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Home PageDay 2, Hermann to Hartsburg -- June 25, 2002
At the beginning of the second day, the Hermann City Police blocked two lanes of the Missouri River bridge for the bicyclists; once at 6 a.m. and once at 6:30 a.m. It was a pleasant and exciting way to start off the 57-mile ride to Hartsburg. Cyclists rode to Rhineland where they stopped at the St. Joseph Catholic Church for breakfast, which consisted of biscuits, gravy, sausage, milk, juice, coffee, cereal, and tropical fruit.
The SAG stops for the cyclists were located at Portland, Tebbetts, and the North Jefferson trail head. Along the Katy, cyclists were treated to spectacular views of the Missouri River, and breathtaking bluffs between Bluffton and Portland. Some of the bluffs along the Katy towered as high as 250 feet. The views were unforgettable: the bluffs... the river.... and the bicyclists.
At the North Jefferson trail head SAG stop, the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Task Force of Jefferson City shuttled people across the river for sightseeing and lunch in downtown Jefferson City.
Tuesday's ride featured the "Poker Run" in which cyclists stopped at five stops located at Portland, Mokane, Tebbetts, t the North Jefferson trail head and finally Hartsburg. At the stops, cyclists chose a card, hoping for the best hand. A straight flush was the winning hand -- a 6,7,8,9,10 of diamonds by Tom Kus.
Tuesday's passport questions were:
- Early Hermann settlers first arrived in the 1830s as part of a large wave of immigration to this region of Missouri. In the 1840s, some planted vineyards to make wine. From which country did most Hermann settlers emigrate? answer
- Katy Trail State Park used to go through the middle of the town of Rhineland until about 1993. Where is the town located today? Why did it move? answer
- At mile marker 120.4, there is a large, isolated piece of the bluff standing at the right edge of the trail. List three dates that appear on the rock. What is the significance of the dates? answer
- The fertile soil of the Missouri River bottomland is good for farming. Name one of the two major crops growing between Katy Trail State Park and the river. answer
Tuesday's passport winner was Rider # 40.
More than 300 cyclists gathered in Hartsburg for dinner at the American Legion Hall. Cyclists enjoyed a spaghetti dinner with salad, tropical fruit, Italian bread, tea and lemonade. The Katy Trail Ride nearly tripled Hartsburg's population of 108. Cyclists camped in eight different locations around town, including the city park, the church yard, and yards of the Hartsburg's residents. John and Carl Thomas, both Hartsburg residents and volunteers, provided a traditional tractor and wagon shuttle for the cyclists baggage and transportation to their campsite. Several Hartsburg businesses welcomed the cyclists with a lemonade stand and a live band. Popular spots in Hartsburg were the Hartsburg Cycle Depot and the Thornhill Winery.
The riders meeting featured one of the Katy Trail Ride's sponsor, Bryan Douglas from Westminster College; Nancy Grant, the mayor of Hartsburg, and Steve Mahfood, the director of the Department of Natural Resources. A surprise thunderstorm threatened the riders meeting, but the rain waited for the riders to return to the Legion Hall. There, they were treated to an ice cream social, followed by a slide presentation on "Lewis and Clark in Missouri" by Jim Denny.
Along the way, cyclists saw: scenic views of farming in Missouri spectacular view of a cloud formation just before the thunderstorm in Hartsburg, and the streets of Hartsburg.
More tomorrow on Following Lewis and Clark –Katy Trail Ride 2002!!!
