RecumBum

This was my first ride on the Katy Trail. After my earlier experience with the Prairie Spirit Trail, I was prepared to be underwhelmed, but ended up having a very enjoyable couple of rides.

My plan was to start my ride at Rocheport on Friday morning, cycle to my sister’s in Jefferson City, then do the return trip either Saturday or Sunday. My parents house is practically on the way from my house to Rocheport, so I decided to stay over there Thursday night, and start from Rocheport about 10am. The weather was sunny and warm when I left my folk’s, but overcast by the time I reached Rocheport.

I cast off from the trailhead at about 10:30am, heading south, and was immediately impressed by the natural beauty of the trail. The Missouri river was on one side, and tall rugged bluffs on the other. There are frequent park benches next to the river, and I stopped several time in the first few miles to admire the scenery. There were a few people on the trail – cyclists, joggers, and walkers – and once near Huntsdale, even some sheep and goats that had escaped their pens.

After the bluffs, the river moved away from the trail, the land opened up, and the trail passed through farmland – corn and soybeans, mostly. The river meandered, while the trail remained mostly straight, so the river came into view now and then. There were numerous opportunities for services along the trail, with several restaurants and campgrounds. A highlight was Cooper’s Landing near Easley, and the town of Hartsburg, which features a diner and a bike shop. I stopped at the bike shop and checked out the Cycle Genius recumbents they had available for sale and rent. These look like very nice bikes, similar to the Sun EZ line, though perhaps of a slightly higher quality.

The last ten miles from Hartsburg to the North Jefferson trailhead was tough for me. My legs were starting to give out, and I was ready for the trip to be over. A few miles from my destination, I met a fellow pushing a mountain bike and towing a Burley trailer. He looked like he’d been living out of that trailer for awhile, and everything he owned was stuffed inside. A few minutes later, I found my sister, who had taken the afternoon off work, waiting at the trailhead. Before the trip, I had considered tackling the big climb up to her house in Holts Summit to the top of the bluffs, but was happy that I’d wussed out and allowed her to pick me up and ferry my bike in her Suburban. Total miles: 34.97, in 2:58, for an average of 11.7 MPH.

Bridge Over Cedar Creek on Katy Trail

I left my sister’s on Sunday. It had rained early that morning, but the trail was in fine shape. The surface is a crushed limestone, with very small pebbles, and apparently drains well. The few sandy sections were a bit mushy, but no big deal. Theorizing that part of my problem on Friday was that I’d pushed too hard trying to maintain my speed, on Sunday I deliberately took it easy.

Just before Hartsburg, I passed a couple in their late fifties or early sixties, carrying backpacks, apparently hiking the trail. I arrived in Hartsburg just as a few young riders were coming into view from the other direction. The leader raised his arms in triumph as he arrived, as if he’d just won a race. A few minutes later a second group of young boys showed up, followed by a tired-looking many. Over the next ten minutes or so, more boys, men, and women streamed in. Turns out they were a Boy Scout troop on a weekend outing. Cool.

The remainder of my trip back to Rocheport was very pleasant. There were a lot of people on the trail, enjoying what had become a warm day – the last weekend of summer. Though there were a lot of people, It never felt crowded. It was just good to see so many people taking advantage of this great recreational resource.

When I reached Rocheport, I still felt strong, and continued on thru the MKT Tunnel, an impressive stone railroad tunnel with arched entrances. Once thru, I returned to the trailhead, changed into street clothes, and grabbed a grilled chicken sandwich at the diner/bike shop. Rocheport is a very small town, but it offers a lot of amenities, including several restaurants, bed & breakfasts, antique stores, art galleries, and an impressive winery. If you’re travelling on the Katy, Rocheport looks to be an excellent place for an overnight stay.

Total miles for Sunday: 36.09, in 3:06, for an average of 11.6 MPH.

MKT Tunnel on Katy Trail Near Rocheport

Overall, my little Katy trip was very enjoyable, and I’d love to ride the whole thing sometime. There’s talk of connecting the trail to Kansas City. If that happens, I’ll be able to ride from my front door in Kansas all the way to St. Louis. Now that would be cool!