Cutting Off the Tails: We’re Done

We awoke early on the last day of our trip hoping to outwait the thunderstorm coming in from the Southwest (the exact direction we were going to be riding into Clinton, Mo.) We walked .7 miles to breakfast at the Sunrise Café in light sprinkles but walked back to the hotel with rain coming down. 

Around 10am, we pulled the plug on riding that day and declared our bike trip at the end.  We were a little disappointed, but since we had already ridden the trail from Clinton to Sedalia on the outbound leg of our trip we felt we had pretty much accomplished the ride.  We just cut off the tails of our out and back Katy Trail ride by forgoing the 12.5 miles after St. Charles (because of the report of goat heads/puncture vines) and by not riding the 35 miles from Sedalia back  to Clinton.  

Our stats proved we had aptly named our ride the “Slow Me Tour.”  We traveled the 401 mile roundtrip in 50 hours of riding – an average of 8 miles per hour.  Still we did the ride and learned a few more lessons on how to best tackle gravel/crushed limestone, concluding the magic number for fully loaded gravel bikes is somewhere between 35 to 38 miles a day.  This doesn’t seem like much but when you pretty much pedal every foot of 35 to 38 miles you get a good workout.  And four to five hours a day in the saddle on gravel/crushed limestone surface is probably enough.   But lest you think we are discouraged by our efforts we are already contemplating our next trip http://www.mickelsontrailaffiliates.com/ J  Rob and Diane

Diane waiting for a taxi to take us to breakfast.......

....but the taxi did not come, so we walked to breakfast and walked back to the hotel in the rain (note Diane's fashionable bread sack rain hat).

We tried to wait out the rain.... but to no avail.  Our ride was done.

So we leave you our "selfie" on the Missouri River Bridge.

Happy Trails......................

Disciplined Fifty: Or “%$#@” Rob I am not doing 50 again,” Diane 10/5/2016

We rode 50+ miles today, 35 uphill.  Yes, it was railroad grade but it was tough slog. We managed to 8.2 mph with fully loaded gravel bikes and it was not fun.  If there was any joy in the ride it was that we could still do miles within allotted time through maintaining the discipline of more riding than resting or talking with others. (Diane did break ranks at one stop and held forth with her favorite story on bike repair on the road – but she said “they started it when they asked about how my bike was configured.”)
When you ride to get from “A to Z” in “X to Y” time, you don’t stop to take many pictures.  Will try to do better tomorrow. Rob  

One of the last vestiges of the KATY railroad, this tile granary still shines in the sun.  

Diane cranks up one of the multi-mile grinds (at this point she can still put on a happy face).

These wild grapes were very much out of reach. A childhood favorite but not a delight to be reprised today.

As Autumn is upon the Ozark Border Country, wildlife is storing food for the winter. We encountered a number of what we have come to call "suicide squirrels" the stream out of the ditches just flying in front of the bikes carrying walnuts. One today even managed to scream between Diane front and rear wheels.  On one of the few downhill runs of the day we also saw our first terrapin but I could not make myself turn and ride back up the hill.  So the wildlife shots of the day are insects :).

This  grasshopper hitched a ride on Diane..

Farewell to Friends – Hello Rocheport 10/4/2016

After our hotel breakfast (the best part of which was sharing it with Paul and Peggy), Paul led us back to the Katy Trail, where we wished each other farewell.  They went east, we went west.  We had less miles to go, but they arrived their destination before us.  It could be because we had a nice long conversation with an older couple at one of the trail heads who almost daily ride 24 miles on the trail, and bicycle in Europe regularly (she is of German heritage).  Or it could be because we stopped for photographs, took a long lunch break, or just lacked discipline!

On the ride, Diane spied an iridescent green snake (a northern rough green snake), but it slithered away before Rob could take a photo.  We saw three other snakes – two garter snakes and a glossy black snake (a Western Ratsnake).  Diane almost rode over a young squirrel, which grew ever more confused about which way to go as she approached.  Rob dared to investigate the innards of an old rock-faced bunker built by the railroad to store explosives.  

We arrived in good time at the very lovely Schoolhouse Inn, where all of our needs have been met -including a chauffeured ride to the Les Bourgeoise for dinner.  The entree was les blah, but the dessert (gluten free chocolate torte with candied walnuts and raspberry sorbet for Diane and hard root beer float for Rob) was par exsalonce.  A woman cyclist from Texas, also staying at The Schoolhouse, joined us for the dinner and having made the same selections as Diane also came to the same conclusion.

