Going Over the Top

Jules and I did a 5 day bike trip on the KATY trail in Missouri. The KATY trail is the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) railway. From the trail website:

"The Katy Trail is a 237 mile (386 km) trail stretching across most of the state of Missouri. Over half the trail's length follows Lewis and Clark's path up the Missouri River, where you can ride beneath towering river bluffs while eagles circle overhead. After leaving the river, the trail meanders through peaceful farmland and small-town Americana."

Day 1: St. Charles, MO to Clinton, MO via shuttle and Clinton, MO to Sedalia, MO via bike, 39 miles.

Start of the trail in Clinton, MO:

One of many old railroad cars we will see:

Mileage markers from the old railroad. These are mostly accurate, although at times, the bike trail veers from the original railroad route.

Our halfway point today was Windsor, MO.

We reached the "high point" on the trail after Windsor. We met a guy from Denver biking. He got a kick out of this sign.

This person had a motion activated train light on their driveway. When you bike past it lights up and makes the railroad crossing noise.

We stayed in Sedalia, MO. Some pictures from this quaint town:

Our hotel on the right and a building being restored on the left.

Old court house:

Bail bonds near the old court house:

The temps are supposed to be at 98 degrees all week. This sign was outside of a bar in Sedalia.

Day 2: Sedalia, MO to Rocheport, MO 53 Miles

We saw a lot of these turtles with red heads. Google says they are box turtles.

We stopped for lunch at Katarina's Cafe in Pilot Grove. We chatted with a 91 year old man who spent 30 years owning a lumber yard, 50 years as a volunteer firefighter, 10 years cleaning a Catholic School and built houses and owned a storage business.

Nearing Boonville we saw more signs of the old railroad and more old railroad cars.

Old railroad tunnel heading into Rocheport, MO. This is the only tunnel of its kind of his trail.

Day 3: Rocheport, MO to Jefferson City, MO 40 Miles

Lots of views of the Missouri river today. I am not sure what this machine was doing. Dredging? Collecting sand?

Sun's out, guns out.

Small church in Hartsburg, MO.

Typical view for the day along the Missouri River.

Boathenge?

A large part of today's trail followed a route Lewis & Clark took to explore Missouri. Here is a cave they slept in...I think?

Day 4: Jefferson City, MO to Herman, MO 48 Miles

Shot of the State Capital building heading out of Jefferson City.

Jefferson City is on the other side of the Missouri River from the KATY trail. The city has a nice pedestrian ramp and pathway to get up onto the highway and cross the river.