Jeff’s Missouri Bicycle Trip Report - 05/22/09
Day 5 - Afternoon
I was done with lunch at 12:15 p.m.. At 1:00 p.m., I went a short ways
off the trail in Marthasville to the S&R Convenience Center for a large
Gatorade, returning to the town’s park to enjoy it. Here’s a picture of their
old depot (with a newer roof). I read that its restoration will be
Marthasville’s next project. (Note: the bike is pointed in the opposite
direction of how I was going - I decided to get the picture after I’d rode
by.) 
Here’s a picture of the Missouri River right next to the
trail. (I was looking backwards for this picture, too.) 
I’d read on
one of the trailhead information boards that these signs provide information for
river boat traffic. 
Lots of bridges on
the trail. Here’s a typical one. 
After reading this
sign, I figured the Callaway power plant must be nuclear. 
There’s a
rock on the north side of the trail that had flood high-water marks on it. I got
a quick picture. 
At 4:50 p.m., I
stopped in McKittrick for a 7-up from a nearby soda machine. I kept wondering if
I could make it to Tebbetts, and the Turner Katy Trail Shelter there, before
nightfall. And if not, where would I stay? Anyway, I pushed on. Somewhere before
sunset, I noticed these slow-moving clouds, and how quiet the evening was. Made
me wish I was sitting on a south facing porch, drinking a lemonade and watching
the evening slowly drift by. 
It was taking
forever, but I finally rolled into Tebbetts at 8:30 p.m.. Found the Turner Shelter,
and the key on the utility pole. (www.confedmo.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67
, www.bikekatytrail.com/ridereport/shelter.pdf
) I had trouble getting the door open, partly due to a stray wire on the key
ring that kept poking me in the thumb, and partly because it’s a “push door”,
not a “pull door”. 
No one was there!
And it was Friday night of Memorial Day weekend! I read the house rules, checked
the place out, and unpacked. 
I decided to go
next door to Jim’s Bar & Grill to see it I could get something to eat before
they closed. Jim offered to heat me up a “made in Missouri” frozen pizza. That
sounded good, but I told him I probably couldn’t eat it all. He said I could
save what was left for breakfast. That was an idea - there was a refrigerator
and microwave at the shelter. So I ate half a pizza while listening to karaoke
by Jim and some patrons. Jim let me sign the bicyclist log he keeps, which had
many interesting entries. One lady there, who Jim kept calling the “Mayor”,
lives next door to the shelter. She told me her dogs keep a good watch, so I
didn’t need to worry and could get a good night’s sleep. I heard that Missouri
state legislators often patronize Jim’s place, because it’s close to Jefferson
City, but “out-of-sight”. It’s the legislators that have given the Mayor her
title. I would have enjoyed staying longer, but needed a shower and some
sleep. After the shower I decided to fix the shelter’s key ring, since I had
wire cutters and tie wraps. I also rigged up the charger for the bike’s battery,
and plugged in the BlackBerry. It was getting later than I realized, so I headed
to bed. Tried sending this email message out several times (even from the
upstairs room), but apparently I was out of cell tower range. I did get it
forwarded the following morning on the trail closer to Jefferson
City. Subject: Day 5 - a $5 night
Date:
Saturday, 5-23-2009 10:21 a.m.
------Original
Message------
Subject: Day 5 - a $5 night
Sent: May 23, 2009 1:11
a.m.
------Original Message------
Subject: Day 5 - a $5 night
Sent:
May 23rd, 2009 1:07 a.m. Up at 6 a.m. Showered and waited for tent to
dry. Talked to park ranger (who was on bicycle). Left at
9:54 a.m. 11:30 a.m. lunch at Dutzow ($10.17). 8:30 p.m. arrived at turner shelter
in Tebbetts. I have the place to myself. Went next door to Jim’s. He
cooked a frozen pizza for me. I ate 1/2 and put the other 1/2 in frig for
breakfast. 67 miles Moving 7:46 Moving average 8.2mph Have
reservation tomorrow at Katy Roundhouse in New
Franklin Jeff
Day 5: 69 miles in 10 hours, 36 minutes, from
start to finish = 6.5 mph.
Spent: $10.17 plus $2 tip (lunch) + $2.00
(Gatorade) + $1.00 (7-up) + $14.00 (supper at Jim’s) + $5.00 plus $15 donation
(shelter fee) = $49.17.
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