2007 Katy Trail Ride

Wild on the Katy Day 1 - June 18, 2007 - Clinton to Sedalia

The first day of the 2007 Katy Trail Ride officially kicked off Monday morning with breakfast at 6:30 a.m. Riders enjoyed biscuits and gravy, fruit, cereal, milk, juice and coffee served in the Benson Convention Center in Clinton.

The night before, the center was open for hot showers and riders were given access to an amazing swimming facility. Participants were shuttled into town for dinner before the 8 p.m. riders meeting.

The first day of riding started off with what many called perfect cycling weather. The humidity was down and it was a nice cool day. Joining the ride today were riders from the Cycling Scholars Biking Program of the Genesis Charter School in Kansas City. The riders were sponsored by the Major Taylor Foundation of Greater Kansas City.

Riders enjoyed a rather short ride of only 39 miles today. SAG stops were located in Calhoun, Windsor and Green Ridge. The first riders arrived in Sedalia in the early morning, way ahead of the check-in table, which began operations at noon. Those who arrived a little later were able to enjoy the many vendors stationed at the Sedalia Depot. The riders had their choice of anything from cookies and kettle korn to Mexican food!

After lunch, the riders had the opportunity to lay back and relax at Liberty Park. The pool was open for those who wanted to take a dip and for those wanting a drier activity, the option was open to travel to Bothwell Lodge State Historic Site for tours.

At 5:30 p.m., everyone got together for the group photo before dinner and luckily before the rain set in. At 6 p.m., the doors of the convention hall opened for dinner served by Nadler’s. Riders were greeted by a feast of BBQ brisket, smoked turkey, a veggie tray, pasta salad, baked beans, baked potato, rolls, apple crisp, coffee, tea and lemonade. A pasta dish was provided for those who wanted a meatless option.

After dinner, the riders meeting, led by David Kelly, program director, and Andrea Putnam, event coordinator, was held. Riders were briefed on what to expect during the next day’s ride from Sedalia to Columbia, approximately 66 miles.

After the meeting, Professor Farquar amazed the gathered crowd with his Great American Medicine Show, which included singing and magic tricks.

Soon after the show ended, many headed on to bed to prepare for the long bicycle ride Tuesday. A slight drizzle wouldn’t seem to let up but many said they would prefer a little rain to scorching heat.

Trivia Questions

These questions tested riders' general knowledge of nature. Some answers were found along the trail at info depots or wayside exhibits.

1) Name four animals that you saw today. Were they wild or domestic?

2) Name two plants that you saw today.

3) Ticks are bloodsucking arachnids that attach themselves to warm-blooded vertebrates (animals with a backbone) to feed. Spiders and mites are also arachnids. How many legs does a tick have? Answer: eight

Wild on the Katy Day 2 - June 19, 2007 - Sedalia to Columbia

The second day of the 2007 Katy Trail Ride started for most around 6 a.m. Tuesday morning with breakfast. The Pancake Man (recently back from an appearance with Paula Dean of the Food Network) wowed everyone with his amazing cooking and delightful tricks as participants caught flying pancakes hot off the griddle. Along with pancakes, sausage, fruit, coffee, milk and orange juice were served.

Tuesday was a long day of 66 miles from Sedalia to Columbia. Early in the morning, rain was taken out of the forecast and riders enjoyed a sunny day with an average temperature in the mid-80s.

SAG stops dotted today’s trek with stops in Clifton City, Pilot Grove, Boonville, Davisdale, and Hindman Junction before the final stop for the day in Reactor Park in Columbia.

Despite the many miles that had to be covered, the first few riders made it to the day’s final destination around noon. Most riders arrived in the following few hours.

After setting up camp and enjoying a nice refreshing shower, riders had the opportunity to test their climbing skills on the Alpine Tower located just down the road from camp. The participants were able to try to traverse the 60-foot tower complete with cargo nets, swinging poles and a giant ladder.

