Thankfully, I have “snake eyes” so I didn’t run over the dear! These include snakes, both venomous and nonvenomous varieties. Just a beautiful day! The Katy Trail State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Missouri that contains the Katy Trail, the country's longest recreational rail trail. Absolutely! Another biker stopped to help and started to hit it, but Bill stopped him. Did the Marthasville to Peers portion there is a small trail off the main trail that leads to a cave in the bluffs right out of Marthasville. • If you are not an expert of identifying poisonous snakes do not approach them or venture into areas of tall grass where they may be hiding. Day Three brought another stellar day for cycling. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Some rural areas along the trail have dogs off leash. In fact if you didn’t look closely, you would think it was a wayward piece of grass the wind had blown onto the Katy. Marilyn Monson writes: In October, three friends and I flew to Missouri to cycle on the Katy Trail. • Carry some form of dog repellent. The Katy Trail is a 237 mile (386 km) trail stretching across most of the state of Missouri.. Over half of it follows Lewis and Clark's path up the Missouri River, where you can ride beneath towering river bluffs while eagles circle overhead. I found the Jelly Belly jelly beans in the ” kitchen” and they’re goin’ in the day bag on the back of my bike tomorrow! When Your Neighbors Don’t Want You to Play in Their Yard. I forget the brand name but they’re the best in the world and should have a similar sugar make-up as a jelly bean. The best way to say this to tell people “all sticks are snakes until proven otherwise”. Pilot Grove, where we are legally camping, has a Casey’s we visited three times. Busch cans however were made for Tom’s Co-Op! Off we went heading toward St. Charles finding one of the first “high” points below. Now he knows better than to pick up a copperhead. Route and Stats. It was clear blue sky all day with bright sun shining on prairies that peeked through the tree line along the Katy. Enjoyed the trail, but we're not in … Running on a railbed corridor formerly used by the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, the Katy trail is the longest “rails to trails” project in the United States, carving a 225-mile swath across nearly the entire state of Missouri, half of which follows Lewis and Clark’s trail. The Katy Trail today is a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of some the densest areas of the city, as it snakes through much of Uptown. It is built on the former corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT or Katy). Be sure to give your pup extra water as you’re walking through these sections. The Rock Island Trail, connecting the greater Kansas City area to Missouri’s Katy Trail system, is an experience to savor whether you are walking, cycling, or on horseback. For decades, this western Missouri connection has been a holy grail sought by trail advocates. The trail could not have been more accommodating today and either could the weather. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Some portions of the Katy Trail have very little shade. The Katy trail is used by roughly 400,000 per year with minimal incidents. Make sure to look out for these snakes while you’re on the trail. The Katy trail is used by roughly 400,000 per year with minimal incidents. Like any outdoor adventure, some simple actions can reduce threats. We carried personal belongings and everything we needed for Nathaniel’s medical care with us. We rode almost 80 miles on the Katy Trail through rural Missouri. Summer is on its way. A lot of bikers today on the Katy Trail. The trail today. August tends to be be the most active times for snakes in Missouri so do not be surprised to see one sunbathing along the trail. XO. One other helpful hint: bring your own TP as the restrooms along the trail may not be stocked. Character of the ride: I thought of "Sylvan" because most of the trail has trees on at least one side and often both. Because. They just coaxed the snake off the bike. 2016 Rides, Rider Updates ... “Training ride planned on the Katy Trail in Missouri hitting some gravel loops off the trail to get some climbing in. Much of it follows alongside… Tom, aka, “Rocket” is able to motor forward at a fairly good clip while I limp up the inclines and pedal as fast as I can down hill. The trail can heat up fast and water will often be miles away. (Sat, 06/08/2013) The Katy Trail is the longest developed rail-to-trail in the country. Other than a few snake and turtle […] Read more. Two of us arrived several days early, which allowed time for visiting with family, for experiencing the stunning beauty of the Missouri Botanical Garden, and for becoming familiar with the charming town of St. Charles. Did you say RUN 100 miles or RIDE a hundred miles. He also hung the clothes line and set up the tent. ... just look the road, in summer there is a lot of snakes and you don't want ride on them. The picture to which she referred was of an Eastern Hognose snake I encountered along the Katy Trail. Enjoy! We have seen numerous Copperhead Snakes on the Katy Trail. I thought we hit the jackpot before breakfast with this little guy who camped out on Tom’s bike bag. Like any outdoor adventure, some simple actions can reduce threats. When taking photos, be careful. The proprietors opened the campground and store earlier in the season than scheduled and even restocked with things we wanted to eat! Take time to familiarize yourself with the snakes of Oklahoma. The Katy Trail: a ride report. Your email address will not be published. ... August tends to be be the most active times for snakes in Missouri so do not be surprised to see one sunbathing along the trail. It runs 240 miles (390 km), largely along the northern bank of the Missouri River, in the right-of-way of the former Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad. For the past 5 years, we have a 3day/2night bicycle trip on the Katy Trail from St Charles (eastern) to Jefferson City (middle). Pretty sure my sleeping bag beckons. Some sections of the trail offer shade while others may not offer cover for a mile or more. Hang in there. Bill and snake on Katy Trail 2017. What can I say? The Katy trail compasses a little over 237 miles if ridden from Clinton to St. Louis, and is a designated Missouri State park. I coordinate a middle school bicycle club at Compton Drew Middle School in the city of St.Louis. Route: Clinton, MO to St. Charles, MO, 225 miles on the longest Rails to Trails bicycle trail in the USA. This weekend alone we saw deer, snakes, birds, and turtles, and it was all I could do