Tag: Katy Trail

I start walking just about the time it was light enough to see. I mixed up some cold coffee in a bottle. It’s a Korean coffee mix, “Maxim” which came highly recommended. It’s good stuff, when I remember to make it. 

The trail ran near the river for miles, which is something I enjoy. 

 

 
A sign marked the June 6, 1804 L&C campsite. 

Clark

Wednesday the 6th of June 1804…Some wind in the after part of to day from the S E, (the Banks are falling in greatly in this part of the river) as also is one Side or the other in all the Course, we assended on the North Side of the Isd. and finding that the perogues Could not Keep up Camped 2 hs. by Sun. on the Sd Sd the land below this is good…Some buffalow Sign to day I am Still verry unwell with a Sore throat & head ake

Right next to the trail was a cave with a brook running out of it, a cave seen by the Corps.  

 

 
Sgt. Charles Floyd, June 7, 1804

came 2 miles past Som springs Comes out of the clifte. 

The purplish blooms of the redbud tree decorated the cliff bases often again today. 

The Rocheport General Store appeared to be out of business. I couldn’t find any eateries open either. Instead I munched on some leftover hot dog buns. 

The trail passed through a a scenic tunnel. I ran into a couple of super friendly middle aged bicyclists. 

 

 
“Are you on a long journey,  or preparing for one?” the lady said, excited for the answer. Commonly people can’t relate, or don’t care, perfectly acceptable attitudes.  They could relate, and they were enthusiastic. It was fun. 

It was shortly after they left, however, that the day went from a scenic spring walk to a windy slog. There were numerous other bicyclists out on this Sunday. Before though, it seemed the majority of bikers (mostly appearing on weekends) wore all the “official” gear, many part of small groups. Today there seemed to be mostly couples or friends, wearing their everyday clothes. And a significant percentage seemed to be grimly pedaling to get the ride over with. 

I had grown so accustomed to happily following the Katy Trail that I failed to follow my own alternate route near Boonville, one that would have saved me about two miles of buffeting and at least some sand in the teeth. 

I was however, now on the route of the Santa Fe Trail, which I followed on my first crossing of the Missouri River. It was so freaking windy on the bridge I was afraid my iPhone/camera would be torn out of my hands and I had to hold onto my hat, and grasp loose straps to keep from getting painfully whipped in the face. 

 

 
The enthusiastic couple recommended the Hotel Frederick. I was going to throw frugality to the wind and stay there, handily on the trail,  but it turned out they were booked. My second choice for lodging said the Casino would give me a ride to their place. When I asked the (on trail) Casino at 4:59 when the next hourly shuttle was, they said 5:00. I ran outside but it had left early. The valet lady was awesome. I was smitten by her sense of duty and hustle. She was a whirlwind of motion and problem solving, and tried to get the shuttle to give me an early shuttle. Me, I wanted to get out of the wind and my shoes. 

Finally I was at my room. I got a hot bath and two cheeseburgers and a salad. I also made the decision to take my first “zero” day. As in zero miles. Monday would be a day to rest my feet from the hard-packed trail. 

Colter

Trip overview and route map with position updates:
https://bucktrack.com/Lewis_and_Clark_Trail.html

 I slept great and woke up early. I packed in the first gray light and began to follow the bicycle trail that runs along the river. There were many deer and hundreds of ducks and greese, even wild turkeys.

I passed a lock and dam I had “locked through” when I paddled the Mississippi. It’s a big, powerful river.

At Alton I stopped for breakfast. There was a table of old retired guys, curious what I was up to, having trouble relating to the “whys and hows” but friendly and cheerful. The Alton bridge across the Mississippi is a work of engineering art. There was a wide bicycle lane making for a safe, stress-free crossing into Missouri.

A few months ago there was a big flood. I picked up another bicycle trail and in places there were windrows of corn stalks washed from-who-knows where, some fields were sprinkled with flood debris: drums, plastic bottles, lumber.

For the next few miles I linked together a combo of backcountry roads, rail lines, levees and cross-country travel. At last I arrived at the Katy Trail which I will follow for the next 200 miles or so. It is a “rails to trails” route. I followed it for eight more miles or so, through farmland and often lined by trees with their leaves just starting to appear.

 It’s important in the first few days of a long walk to not over-do it, to avoid blisters and other injuries which are much more common until you get your trail legs. I took the time to adjust laces, and to put on sunscreen. I’d planned to do about fifteen miles, but with my feet feeling good I decided to do a few more miles so I could camp next to the Missouri River. It’s good to be underway.

Clark, May 15, 1804 rained all last night and this morning untill 7 oClock, all our fire extinguished, Some Provisions on the top of the Perogus wet, I sent two men to the Countrey to hunt…

Lewis: the barge run foul three several times—on logs, and in one instance it was with much difficulty they could get her off; happily no injury was sustained, tho the barge was several minutes in eminent danger; this was cased by her being too heavily laden in the stern. Persons accustomed to the navigation of the Missouri and the Mississippi also below the mouth of this river, uniformly take the precaution to load their vessels heavyest in the bow when they ascend the stream in order to avoid the danger incedent to runing foul of the concealed timber which lyes in great quantities in the beds of these rivers.

Check out my latest location. Click on the placemark for more info.