After climbing or resting, riders headed to downtown Columbia to grab some dinner from area restaurants before the 8:30 p.m. riders meetings. At the meeting, riders were addressed by local leaders and state park officials. Present at the meeting was Doug Eiken, director of Department of Natural Resources' Division of State Parks, as well as representatives of the Missouri State Parks Foundation. The crowd had the opportunity to learn about the state park system and the foundation and some of the projects that are currently in the works.

After riders were briefed about what to expect on the next day’s ride from Columbia to Mokane (approximately 53 miles) Katy Klymus and Christina Bure from the Raptor Rehabilitation Project presented a Birds of Prey Program. The two brought along a couple of their feathered friends to help teach the crowd about raptors.

After the program, it was lights out for most campers who headed off to bed to get ready for the ride ahead tomorrow.

Trivia Questions

1) Pilot Grove got its name because there was a group of _______ that helped settlers navigate across plains.
a) Airplanes  b) Trees  c) Telegraph poles  d) Indian burial mounds

2) As you leave Rocheport, look up at the bluffs. You’ll notice a lot of mud nests on the bluffs (or cliffs, if you prefer). The birds that make these nests are called:
a) Cliff Swallows  b) Barn Swallows  c) Cliff Barnes

3) Poison ivy:
a) Is a member of the cashew family. b) Can be either a vine or a shrub.
c) Has alternate, three-leaflets that vary in size a shape. d) All of the above

4) If you rub this plant’s leaves on your skin, it will take the itch out of poison ivy. Its name suggests it should not be touched. It grows in moist places. This plant is called:
a) Ivy block  b) Touch-me-not (also known as jewelweed)  c) Itch-me-not  d) Stinging nettle

Wild on the Katy Day 3 - June 20, 2007 - Columbia to Mokane

It was another cool, early morning as the riders of the 2007 Katy Trail Ride began to get up for breakfast before hitting the trail for the third day. The Pancake Man came back again to feed the riders French toast, sausage and scrambled eggs. The riders were also able to grab cereal, fruit, milk, orange juice and coffee.

Wednesday remained overcast and cool. Riders made stops in McBaine, Wilton, the North Jefferson trailhead, and Tebbetts for SAG stops before their final stop for the evening at Mokane. The participants rode approximately 53 miles.

Today was the poker run, which meant that at the SAG stops and Mokane, each rider was able to pick a card from the deck. The card was then recorded and at the end of the night, the person with the highest and lowest five-card hand won a prize!

Once in Mokane, the riders had the choice of either braving a rather steep hill up to their campground at the South Callaway Elementary School or they could catch the shuttle and rest their legs after a long day. The first rider made it into camp around 11 a.m. Most of the other riders would arrive in Mokane in the early afternoon hours.

Once in camp, riders were once again able to take a refreshing shower before setting up camp or heading to their hotel. At 6 p.m., members of the United Methodist Church of Mokane served dinner. They provided a hearty meal of BBQ chicken, pork steak, baked potatoes, green beans, cole slaw, pie, lemonade, and sweet or unsweeten tea. The meatless option for the night was vegetarian lasagna.

After the meal, riders headed down to the South Callaway football field for the riders meeting. This meeting was a little different as one of the interns, Kyle O’Haver, was in charge of running the meeting. Things went smoothly and the riders were prepared for the ride coming up the next day. Some even won prizes for successfully completing the trivia in their map booklets.

After the riders meeting, the riders had two choices of entertainment. The first choice was to relax and enjoy bluegrass music and the second choice was to head into the cafeteria to work on a trivia challenge,

After all was said and done, the riders finally headed off to bed. The next day’s ride will take them from Mokane to Augusta, distance of approximately 61 miles.

