Touring - S24o redemption!

I got to do another S24O this weekend, and managed to get through it with only a few small hitches and no logs.
This video isn't exactly epic. I can sum it up in a few words:
I rode 60 miles, camped out and read a book, then rode 60 miles back home. So, a vacation instead of an adventure. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrp-2xd93z0
Gear this time was more sophisticated. I brought a hammock, tarp, and mosquito net setup. The whole thing together cost me about $50. The pitch on the tarp could have been better, and the hammock was hung higher and longer on one side than the other, but because of the slope it was that or have my butt hit the ground.
I also brought a sleeping mat to insulate the hammock, and my wool sleeping bag liner for warmth. It got chilly again, but I was ready with underarmor and insulated rain suit. I forgot to bring a sock hat, but I just made a ninja mask with my spare t-shirt and all was well.
Otherwise, gear was pretty much the same as last trip.
Food: Muesli, dried fruit, oatmeal, spaghetti, meal bars, and beef jerky. I'm not a big chef, food is fuel.
Water: I should have brought more bottles. I ran out twice, once with about 8 miles till the next water point. Luckily some people getting off at the trailhead had some extra. Worst comes to worse, I could have stopped and filtered/bleached some river water, but would rather not.
Memorable moments:
One lady and her very small boy (maybe 6 YO) were having technical difficulties. His right pedal kept unscrewing itself about every 70 revolutions. :) The bearings were totally corroded, and the cheap pedal was crimped together, not bolted. I got some oil down in there, but when I tried to tighten it on, my wrench wouldn't fit. Some weird size. So I made a strap wrench out of some paracord and a screwdriver and managed to get it on pretty tight. Hopefully it got them back to their car.
Also of note, I am convinced that the Park Rangers purposely plant poison ivy in any spot that looks ideal for stealth camping. Next hammock will be OD or camo, which will give me more options.
Overall, I had a great trip, got my zen back after Finals and dealing with idiots, and managed to get some reading, exercise, sun, fresh air, and peace of mind, all between 1PM on Friday and 1PM on Saturday.

Congratulations!

Cool! It`s nice to put on your Bicycle Repairman cape, isn`t it?

Sounds like a nice break, wish I lived close enough to the Katy to do that. I usualy just bring a super minimal kit and a fixed gear for that trail. Its a nice flat ride.
Water is a suprising problem, I generaly bring several bladders and bottles or some 2 liter soda jugs with h2o, depending on my rig and plan. I live a few hours from Clinton.

I also once helped a guy on the trail, a nice old treck that had seen no maintainance for twenty years, had a broken chain. The rider and his wife were outside one of the biker type bars on the trail, with no phone reception. they said the watched me coming for a mile or so, with thier fingers crossed because I had a full load and looked like I might be prepared. That is the only time I have used a chain tool on tour, and i hope its my last.

Stealth camping is not really encouraged on the Katy, no. However, I have done it once, when I hit the trail around matchens coming south as part of a longer tour. It was to late to find any campground, and there was a nice patch of woods...
Early that morning I figured why they did not want lots of people camping at random, when I really had to use a toilet. Five am, on the trail, nothing in sight:cry:
Lucky as an experienced tourer/backpacker, I used a bag that I generaly keep for the purpose(Some trails require that you pack EVERYTHING out). A few minutes later I came on a trailhead where I was able to dispose of things. But can you imagine if lots of people started using the bushes on the trail? It would get pretty nasty. As it is, I have encountered several deposits right smack dab in the middle of the trail

Yeah, I wasn't planning to camp in the right of way. I usually ride up a utility cut or fire road a ways, then get into the woods there if it's not posted. But on that section of trail, it was the river/wetlands in one direction and bluffs in another. Things worked out well.
As far as poo, yeah. I mean, one guy now and then isn't going to be any worse than the deer and dogs and stuff, but if it were too many... blech. For the record, I showered, cooked dinner, and dropped off my "excess baggage" at the Klondike Camp. I figured if I couldn't stay there the least they could do was let me use the facilities.
In the morning I just cooked breakfast over a twig fire in an old Weber grill I found.

Rodar, yeah, it's really nice to help folks out. I think that's the sort of "We're in this together" spirit that builds good communities.