Yesterday was a ride on the back roads near our home. You know, the ones with less traffic than regular roads. The ones most of us ride because there are fewer cars and trucks, and therefore, safer.
Where the cows outnumber the cars.
Category: katy trail (Page 1 of 4)
Today was our last day riding the KATY for this year.
Despite a forecast that said rain was likely as we headed west, we managed to stay dry on our ride.
We were quite happy about that after yesterday. Today was basically the same ride as yesterday – only in reverse – Augusta to McKittrick, except once we got back to the McKittrick trailhead we had to ride a couple of miles on the highway, then cross the bridge over the Missouri river into Hermann where we would catch Amtrak to Sedalia and our car.
Today was a great day on the trail. It was in surprisingly good shape after yesterday’s monsoon.
I also felt better and stronger than the previous days and we made great time. That is how bike touring goes in my experience. You get stronger as the ride goes and the miles accumulate. Seems to be the case regardless of how much training I do to prepare.
Anyway, we were determined to beat the storm that was headed our way from the west so we rode hard and fairly fast (thank you tailwind) and made only quick stops.
We pedaled just 3.5 hours, basically the same distance in the rain yesterday that took us 4.5 hours. The difference was the trail surface. With the deluge, it had been like quicksand in many places yesterday and today we had the aforementioned glorious tailwind.
The still-fresh memory of yesterday’s slog motivated us to get to Hermann before the storm hit in the afternoon. Once we got close to the McKittrick trail head we did slow up to savor the last miles. They are some of the prettiest miles.
Once we crossed the bridge into Hermann we locked up our bikes and headed off in search of lunch. We had about three hours to kill before catching the train to Sedalia so we found a coffee shop, changed clothes, and hung out until it was time to head to the train station.
While we waited we talked with a woman from Iowa who was also taking the train to Sedalia where she would begin her bike ride on the KT.
Once the train arrived they quickly helped us load our bikes into one of the cars, literally threw our bags in behind us, and before we could say WTH the train was rolling. Our last train ride was in Italy, from Rome to Florence – sleek and fast – this one was – Not.
That’s okay, it got us where we needed to go. Once in Sedalia, we reloaded the bikes and rode the few miles to Maxine’s and our car. We stayed overnight in Clinton before heading home.
In five days of riding the bucolic Missouri KATY Trail, we rode a total of about 220 miles once we upload the data from the Garmin Edges we’ll know for sure not that it matters (at least to me) 🙂
Another post to follow once I’m home and can do it on my actual computer with its full-size keyboard. All other posts have been done on my phone. It worked pretty well and sure beat hauling my netbook with me.
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Today was the kind of day on the bike that pushes you beyond your usual limits. This is not a day I would have chosen to ride, but ride we did.
And right now I’m glad we did. Even during the ride/slog I knew I would finish the ride out, although we could have called for a shuttle and if it had been lightning we would have.
It was miserable at times! Really miserable. The trail was like quicksand in many places and balance was difficult not to mention just pedaling. My left quad continues to hurt and the cold rain made it worse. But enough about that, suffice to say – for a day spent riding the bike – it was pretty bad.
I’m glad we finished the day and the 36 mile journey. Onward.
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We left Hartsburg around 9:45 after after a delicious breakfast complements of Globe Hotel owner, Jeanette.
We said goodbye to the five from Oregon/Florida and wished each other safe travels. They are riding over 2000 miles on their journey – and I envy them. More about them in a later post.
We felt refreshed: Mark’s saddle was fixed, my Brooks actually felt like it was supporting my butt instead of torturing it – so away we went – all smiles.
That lasted for about 15 miles when Mark’s left knee and my left quad started complaining. We made a couple of adjustments, took a couple of Ibuprofen, and away we went.
A little later we grabbed a sandwich in Mokane at the 28-mile point of our day’s ride. The food and break from the bike helped, and more smiles as we pushed off and headed toward McKittrick.
This section of the trail is one of the prettiest – heavily treed – tall bluffs on the left and the mighty Missouri river on the right.
We stopped frequently to take pictures as we took in all the sights and sounds of the trail and beyond. Words and pictures fall short – dark and pristine woods, lots of birds, and a heavy tree canopy over much of the trail.
The forested part of the trail lasted until our last 10 miles. We arrived at the McKittrick trailhead around 5:00 and headed UP toward the Meyer’s farm.
Once at the farm I ditched Condor and climbed into the hammock- a perfect ending to a perfect day – 54 miles/5.5 hours of riding.
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