Trivia Questions

1) On what two continents won’t you find painted ladies (the butterfly)?
Antarctica and South America (found on the butterfly wayside panel at McBaine)

 

2) Perche Creek is not named after the perch, a kind of fish. It is named for what geological feature?
Roche Percée (found on the Roche Percée wayside panel)

3) Another name for scouring rush is horsetail or Equisetum (found at Hartsburg and North Jefferson)

4) The Eastern Bluebird is a member of the thrush family, while the Indigo Bunting is a member of the cardinal family. (found at North Jefferson and Tebbetts)

Wild on the Katy Day 4 - June 21, 2007 - Mokane to Augusta

The Pancake Man returned for his third and final day as the fourth day of the 2007 Katy Trail Ride kicked off. This morning, the riders got to choose from pancakes, sausage, cereal, fruit, milk, orange juice, and coffee before hitting the trail.

Today the trail would take them from Mokane to Augusta a distance of approximately 61 miles. SAG stops were located in Portland, Rhineland, Gore, Treloar, Dutzow and Augusta. As the day progressed, the temperature spiked into the high 80s, eventually reaching 90 degrees.

Riders were glad to make it to camp in Augusta and beat the heat. Once there, riders set up camp before dinner. Dinner this evening consisted of roast beef, pasta with vegetables, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, bread, dessert, coffee, tea and lemonade. The meatless option for this meal was broccoli rice casserole.

After riders got their fill, they headed down to the riders meeting. This meeting was lead by Christi Gonder, an intern this year. The oldest and youngest rider and the person who traveled the farthest were all announced. The winners of the poker challenge were also named with prizes going to the best (a full house) and the worst (5,7 low) hand.

This was the final rider meeting, as tomorrow the riders will travel the last 28 miles from Augusta to St. Charles. As always, the riders were briefed on what to expect on the upcoming trail before retiring for the evening.

After the meeting, for those not ready to go to bed, a jazz singer was set up on the grounds to entertain the crowd. Meanwhile, local residents were on hand with some of the local wines. Riders were also informed of the opportunity to see a space shuttle later on in the evening. Many stayed up to catch a glimpse before calling it a night.

Trivia Questions

1) Which western expedition was the first to discover the eastern wood rat?
Lewis and Clark (found on the Lewis and Clark panel at Standing Rock MM 120.4)

 

2) The Loutre River is named after what mammal?
Otter; L’outre is French for “the otter.” (found at McKittrick)

 

3) On the return voyage, the Lewis and Clark expedition subsisted on what fruit?
Paw Paw (found at Marthasville)

 

4) During breeding season, what male amphibian's call sounds like pebbles clicking together?
Blanchard’s Cricket Frog (found at Marthsville and Treloar)

Wild on the Katy Day 5 - June 22, 2007 - Augusta to St. Charles

On the fifth and final day of the 2007 Katy Trail Ride, riders got up early to enjoy a continental breakfast before heading out for the last leg of their journey. Riders munched on muffins, bagels, pastries, fruit, milk, orange juice and coffee.

On Friday, the riders would have to complete the ride from Augusta to St. Charles, a distance of approximately 28 miles. SAG stops were located in Weldon Spring and Greens Bottom. The weather remained sunny and hot for the rest of the trip.

Once they reached St. Charles, the group relaxed for a bit before chowing down on box lunches that contained roast beef, turkey or veggie sandwiches, chips, cookies, fruit and a cool drink. Many chose to multitask by filling out their surveys for this year’s ride while enjoying their lunch.

Once the riders were finished eating, many were picked up by family or friends or hopped into their own cars, which had been parked there since Sunday. Those who were left caught the return shuttle either back to Columbia or all the way to Clinton.

They came, they rode, they got Wild on the Katy, and we hope to see them again next year!

Trivia Questions

1) Norton grapes are used to make wine. What aphid-like insect lives in the soil, consumes grape roots and damages the crop?
Phylloxera (found in Augusta)

 

2) What bird, with a great sense of smell and a defense mechanism that includes vomiting, soars on thermal air currents above the Missouri River bluffs?
Turkey Vultures (found in Dutzow and Augusta)

 

3) Ruby-throated Hummingbirds love this vine that likes to creep up bluff faces. Its flower is red to orange on the outside and yellow on the inside. The flower reminds some of a brass musical instrument.
Trumpet Creeper (found in Rocheport and McBaine)