MKT Trail with a detour

Today, Thursday October 27, 2011

Once we left Windsor on Tuesday the weather was very warm but very windy as well. We traveled about 45 miles to Pilot Grove where we were instructed to set up camp at the Town Park.  Normally the cyclists would be able to get a shower at the pool house, but since the pool was closed we were not able to do so. We were also instructed to call the local PD to inform them of our stay there in their town and with our history with the small town Police forces we were not going to ignore this request.
The weather was still very windy and also very muggy with the weather front that was being pushed over us. We were told that we wouldn't get rained on but we still placed out tent under an awning.
In the morning the temperature had dropped down to a frigid 45deg. which was a huge change from the 70deg. night we had. We bundled up headed to the local gas station to fill up our tires to the max and warm ourselves with a large coffee. At that point, it began to rain.
Pulling out our Gortex jackets, we continued east on the Katy Trail towards New Franklin.
We made it to Boonville, MO before we were too soaked and cold to pedal any further. We located the nearest coffee shop from the Boonville Chamber of Commerce and drank cup after cup until lunchtime where we then left to find somewhere to purchase Fuel for our pocket stove.
Wal-Mart was the only place in town to purchase what we needed. We were forced to rely on them again.
By the time we left Boonville and crossed over the Missouri River, it stopped raining.
We were now on a mission to find the next town to set up tent.
We peddled all the way to Rocheport thinking this would be a great little town to stay in. The buildings looked old and restored, the streets were clean, but there wasn't anyone outside. All of the stores were closed and it looked like a ghost town. We called the information # on the sign and heard in ringing in the building next to us. We then called the Dispatch# for some information and were referred to the State Park Ranger who then told us that Camping was not allowed anywhere in the town and that if we did it would be considered Trespassing! He then continued to tell us to call one of the B&Bs in town because that was the only lodging available to us. Even though we made it clear that we did not have the means to stay at a B&B we were still told to go there.
So, we left. We continued to pedal east even though the sun had set and we were pedaling in the dark. The up side is that we did not have to worry about cars on the Katy Trail.
We were at a stopping point at Huntsdale where there was a Campsite and we were met by two cyclists named John and Jim. John immediately said to us, "going to D.C.?"
We were amazed that he would know that and we all began talking.
John invited us to stay at his house in Columbia which was about 12 mi. away. We agreed and headed off the KT towards Columbia.
John and his wife Patti were very kind to us. They feed us and we finally were able to have a shower.
We had a great rest and were energized in the morning with oatmeal and Pet’s coffee.
Thank you John and Pattie! We had a great time meeting the two of you!

Thanks for reading,
WOS and Vesper