The Journal – the Katy Trail bike tour
I’ll be bicycling across Missouri on the Katy Trail this May!
- Amtrak from DC to Kansas City via Chicago
- Overnight in KC
- Train to Sedalia
- Backtracking to the western end of the trail in Clinton
- overnighting there (camping the whole time on the trail)
- Then working my way east across the state!
- Highlights:
- Jefferson City
- Breweries
- Winerys
- A short day to get some of those in
- Not completing the trail fully to the east, but ending in St. Charles so I can bike to Kirkwood
- Grabbing the train back to KC (Amtrak in STL is NOT roll-on likable!)
- Overnight in KC
- Return to DC
Things I’m excited about
- Katy Trail!
- Mostly crossing a state by bike again
- Found low cost or free camping, which isn’t a total given on the Katy
- Found a way to make this relaxing and no day over 66 miles
- Using Amtrak and bicycling, with maybe a little transit FF in at the end… no car rentals planned
- Getting in another big tour in this early in the season!
Challenges
- Nothing overwhelming… I haven’t done this route before so I’m going mostly on the website info out there.
- Train schedules
- Late arrivals in KC means no time to enjoy that city
Gear
- Since all trains have roll aboard, I’m bringing the Safari
- Full pannier and dry sack setup… not going heavy, but not ultralight either
- Plan on cooking mostly to keep costs down
Total mileage
- 282 miles, not counting KC and any “off route” work to get to some wine and beer.
- Probably an even 300 would be the best guess.
Weather
- Likely warm, not hot (advantage, May)
- May run into some spring showers (not uncommon)
Trail
- Crushed limestone, not unlike the GAP and parts of the Erie Canal
- Reports are its a good surface but can get soft in spots
Pod plans
- Haven’t sussed it out completely but the 10th edition of Tour Journals will be Missouri!
Random stuff
- The brewpubs that used to be jails…
- Seaside Brewing Co in Seaside, OR (not on this trip)
- The, perhaps, more aptly named Prison Brews in Jefferson City, MO (definitely on this trip)
The Lab – bike tour camp cooking ideas
- Cooking demo – saving fuel and cleanup with freezer bag cooking
- Fancy mac!
- Boxed mac
- Fancy sauce or powder?
- Butter keeps fine
- Add ons
- Sun dried tomato
- Canned whatever (I use tuna with olive oil)
- Peas (to pretend we’re doing veggies)
Making a cozy
- Use a dollar store windshield shade
- Use a neoprene computer case!
- use a bit of blanket… ANYTHING to hold heat in
- Cut it the size of a 1Q freezer bag
- Mac plus boiling water plus TIME
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