Now back at our B&B and in the midst of doing laundry plus writing the blog, we feel we have finally found the rhythm of the ride – just as we are about to finish.  C’est la vie, Diane and Rob

Paul guides us out of Jefferson City and back toward the Katy Trail

Barge on Missouri as we cross the bridge.

Headed down the square spiral ramp

(At Diane's insistence, a pic showing that Rob can actually ride his bike.  Photo courtesy of Paul)

 Scooting up river with a nice tailwind.

                     Bluff outside of Rocheport, Mo.

Railroad's bunker for explosives.

Leaving you with a softer image to dwell upon.

Fast 48 10/3/2016

Great ride today with Peggy and Paul—This was Peggy’s longest bike ride on gravel and she rode strong. It would not be too over the top to say that the great breakfast that Joey and Rich prepared is a major factor in our successful run.

We were graced with new wildlife, good snacks for lunch along the trail, and despite some rough patches on the trail, everyone remained upright.

It was exhilarating to cross the Missouri on the separate bikeway up to and across the Highway 54 bridge. And then Paul guided us on a quick trip through city streets to the Baymont Inn & Suites.  Based on a recommendation from Joey, we decided to eat at Madison’s Café .  We were not disappointed!  (Well, Rob was because they had run out of Spumoni.) Good night from the State Capitol, Jefferson Mo. – Diane and Rob

Paul, Diane, Rob, Peggy in front of Joey's Birdhouse B&B

Paul behind the camera and Joey in the picture to the right.

Rob behind the camera and, well, ....behinds

We climbed from the trail to bridge across the Missouri River via a "square spiral" bike ramp.

Now for the wildlife and flower shots of the day!

Morning Glories.....

Get-together at McKittrick 10/2/2016

A pleasant and slightly lazy morning at The Little House -- we were on the trail by 9:45am.  The 25 miles into McKittrick proved to be a leisurely ride, includ

ing  a longer morning break than usual, engaging in a fun conversation with several bicyclists at the Treloar trailhead regarding the various bike trips we had taken.  One of the guys was 77 and didn’t look a day older than 65.  Biking strong.

Shortly before we arrived in McKittrick we came upon the area where that huge tree had fallen across the trail.  The top end had been further cut off into large chunks, and the remaining bottom portion (20-25 feet) was pushed off the trail, so clear sailing! 

We learned today that there is an aviary of Giant Canadian Geese in the bluffs beside the trail. We biked through the cacophony of two honking flocks flying in opposite directions just over our heads— it was something we had never seen before and their honking  was raucous. 

But the highlight of the day was getting together with our Iowan friends, Peggy and Paul, who joined us in McKittrick. They are also cyclists, and tomorrow  they will bike with us to Jefferson City.  Today, we drove over to Herman, two miles across the Missouri, which has a rich German heritage and is having a month-long celebration of Oktoberfest.  Of course, we had bratwurst! Good night all, Diane and Rob

Little House B&B (were you expecting a bigger photo?)

Diane made us eggs and toast. And then I revisited my childhood with a single serving box of Frosted Flakes... they're great.

Then we're off on our ride.

New hazard.... black walnuts falling across the trail.

Sailing by one of the bluffs where the Giant Canadian Geese raised their goslings earlier this year.

 After riding through the competing flocks of geese flying above us honking their heads off, we came across this straggler. Diane wanted to stop and take a picture, but I sailed on by -- then I realized I was about to miss an opportunity of a lifetime.  So I turned around and raced after the bird to get this shot... and to participate in my first truly "wild goose chase." Rob

An Easy 40 to Marthasville 10/1/16

A beautiful first day of October!  After a simple hotel breakfast, and good air at the Bike Café, we were off to Marthasville.  Along the way there were many cyclists and a few walkers on the trail, all in good spirits, including us!

As we have made the turn back toward Clinton, Diane is now reading all of the historical markers, including one about Meriwether Lewis’s almost fatal fall at Tavern Cave. To peruse the area Lewis had climbed the 300 feet high sandstone cliffs along the southern side of the river. He had slipped and fallen about twenty feet when was able to save himself by driving his knife into a crevice thus stopping his fall. 

