Jamis Aurora + Brooks + TE advice = Happy

[SLash]

I just looked at your pic and read your blog about the Katy. Snakes. Funny. I made a post last year about a couple I found on the trail. I really only see them when it's hot, but you just need to make sure you don't run over any sticks. Sometimes those sticks are snakes, but the trail is so straight, you can always see them in time. Just remember the stick theory. I've ridden the trail for years and rarely see any though so don't be overly concerned. As far as poison ivy is concerned, I think you would only get that if you went walking off the trail. It's kept very clear. The worst part, or the one paid the least attention is from Mokane to Portland. More brush closer to the road and a tree was down last time I was there, September I think, but I still don't see how you would get poison ivy from it. I never have.

There is a really cool winery right after Rocheport. You can park your bike at the bottom of the hill and walk up it to get there. It can't be seen from the trail and the hill to it is a killer! Also, Columbia, MO has a trail, about 7 miles long I think that you can take to it from the Katy. Well worth the detour. Columbia is a great town. Melalvai lives there and can give you some insider info as to where to go and what to see there. And you are going to Hermann aren't you? It's a beautiful town with a lot of history, hills and wineries!

Keep us posted on your ride. Would be kind of cool if some of us could join you on one of the days. I know there are a lot of St. Louis riders who have been trying to get some of us together to meet and ride the Katy.

Uforgot,

Thanks for the info about the winery, Columbia and the trail (including beware of sticks)!!

I'm not sure if I'll be adding posts to my blog during the trip (will write about it for sure after getting home), can't decide if I'll take my netbook with me. I want to "unplug" yet I want to write about the trip so haven't decided if I can trust myself to bring the netbook and not get on twitter, fb, etc. However I can do all that with my phone, so who am I kidding, I won't be "unplugged" anyway.

That would be cool if anyone from TE could ride with us on part of the ride. I'll be uploading pictures to picasa and will add a link on my blog.

Here is where we will be and the days we will be there (can't nail down times):
Friday 5/7 - Clinton to Sedalia
Saturday - Sedalia to Rocheport
Sunday - Rocheport to Jeff City
Monday - Jefferson City to Hermann (we visited Hermann when we went to Tour of Mo)
Tuesday - Hermann to Augusta
Wednesday - Augusta to St. Charles
Thursday - we shuttle back to Clinton then homeward.

We're going to visit the winery (walking up that hill), the b & b we're staying at is nearby. We also plan to ride to Columbia on the connector trail - thanks for the suggestion!!

Susan