The 300

With the temperature above 90 degrees today I expected I might have the Katy Trail to myself on my ride from Jefferson City to Hartsburg. I expected wrong. I passed a steady stream of people. 300, in fact.

300 hardy souls left St. Charles Monday morning and spent Monday night in beautiful Hermann, Mo. They will spend Tuesday night in Hartsburg. When I arrived in Hartsburg at noon on Tuesday approximately 300 pieces of luggage were neatly laid out beside the trail awaiting their owners, some of whom had already arrived. The ride is sponsored by the Missouri State Parks, a division of the Department of Natural Resources, and has been held annually since 2001.

After experiencing the night life of Hartsburg Tuesday, riders will spend Wednesday night in Pilot Grove and Thursday night in Sedalia. Though most riders will camp out, lodging with a real bed is available for people like me who have lost their affection for sleeping on the ground. 

Riders were given these instructions to prepare for the ride:

2012 Katy Trail Ride is geared toward the intermediate cyclist. Good physical conditioning will make the ride much more enjoyable. The ride will cover 230 miles in five days with daily mileage ranging from 25 to 64 miles and can be very strenuous. All riders will be expected to complete the ride each day except for true emergencies. Before the ride begins, ride as many miles as possible and ride as often as your schedule allows. Long rides of 40-50 miles are important, as are a series of back to back rides. You should experience cycling in all types of weather and on similar surface terrain as the Katy Trail. June weather in Missouri is unpredictable. It may be hot (in the 90s), humid, windy, rainy or cool at night. Weather conditions can make even the shortest days more challenging. The surface of the Katy Trail is packed crushed limestone. Mountain bicycle and hybrid bicycle tires are best suited for the trail.

It's too late to sign-up for 2012, but you might consider carving five days out of your schedule to participate in the 13th annual ride in 2013. Unless you are superstitious.

A relaxing Katy Trail Missouri River Overlook
4 Miles West of Jefferson City

If you've never experienced the Katy Trail and want to try it out, send me an email. I'd be happy to take you along on one of my rides.  I promise it will be considerably shorter than 230 miles. I've even got a spare bike you can use if you don't have one.

Be prepared to love it - in spite of the DNR's description of Missouri weather in June.  If Lewis and Clark made, so can you.