Five Days on the Katy Trail -Day Five – Boonville to home

The Katy Trail adventure concludes today, but we still had a breakfast to eat, and we’d heard that it would be a memorable one.  Since we didn’t have a ride ahead of us, we were able to take it easy this morning and went downstairs to eat breakfast at 9:00 am.  The innkeeper had graciously offered to prepare it early, but since our shuttle from the Bike Stop Cafe in St. Charles wouldn’t arrive until 10:00 am, we knew the customary 9:00 am time would work just fine.

We sat down in the dining room (that we had all to ourselves) to a beautifully set table.  We are celebrating our 34th anniversary today, so this lovely atmosphere was a great way to begin!

We had banana nut muffins, juice and coffee, a pineapple boat that the innkeeper told us was their signature dish, and a veggie omelette.  It was delicious and Kriss was not only an excellent cook (she has written a cookbook) but also a very sweet hostess and we enjoyed getting to know her just a bit.

She and her husband own the inn, and she told us they were hoping to relocate closer to family in Washington state.  Therefore, they had decided to give the inn away through an essay contest!  There is an entry fee to enter the contest, but ideally that fee will generate enough money to cover the purchase price so that they can buy a new inn.  We told her we’d come stay at her new inn once they got it up and running.  (www.highstreetvictorian.com)

Promptly at 10:00 am, we were picked up right at the door of the B&B by the shuttle service from the Bike Stop Cafe in St. Charles. (www.bikestopcafes.com)

Driving the shuttle was the owner himself.  He loaded and secured our bikes in the back of the van, then we stepped in and we were off.  We made good time and were safely returned to our truck.

Since it was lunchtime, we walked down the brick streets in St. Charles and ate at an outdoor cafe.  Our adventure had officially concluded.  We biked a total of 182 miles. We had a great time, we challenged ourselves in more ways than one, we laughed until we hurt, and met some great people along the way.  Not one time did we cross paths with an unkind or grumpy person.  There’s something to be said for Midwest hospitality.  And there’s something to be said for the independent innkeepers and mom and pop businesses in little towns.  We did not stay at a chain hotel and we did not eat at a chain restaurant.  Not that we wouldn’t, but we surely enjoyed the uniqueness of the places we stayed and ate.

As we planned for this trip, there were two resources we really enjoyed using.  One was a blog called Naptime on the Katy Trail.  It chronicled the journey of a young couple and their toddler on the Katy Trail.  I really enjoyed reading it and would recommend it if you are considering such a trip.  The other resource is a book called “The Complete Katy Trail Guidebook” by Brett Dufur.  Jimmy (the better researcher of the two of us) ordered it online, and it really is a complete guide.  We were very familiar with the trail and it helped us to not miss anything we wanted to see.  It also helped us map out our mileage based on places to lodge and places to eat (two very important components of any trip!)

Now back to the real world, but we’ll be daydreaming and thinking about the next adventure…