Adventures of Tin Can Lulu

The Katy Trail is the longest developed rail-trail in the country. It is 240 miles long starting in Clinton to Machens, Missouri. The trail is a state park built on the former corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT or Katy) with 26 trailheads and four fully restored railroad depots. The trail logo was developed using the 1889 MKT Railroad Logo as inspiration. The first part of the trail opened in 1990 and final segment was completed in 1999. 

The majority of The Katy trail follows the Missouri River – the river is on one side and towering bluffs on the other side. It meanders through dense forests with canopy of trees, rolling farm fields and open pasturelands.  

Daily we passed through small towns, passed over numerous through-truss and trestle bridges. 

Nightly we stayed in small communities located near the trail and had fun watching a homecoming parade in Booneville, walking to the capitol building in Jefferson City, overlooking the Missouri River in Hermann, and dining at local eateries.

Our trip was six days long averaging about 40 miles per day. We rode west to east starting in Clinton and ending in St. Charles. Our route was Clinton – Sedalia – Booneville – Jefferson City – Hermann – Augusta – St Charles. We did a self guided tour with Crossroads Bike Tours. They made the room reservations and hauled our suitcases for us. A perfect way to do The Katy Trail.

Highlights of the week included; not riding in the rain, cooler temperatures (40s in the am, 80s in the pm), making new friends, one flat tire that took four people and one hour to change (UGH!), and a misplaced cell phone that was found and returned! 

Our last evening in Missouri we were able to visit with a high school friend of Earle’s and was a former customer of Laura’s from her HP Days. Had a great dinner and catching up with Mike and Tom Jackson.

Although we had hoped to see fall colors (we were too early this year), we still enjoyed the beauty of The Katy Trail and the gorgeous weather while in Missouri!