Keith,

There's a YouTuber that just made the trip on the Katy. She camped in the trailside campgrounds. You might take a look: https://www.youtube.com/@DeniseLookingOut

Adam

It does. I'm prepared to fix camp dinners and breakfasts (made an REI run today and got enough backpacker meals to cover all the dinners and breakfasts, plus a spare for lunch in a pinch.)

Since I can get a full night out of each of the two CPAP batteries I can get to our third night (Jefferson City) and recharge them there, without lugging the extension cord along.

Thanks for the info.

You're taking me way back...

The short answer is that the group I was riding with was not really into camping, so we stayed at hotels for the entire trip. The lodging, besides the tornado in Columbia, was uneventful. Anyway, I'm not sure the condition of the campgrounds, and it was long enough ago that I don't really remember if there were charging opportunities at the various depots. I remember there being a lot of porta-potties and not real restrooms. So, I think opportunities were probably scant.

I can't speak to the Spur, but in general, we didn't have much trouble finding stores in the small towns but we did have trouble with restaurants. Many of them closed early and we were really taking our time. Sunday also had us finding fewer services open.

Hope this small bit of info helps...

Hi Adam-

I see from your profile that you've done the Katy. Anything in particular you think I should know, a week before I blast off?

My friend and I plan a five-day transit, camping most nights, but at least one night (Jefferson City) will be a hotel, B&B, or something similar.

Did you camp? if so what, if anything, can you tell me about general / overall access to electricity at camping sites? I'm a CPAP user so will be carrying two batteries for that, to forestall any possibility of being caught without access to electricity for my portable machine but the extension cord is lighter. I'd rather carry the cord only but if there's a chance of being caught in a situation where there's no outlet in handy proximity to my tent I'll need the batteries.

It's laid out as a five day (54, 64, 64, 68, and 48 miles respectively) and four night affair, taking the Rock Island Spur from KC MO (starting, I hope, from the trailhead in the vicinity of the Arrowhead Stadium / Kaufman Stadium complex).

My plan relies on timely access to convenience and grocery stores along / near the routes, and open cafes for lunches.

John Pickett advised me, based on his experience, that the stores and other resources may not always be where / as you want/need them.

My (AWESOME!) WarmShowers host in Richmond has a copy of the planning / vision document for that trail and left it for me to thumb through. I read quite a bit of it and it's very promising and encouraging.

Fredericksburg City, along with Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Prince William Counties could all learn a lot from Richmond City, Chesterfield, Henrico, and Hanover Counties.

Keith - you'll have to repeat your ride in 2026 if this trail really happens:

https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/fall-line-trail-update-april-23-2024

Thanks!

I'm ready, too. My Katy Trail starts at the end of next week...

That was fun! I'm ready for more.

Like you I really have no idea, other than it was clearly meant as encouragement and appreciation. Since I was only at the start, both of the day and the trip as a whole, I *suppose* it's possible he was impressed with the obvious strength and power that I was applying to the pedals, in a silky-smooth and apparently effortless manner. But I doubt that, somehow.

"WAY TO RIDE MAN, way to riiiiide!" said the man walking his dog, less than half a mile from where I had rolled out of my driveway moments earlier. "

You Americans really do shout the most extraordinary things! What on earth does it mean? I get the sentiment but not the sentence...

I didn't realize those other bridges had provisions for non-motorized access. It's still a very small minority of interstate bridges, though.

I think the GW Bridge in NYC qualifies as does the Mario Cuomo (Tappan Zee) Bridge. And I-80 across the Delaware has a rather lame side path on it for the Appalachian Trail.

That's an old line I attribute to George Carlin but not really sure:

"What's the difference between a preservationist and a developer?"

The preservationist already has his house in the woods...

But you see how well it can be done when biking in places like Seattle, Portland, etc, and not even bringing the Amsterdams of the world into the discussion, it is really sad how often it is done badly.

"... my "neighborhood" was once a "development!" "

It's a matter of perspective, for sure. And of course there's the natural tendency of people everywhere to try to close the door behind them: once they're in, they don't want further encroachment. But THEY definitely want IN.

Yep. Then again, Paris city streets aren't for the faint of heart, nervous, or novice rider either.