As we passed back through Augusta, the beginning of Oktoberfest was in full swing – cars and bikes everywhere, bringing to mind our very first Oktoberfest in Munich in 1973.   After a quick lunch of Beanee Weenie and cheese sandwiches, we biked on to Marthasville and settled in at The Little House.  It’s a very nice small home, with all the amenities.  A quick walk to Dollar General to restock our provisions and then to Philly’s for PIZZA!  Yummy!  Now settled back in at the Little House and sharing our day with all of you - Diane and Rob.

 Riding through St Charles historic district towards the Bike Café.

Riding with the river to the left and bluffs to the right.

Diane channels  Sacagawea "Right over there my friend Meriwether saved himself with his Bowie Knife."

Pizza Philly's......most excellent. Hand made crust for Rob and gluten free for Diane.

The walls of Philly's are covered with testimonials from happy customers.  Note the smile on Diane... another happy customer.

Nature photos of the day......

A St. Charles Walkabout 9/30/16

A nice rest day. We slept in, then had a leisurely hotel breakfast (a pretty good one, just not a sumptuous one).  We took a nice long walk, starting along Main Street, a ten-block Nationally Registered Historic District with brick-lined streets, original buildings, and antique gas lights from the 19^th century.  We also checked out the local bike shop and confirmed we can get good air* there in the morning, and then made a quick stop at the visitor center.  After touring the historic district, we went in search of a convenience store for a few items for our trip back towards Clinton.  We ended up at Dollar General, where Rob purchased his obligatory Dr. Pepper and Diane her Monster Moca Loca Java – energy drinks. Both will be used on our next 50 mile day.  Other cyclist provisions included two candy bars, cheese sticks and a can of Beanee Weenee (original style). We are now set to ride!

 We’ve now settled back in the hotel,  Diane and Rob

*For those who are new to our cycling blog, when we say a place with good air this connotes someplace where they have a good air hose with enough pressure to fill our high pressure bike tires (up to 120 psi on our road bikes).  This is not as much an issue with our gravel bikes with their 60 psi wide profile tires – but I have tried to use the stationary bike pumps found at the trail head stations --two of which proved to be in disrepair resulting in me having less air in my tire after trying to use the pumps.  This led to me using my trusty hand-pump.  No tragedy  but still a bummer. Rob

 Historic St. Charles

One of the air-sucking (nonfunctioning) bike pumps.  Notice its short hose as well... another unhelpful feature.

Cycling food ---- or fun fuel.

The weird of the day .... Diane converses with flamingos through a fence.

Diane Sings 9/29/2016

Today we had a leisurely morning at the Red Brick Inn.  Another couple from St. Louis joined us at breakfast.  They had come to St. Charles "to get away from the kids and the dogs" for a couple of days.  Breakfast and the conversation were both satisfying.  Next we packed the bikes and began a quick 28 mile ride into St. Charles, dealing with a slight headwind, but feeling we finally had turned the corner on getting into cycling shape. 

You can always tell when Diane is having a good ride, because she breaks into song.  Today she sang mostly B.W. Stevenson vocalizing a strong version of A Good Love is Like a Good Song. 

Along the way we chatted with other bicyclists and solicited recommendations on good choices for dinner.  In the end we decided upon The Mother-In-Law House.  An excellent decision! 

Based on further review of the 12.5 ride to the end of the trail at Machens, and warning from other cyclists today regarding puncture vines aplenty - which always results in multiple flat tires, we have decided to forgo that 25 mile ride, and instead further explore the enticing town of St. Charles on foot.  Another excellent decision!

Enjoying our Evening. Diane and Rob

Leaving the Red Brick Inn with a big smile.

Diane begins to deal with a new road hazard - sixty 5th graders whizzing back and forth, out for an hour ride.

Fall is upon us, but Summer lingers.

Remnants of the tracks rolling into St. Charles

MOTHER IN LAW Restaurant

It not often an eating establishment becomes the highlight of a bicycling day (it is always suppose to be "about the ride." But tonight we had such great fun at this restaurant. The food was good but it was the owner/hostess that made the evening.  

                                 The owner said "shoot the photo when we say sex."

Ok, I know it sounds weird but the highlight of my meal was the cottage cheese salad. Made locally with a little added green onion tops and chopped bits of cucumber, this cottage cheese was fabulous. It started off tangy in your mouth due the light onion taste, followed by a little crunch from the cucumber bits, then after the silky creamy taste of the cottage cream passes  - you then experience the excellent cheese flavor of the cottage cheese curds finishes the flavor rush. Of course you then feel compelled to take another spoonful.   It is just that good. Rob

                             Diane and Daniel Boone end the evening by trading tales of the Trail!