to keep my bike tires from smushing all the baby frogs that were hopping across the trail. To enjoy your day on the Katy Trail, remember to bring your water, sunscreen, insect repellant, cash, and camera. ( Log Out / It was clear blue sky all day with bright sun shining on prairies that peeked through the tree line along the Katy. Stretching from western Missouri to the St. Louis Metro area, the Katy Trail State Park is certainly high on the list of must-ride trails for avid cyclists. Wimp junction for me today. Predictions and Preferences | Whaddya Think? • Wear sunscreen. Bald eagles aren’t the only wildlife, though! Pilot Grove, where we are legally camping, has a Casey’s we visited three times. Required fields are marked *. And it packs poorly in panniers. A mile into my ride I came upon a rough green snake. I lifted my feet up considerably as I rode past. • Wear sunscreen. SNAKE IN THE GRASS ... travelled across the countries in 1975 committing their crimes on what was known as the "Hippie Trail". 2018: Cycling the Katy Trail. Because. ( Log Out / It wasn’t a goal or dream we’ve had for years. Although seldom seen, keep your distance from any snakes. Considering how beautiful a day it was, there was surprisingly a lack of activity. Nothing will tarnish a good adventure like a tick or mosquito encounter. Vince Giancola, 11, knew a lot about snakes when he went searching for reptiles Saturday on the Katy Trail near his home in the Harvester area. Unfortunately for us, during our visit in September the thermometer was near 100. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Sun is starting to break through but it is still cold and windy. And oh yea if you happen to be a data person we saw four box turtles and one black snake. Katfish Katy's is a charming neo-Victorian store right on the trail in Huntsdale with the friendliest proprietors you could ever hope for. On Wednesday September 15, 2016, Lois and Jean and I began our Katy Trail adventure in Clinton Missouri. What also has been accompanying bikers lately, however, is not so enjoyable. Today, however, 2.5 miles of the concrete trail have been completed. Katy Trail A 237 mile Bicycle ride across unpaved Missouri . Tom was on dinner duty tonight. Your email address will not be published. It lay along the trail like a delicate strand of emerald grass. SNAKES! The fertile lands that surround the Missouri River bottom provide the course for much of the Katy Trail, and is the life source of numerous furry friends, and a few variety of snakes, as well, (most all non-threatening), don’t worry. Also, be aware that rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouth snakes live in Dallas. Ice cream is a necessity. When complete, the Trinity Strand Trail will be a 7.8-mile link between the Katy Trail and the Trinity River. And it was short on cycling but long on animals spots! Katy Trail Wildlife. Have fun and be safe!Have you ever tried those good gummy bears they make in Merrillville? Our combined ages are 207 years. 3. • Invest in a good insect repellent in warm months. We came up with the idea early September when our weekly bike rides averaged ten miles. We rode a total of 233.34 miles in 5 1/2 days. • If you think you brought enough water, bring more. • Let someone know when you are using the Katy Trail, where you are traveling, and when you will return. • Carry some form of dog repellent. carol dalton reviewed Katy Trail… Since I left my iPhone at wimp junction today pics of the actual ride are sparse. Like any outdoor adventure, some simple actions can reduce threats. Up early and out of the gate before eight we started when it was cool. The walking and biking pathway snakes along the original channel of the Trinity River, now accommodating the Turtle Creek. The Katy Trail path I follow is covered by a tunnel of trees and is flat as a pancake. Open year-round from sunrise to sunset, it serves hikers, joggers, and cyclists. ( Log Out / Posts about Katy Trail written by Deb. ( Log Out / ... Katy and Frankie Lewis’ showdown revealed. It stretches 240 miles across Missouri from Machens (just west of St. Louis) to Clinton, with plans to extend it to Kansas City. Should you encounter a snake the best thing to do is to give it plenty of space. Katy Trail is a designated City of Dallas park and maintains regular park hours of 5 a.m. to midnight. I also thought about "Dusty" because of the dust from the trail's crushed limestone surface. We biked for a couple of hours right after sunrise. It does look beautiful there on Katy Trail!! Absolutely! Katy Trail State Park, Missouri State Parks Moniteau Creek at Manitou Bluffs is a High Potential Historic Site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Change ), Great Divide Mountain Bike Ride | August 2021, Learn more about us and the bike trip on Lindsey’s podcast. Yes. Snakes fall into that category of things that I was scared of or disliked when I was younger, but that I now like or at least appreciate the benefit they provide. Our family took a vacation by bike this weekend. ... rabbits, turtles, and several snakes including one Copper Head that had coiled up right in the middle of the trail with his head sticking up. Routes and Stats The Katy trail is used by roughly 400,000 per year with minimal incidents. #wheninMO #drinklocal. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. "I wanted to keep it for a pet and be nice to it," Vince said Monday in a telephone conversation from his home. We had the privilege of being their first campers of 2006! • Let someone know when you are using the Katy Trail, where you are traveling, and when you will return. Copperheads ARE poisonous Snakes. The Katy Trail is in wonderful condition and is an amazing feature for bikers and hikers. We rode in the rain two days, arrived at our destination after dark 2 days, had two flats, three mishaps, and saw three snakes including the copperhead we rode over. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. You might not find many businesses open in most of the towns, and barely a thing on a Monday, however, Due to BRILLIANT Marketing, many small towns now have Casey's and Dollar General. Advisory: May 2020 - In June 2019, parts of the Katy Trail were flooded. Because. The Katy Trail is perfect for your Boy Scout Troop. And oh yea if you happen to be a data person we saw four box turtles and one black snake. Ice cream is a necessity. #firststariseetonight, Sounds like a day, neither good nor bad. Hope cold is getting better and that Jelly Bellys provide the needed umph tomorrow! The Katy Trail is a nice flat trail you can take your kids on. A lot of fallen trees today on the trail. 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