JerrySTL

Starting in St. Charles, Missouri. About $410 including a bus ride back and two meals a day.

https://mostateparks.com/2014-katy-trail-ride

Sold out in 4 days last year; however, they are adding 50 more riders this year.

I'll be there for the 4th time. Best supported tour I've ever been on.

scububa

Sounds pretty neat. I did the Katy trail with my two daughters age 7 and 9.
The trail only went to Sedalia at that time. We rode from St. Charles to Weldon Spring and WS to Augusta as training rides.
Then we took Amtrak from Kirkwood to Sedalia and rode back to Augusta.
We stayed at B&Bs in Sedalia, Boonesville, Jeff City and Marthasville.
We pulled a BOB with our gear and clothes.
We stayed in Jeff City two nights and toured the Capital and the Governor's Mansion on the non-ride day.
An incredibly rewarding experience for us all.

donalson

scububa did you take the trailer on the amtrak?

I'm doing an out and back this spring with some friends... if it goes well I'm thinking about doing it with my now y/o son the next year and logistically a trailer would make it much easier... but getting from one of the trail back to the start would be a bit more difficult with it I'd imagine :-/

scububa

Not sure I understand the last part of your question, but yes, we were able to put the trailer on the train in the luggage car with the bikes. There was an upcharge of about $10 at the time to the ticket to include a bike. But, since that was per person/ticket there wasn't any extra for the trailer. I guess they considered that all 'my bike'. And, they only have room for so many, we might have had to make a reservation for the bike hauling.

So, we put the gear on at the StLouis end and took it off in Sedalia, hooked up and rode just out of town to the B&B. In our case, Mom picked us up in Augusta in our truck at the end of the ride.

Depending on the timing and your logistics, if I can help you a little on the St. Louis end, I'd be glad to consider it.

I highly recommend an overnight in Jeff City and a little touring around. It's an easy place to walk and bike around. The hotel we stayed at would come across the bridge (trail is on north side of river and town is on south) and picked us and the bikes up and took us to the hotel and then back the morning we left.

The capital building is not quite as impressive as in Austin, but it's a close second. If you stay at or go by the Riverscene B&B in Boonesville, it's almost the same building as the Governor's mansion (where it has a tower/cupola on one corner.) We stayed at the Riverscene and the owners offered to drive us to and from downtown Boonesville (again north south river thing) for dinner. We walked over but called them to bring us back after dinner and ice creams.

scububa

p.s. I have no idea of Amtrak's policy or procedures on any of this now. They were kind of fluid at the time, so I am sure they have changed. Also, I got different info between web pages, calling Amtrak main office and the folks local. But, it all worked out, just had to be flexible.

I also don't know if any of the same establishments are in business, etc.

Sunny2

I just signed up for this ride. I'm sure we will enjoy it.

bransom

I'll be there for the first time. Looking forward to it!

john.b

This sold out today, BTW.

JerrySTL

That took a while. Last year it only took 4 days to sell out. They did add 50 more slots this year.

There's still a waiting list. I rode with 3 people last year who got in the ride from the waiting list.

Sunny2

Got a question, I will be renting a hybrid there for the ride, not used to so much flat land and wonder if I should bring my own pedals and cycling shoes for this ride. Will clipless be much of an advantage for me on this flat ride?

JerrySTL

If you have mountain bike shoes or touring shoes with recessed cleats, I'd say yes. Road shoes with exposed cleats? Not so much. You'll need to do some walking around for things like lunch and to get scenic views of the river so shoes you can walk in help. If you have road shoes, bring cleat covers.

Even though it's mostly flat, there are some hills. Plus being clipped in helps keep the feet on the pedal properly.

BTW: I'm rider #177 and will be on a green Windsor Tourist.

Sunny2

Thanks, yes, I wear mountain bike shoes with recessed cleats, I'll bring them with my pedals, see you there I'll look for the green Windsor tourist, think I'm #155 . I don't do road shoes even with my road bike.

Sunny2

Loved the ride, looked for a green bike with #177 , never saw you Jerry, I was wrong I was #255 . Time will tell if I do it again.
I've wanted to do this ride for years, finally when I do it, I learn I did it in the wrong direction, I am tempted to do it again but in the "right" direction.