short ride after
setting up our camp, to give us a total for the day of 32 miles, to the
one
place the trail crosses the Missouri river. We were disappointed to
cross on
the highway bridge rather than the old rail trestle. The camp ground is
set up
to accommodate bicycle tourists with bike racks sprinkled around the tent
grounds.

Our last day took us from New Franklin, MO to McBaine, MO and back for 38
miles. The ride included the recommended scenic segment and a 50 yard
long
tunnel. Midway on the ride we came to Rocheport. This is another small
(but
not tiny) town that boasts "The Cracked Crab" restaurant. It is a very
nice
looking place and seemed out of place (how far is the Chesapeake?).

All the sections of the trail we rode were quite nice. There were
occasional
warnings about "rough surface" that made us laugh after all the trail
insults
we've endured here in the last year. The most amusing warning came in
the form
of cautions about "5% grade." On the two such spots we encountered (the
river
bridge didn't count). I was looking forward to a nice brisk climb, but
the
longest such challenge was all of 5 yards long. I think this would be
essential information for a wheelchair bound trail user. We had quite a
few
non-biting flies on the first day and saw two nice large black snakes on
the
last (stretched half way across the trail).

We now want to go back and ride the whole thing, probably in the fall.
Now we
must decided on using Amtrak, Mr. Creason's shuttle service or roping a
family
member into providing shuttle service to connect us with our car once
done.
Gary Creason told us that his was the only shuttle service to survive the
aftermath of the 9/11/02 bombing. It seems that most of his clients were
from
overseas. Many Americans do just what we were doing, "out and back"
rides.
Mr. Creason can be reached at 1-573-694-2027 and gives a URL of
www.katytrailstatepark.com

Tom Gibb

"TBGibb" wrote in message
...
We had quite a few
non-biting flies on the first day and saw two nice large black snakes on
the
last (stretched half way across the trail).



Katy Trail snakes:

My then-14 y.o. daughter & I rode the length of the trail a few years ago.
She got much pleasure from "assisting" the multiple snakes we saw safely
cross the trail (when she could catch them!)

At one small town general store - in Easley, I think - we discussed the
critters with the snack bar guy. Yes, the dark ones with the yellow stripe
were the same as our Michigan garter snakes. The big black ones were "black
snakes" (duh...) - "Some folks eat 'em, but I don't like 'em."

We asked about one little fellow, about 6" long, brown/olive herringbone
pattern on his back, who was so remarkably aggressive for his puny size that
Monica ended up just brushing him off the trail with her glove: "Yeah, those
are water mocassins - pretty poisonous, you know..." Needless to say,
Daddy insisted the remainder of our snake encounters were visual only -


J.W.
Grand Rapids, MI

In article , Skyhooks writes:

Spouse and I just weekend before last rode the Katy Trail from Trelour
to nearly Hermann (I couldn't make the last 1.5 miles to the Hermann
trail head, plus I didn't want to ride/walk across the River bridge in
Hermann). While riding that section of the trail, spouse at one point
barely missed riding over the last half section of a black/dark grey
snake with shadowed yellow diamond markings - I didn't recognize the
species (water mocassin?) - it was about 5' long (?). It's front half
was alway hidden. Plus, I didn't want to closely "inspect" a snake of
that proportion, particularly when I didn't know its species!

Could have been a Common King Snake but Water Moccasin can also fit that
general description. I think I saw a Red King Snake while there. Caution
never hurts with something that could poison you.

A bit farther on the trail, we encountered a rather aggressive (and
cute!) garter snake about 2' long I really like (and respect snakes)
and leave them well be alone (as long as they aren't in my house (or
yard?), not that it happens!). They're (usually) good critters that
take care of vermin, sort of like a cat (at least cats are social!).

Garter snakes have that reputation, I've been bitten by them sevreral times, we
used to chase them (read: "ask for it") when I was a kid.



Tom Gibb