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-   -   Katy Trail - Day 4 (https://www.bikeforums.net/fifty-plus-50/585341-katy-trail-day-4-a.html)

Beverly 09-15-09 07:34 PM

Katy Trail - Day 4
 
This is a day late but the hotel connections weren't working last night:mad::mad:

We rode from Hartsburg to Portland for a total of 38 miles on the Katy Trail. To-date this has been the least interesting section of the trail. We were away from the river most of the time and the trail conditions were the poorest we've encountered on the trail. We did see more wildlife today. A turtle shell with no one home, squirrels, rabbits, snakes and plenty of small lizards. Even with these conditions it was a great day on the trail.

Services on this section of the trail are very sparse. A couple of the rest areas didn't have water. Many of the small towns have populations less than 50 and no groceries or restaurants.

Another couple who had planned to join us for the trip were able to join us today. They had been in Colorado helping their son install a new roof and ran into problems that prevented them from joining us earlier. We now have two vehicles and two sag drivers:thumb:

Since we didn't have much in the way of scenery we created our own excitement with a flat and fall. I ran over a walnut hidden under leaves and 30 feet down the trail my front tire was flat:( One of the other riders stopped at a cross road and caught her shorts on her seat and tumbled into the grass. She said it was nothing compared to my tunnel fall:o

It's great to have a bike mechanic along for the ride!
[IMG]http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...il-Day4017.jpg[/IMG]

My friends riding down the trail.
[IMG]http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...il-Day4012.jpg[/IMG]

The rock was about the most interesting thing along this section. I collect rocks for my garden on each trip but I was told this one was out of the question.
[IMG]http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...il-Day4024.jpg[/IMG]

Does anyone know what the name is for these berries?
[IMG]http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...il-Day4021.jpg[/IMG]

Me and "the rock".
[IMG]http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...il-Day4032.jpg[/IMG]

BikeWNC 09-15-09 07:45 PM


Originally Posted by Beverly (Post 9682270)
Does anyone know what the name is for these berries?
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c3...il-Day4021.jpg

Pokeweed

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokeweed

stringbreaker 09-15-09 08:22 PM

Don't the Walnut trees smell great? Thats one of the things I miss about not living in the midwest. We used to pick them by the gunny sack full and then my dad would run over them with the car to separate the outer mushy hull from the nut. That black oily stuff is what smelled so good and it was a heck of a stain not only on your hands but for wood too.

jppe 09-15-09 08:44 PM

Somehow my mom could always tell when we got into the Pokeweed when I was a kid. The purple berries stain "deeply"........they didn't make detergent that ever got it all out.

Beverly-I'm jealous of your retirement! You sure don't sit still too long do you?

Louis 09-15-09 08:50 PM

I think I recognize that bike mechanic. Nice of him to lend a hand with the puncture, but a real friend would have offered to carry that big rock for you.:p

smorris 09-15-09 08:51 PM

I love the "Friends riding down the trail" photo. That just looks so relaxing! I'm enjoying the trip vicariously through your photos and description. Thanks!

Tom Bombadil 09-15-09 09:05 PM

We grow pokeweeds in our yard. Cedar waxwings love to eat those berries.

I know about the walnuts well. They hide here under leaves too. When they are still in their green husks, they can send you bouncing off to the side. And then when out of the husk, those needle ends go right through a tire.

Their third means of attack is when they come falling off of the tree. I got clunked in my helmet last year by one.

All of those pictures could come off of the trails in my area. It looks almost exactly the same.


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