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Bill Bikes My bicycling expeditions and jaunts |
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Katy, September 2018
Across the Continent, part 8: A Photographic Log
13 September 2018, 18 miles
I'm driving solo across the continent, with the Ogre in the back of the Forester. Some days I hop on the Ogre to ride a few miles out-and-back or in a loop. That slows my forward progress, but enables me to explore some interesting places along the way. Here's my full itinerary.Eighth stop, Katy Trail, Missouri.
The Katy is one of the most famous rail trails in the nation. It stretches most of the way across Missouri, with plenty of trailheads and amenities for bicyclists who want to ride for an hour, a day, or a week. I mapped my drive back to California so I could intercept the Katy in central Missouri. That enabled me to spend a few hours checking out this award-winning route.
Where I pedaled, from the Rocheport trailhead to Hindman Junction and back, the trail is wide and smooth. The surface is hardpacked with a little loose chip. Lots of signs, markers, and benches. This segment features the Missouri on one side of the trail and tall bluffs on the other side. Almost my entire route was under cover of arching trees, sometimes making it feel as though I were travelling through a tunnel. It was a clear, bright day, but not much sunshine penetrated down to the trail, making it cool but quite humid. Green and moist, Katy smelled like a ripe jungle. The trail very much reminded me of the Great Allegheny Passage (the GAP) and the C&O Canal trail. Like those two, the Katy is probably very sensitive to rainy weather.
But this morning was a beaut, and I greatly enjoyed a few hours riding the Katy.
PS, especially for Carol: This October, Big BAM on the Katy will host a five-day ride from Clinton to St Charles, rather like RAGBRAI, but on a slightly smaller scale.
The Katy trailhead in Rocheport.
Adjacent to the parking lot is the Meriwether cafe and bike shop with a wide range of rentals available.
The trailhead building is a replica of the original train station. Rest rooms, water, benches, maps, information boards, etc.
On this stretch of the Katy, the Missouri flows alongside the trail.
High bluffs tower over the other side of the trail for much of the ride between Rocheport and Hindman Junction.
Bluff-top dining? Every convenience for the hungry, thirsty, and weary bicyclist.
The trail information indicates this bunker was used to store explosives during construction of the railroad.
Before the railroad, the Lewis and Clark expedition passed here.
Lots of Lewis and Clark markers.
Here they camped on 6 June 1804.
Another Lewis and Clark marker along the trail.
Lewis and Clark cave, now home to endangered bats.
This bridge carries traffic on Interstate 70 across the Missouri River.
The view under the I-70 bridge across the Missouri is not nearly as interesting as the view under the I-95 bridge across the Rappahannock.
Hindman Junction. End of the line for me.
Katy on the left, looking toward Rocheport. MKT on the right, looking toward Columbia.
MKT trail marker.
Typical "tunnel" view on the Katy as I head back toward Rocheport.
Bridge on the Katy.
Apparently this is a very dangerous trail.
Sheer rock wall along the trail.
Terrapin Creek.
I saw at least two dozen riders on the trail, and talked to this guy for awhile. He had pedaled out from Columbia and was on the way back.
View from the bridge over Terrapin Creek.
More bluffs along the trail.
Another view of the river.
I'm not sure how many of the riders I saw were local, how many had come (like me) for a short spin, or how many were doing longer distances. But my "California Republic" jersey, Ogre, and light panniers didn't provoke much interest. Most folks didn't seem to want to talk.
Crack in the bluff.
More bluffs.
A bend in the river.
Safely back in Rocheport, with a full complement of services for bicyclists.
Summary
Date: 13 September 2018
Time: 8:30 - 11:00
Weather: 65 - 80° F, sunny and humid
Route: From Rocheport trailhead to Hindman Junction and back on the Katy Trail
Distance: 18 miles
Bike: Surly Ogre
Riders: Solo
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.
Reno ::: Antelope Island ::: Independence Rock ::: Badlands ::: Blue Mounds
Gettysburg ::: Rappahannock ::: Katy ::: Breckenridge ::: Grand Junction
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