Katy Trip Day 2 (51 miles)

     I almost slept until the sun was up.  Our stay at Steamboat Junction was nice.  We had our morning coffee and oatmeal, cleaned the dishes, and got ready to go.  I cleaned and lubed the chains.  Checked air pressure in tires and we were off.
    In Tebbetts, we were invited to eat at the Community Center.  A group of  older ladies get together once a month to quilt there.  They prepared a potluck for the grain workers and they invited us to eat.  It was an awesome gesture of kindness.  The food was so good.  We also checked out the Turner Katy Trail Shelter Hostel.  For five bucks, you get to sleep inside.  Good place to stop for the night, just to early in the day to stop.  Maybe next time.
     Passing through Mokane, we stopped at a little market for snacks and Gatorade.  The woman working the counter was from Drasco, just right down the road from our home.  Small world.  We arrived at Jefferson City trailhead around three o'clock.  I helped two riders get onto the bridge going across the Missouri River.  It was an extra six miles of riding for me, but I wanted to take pictures of the river anyways.  Meanwhile, Anthony was chatting it up with several riders coming through the trailhead.  He heard of some places to eat and stay down the trail.
    Our stopping point for the night was Hartsburg.  The owner of the  Globe Hotel, Janette, let us camped in her backyard.  She even let us use the shower.  Thank you Janette!  We ate at the Hartsburg Grand Restaurant.  OMG!  The food was freaking good! 
    The next morning we had breakfast at Dotty's Café, the place Anthony was told about at Jefferson.
You have to eat here if you are in town for breakfast.  Hartsburg was an big surprise from a small town.  Great place to stop for the night.  Bring you appetite!


Standing Rock, I'm pointing to the 1944 flood mark(highest mark).
I was told the 1993 flood covered the rock.

We must of crossed at least five more bridges today.

Lunch at Community Center.

Quilters that invited us to lunch.

Wait for me!

From the bridge going into Jefferson City.
State capitol in background.

Breakfast at Dotty's Café.

Grand Restaurant

Globe Hotel Bed and Breakfast.
Great service, friendly.

Katy Trip day one (64 miles)

     We had left home as soon as I got off from work.  The drive up to Weldon Springs took about six hours.  By the time we got checked in and everything in the room, it was late.  The good thing about the Wingate, it's close to the Katy Trail and has a really good breakfast.
     We got started around eight the next morning.  There is a connector trail just around the corner, the Missouri Research Park connector trail.  It joins the Katy at mile 52.4.   Anthony was so excited about getting started, he actually got up before me. 
     It was a nice day for riding.  We took our time and did a lot of stopping.  Our goal was to just ride until we felt like stopping for the night, no set stopping points.  Only negative was the dust. It wasn't that bad, just got the bikes really filthy. 
     We ate at Trailside Café in Rhineland.  Burger and fries for me and burger and German potato salad for Anthony.  After eating we rode on to Steamboat Junction in Bluffton.  We camped there for the night.  An enjoyable first day. 

Loaded and ready to go.
Last time the bikes are clean.

First trailhead of the trip.

Just one of the many bluffs along the trail.

I just love the old train bridges.
Seems each one is different.

Katy trip

     We leave for the Katy trip tomorrow.  Before we go, I have to work all day!  I was short a half day of vacation to take off all week.  Anthony has appointment anyway, so we can't leave til I get off work.
     Our plan is to drive to Weldon Springs Tuesday night.  Stay in a hotel, and get a early start Wednesday morning.  We plan on going as far as the tunnel just west of Roche Port. We are hoping to finish in four days.  Should be a nice ride.  The last time we rode the Katy, it was flooded.  So most of this trip will be new trail to me.
     I will try to take plenty of pictures, and blog when I can.