Sunday, October 17th

All the stuff I carried with me 77 lbs at the start. The postal boxes contain all the stuff I mailed home along the way. A box here a box there. Down to around 38 lbs at the end of the trip.
Goodbye to the Katy trail. Clinton MO the western terminus.
As you can all tell, I have deviated from my original plan to walk across America. I have moved to biking and will more than likely not complete a cross country trek. However, I will be still active in the push for for people to get out and walk, or exercise in some fashion or another. I plan to ride some of the lesser traveled roads in America, hopefully in the spring, I will be riding the Natchez Trace from Nashville, TN to Natchez, Ms then maybe up the Mississippi to Memphis, TN, around 6 or 7 hundred miles. In the meantime you will find me in AZ (after Jan 1) riding and hiking in the mountains and foothills around Tucson, AZ. I also plan to run in about 10 competitive races while in AZ. REMEMBER TO TAKE YOUR HEART FOR A WALK!!!

Saturday, October 16th

The end of the trail and the end of an awesome, never to be equaled (by me) ride, where the experiences were rich and the physical demands were great.
Add another 1 1/2 miles to this that took me to the motel where I awaited my extraction team.

Trail rules.
The Calhoun, Mo Grain elevator.
An Amish family on their way to the Friday auction in Windsor. Quite a few of these passed by the B & B.
Note that this cafe has rooms and meals. Not too many offer that combination.
Haven't seen one of these Western Auto signs in ages. I think something else is actually in the building.
Caboose No. 76 in Windsor, MO

The pink room in Fern's B and B. Complete with full bath and whirlpool tub.

Friday, October 15th

Fern's B & B which turned into just a B (for Bed) no B for breakfast. Windsor, MO. Spend a last restful night before the last short ride to Clinton (the end of the trail). 9-30-10
The abandoned Chicago, R.I. and Pacific track below the MKT rail bridge. Windsor, MO.
The MKT railroad (Katy Trail) crosses over the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. Another abandoned track that I am told will be made into a walking and biking trail someday.
One of the few surviving power lines along the Katy Trail (track).

High point on the trail, or so they say. 955 ft. above sea level. I looked ahead and it still looked like it was still a slight grade upward.
Note the snake tail, this one was crawling down and then under the railroad bridge. Pretty good size.
Sedalia Station, MO.

Thursday, October 14th

Remodeled Train Station in Sedalia, MO. Almost to the Western end of the Trail. About 35 more miles to go.
An old switch location near Sedalia, MO
Al Neyhaut, a bicycle Mehanic and Trail Enghusiast in Clifton City, MO
An old signal device left in place along the abandoned MKT rail bed. Now the Katy Trail.

Wednesday, 10-13-10

Living room at the B and B, complete with rabbit ear TV antenna. How long has it been since you have seen one of those. Needless to say it did not work too well.
Pilot Grove B and B. Where I spent the night and had a very large breakfast. The trail from Boonville to Pilot Grove is a real challenge. The grade is steep and lasts forever, or so it seems.
Pilot Grove, MO.

Still Tuesday, 10-12-10

Old Boonville Train Station, now the Chamber of Commerce Office. Built in 1912, Spanish style depot.

Boonville, MO bridge. Trail leaves the river at this point. The river heads NW and the MKT Trail heads SW.
The MKT railroad bridge across the Missouri at Boonville, MO. Here you had to switch to the highway as the RR bridge remains in the up position at all times. It is no longer used.
Weed flowers.
Talking with Jim about his hand made tricycle near Rocheport, MO
Jim Smith and his hand built tricycle. Looks like it would be easy to ride.
Crossed under US 40 between Rocheport and New Franklin, MO.

I was able to ride through this one without crashing into the wall.
The tunnel
Rocheport, MO. Near the MKT tunnel.

Tuesday, 10-12-10

Edward Jones Dedication plaque. The Katy trail is celebrating its 20th year as a trail rather than a rail.
No one home. I did not go in as there might have been a bear family living inside.
A lot of the trail is rimmed with rock faced bluffs.
Lewis and Clark expedition followed the Missouri River in 1804.

Sharing the trail.
Miles marker 172, light fog this AM.

Monday, 10-11-10

I know it is blurred, but you can see it is one big tree. Reported to be 360 years old and 30 feet in Circumference. A Burr Oak I believe. Also used for hanging people in the past. So they say. Huntsdale, MO. Not far from the Katy Trail.
Patty and Chuck from Katy's Little House B & B.
Sunset in the SW looking across the Missouri River.
Inside Katy's little house B & B in Huntsdale, MO.
Barge headed down the Missouri toward St. Louis and the Mississippi.
A stone structure off the trail. don't know what it was.
Boat henge!
Trail follows the Missouri River. Road to left had been flooded recently.
Non typical trail, this is flat. Not much of that exists.
Weeds.
Hitch hiking spider, took a free ride on my helmet. This one did not bite me!
Instructions on door at Katy Trail Shelter, Note P.S. at bottom re. the key.