2026 Sedalia-Washington
Just Mark & Me
1st Weeklong Katy Ride
April 28- May 1, 2026
Ride 4 days / Overnight 3
185 miles - Just the two of us
SEDALIA - BOONVILLE / 34 MILES
Our Katy Trail Adventure (Abridged for Your Sanity)
If you’re reading this, congratulations—you’ve already done more than I did on Day 1, which technically never happened. We had to pivot and knock off day 1 because of severe weather and our stay in a metal silo with no protection.
FOR THOSE who have committed to Reading-Every-Word!!!
This is gonna be your 120 challenge just in miles in pure reading determination. But hey—you get to sit, sip coffee, and read. No sweating, no sunburn, no saddle sores. You’re welcome.
Also, apologies in advance. The writing of so many words is what happens when I’m wide awake at 2 a.m. in a hotel room with nothing but a head cold, adrenaline residue, and time to kill.
The Plans (Yes, Plural)
I have never pivoted so many times. But all worth the extra planning time because this was the most over-the-top PERFECT, over-exceeding, amazing trip I ever journeyed. I have been missing it every day since.
- Plan A: Ride 340 miles. Train to KC. Rock Island Spur. Windsor. St. Charles. Back to Washington. Epic. Heroic. Impossible, because there’s a 75‑mile stretch with zero lodging and our batteries would’ve died somewhere around mile 40.
- Plan B: Train to Sedalia, stay in adorable silos, ride back to Washington.
- Plan C: Weather forecast says “hail + tornadoes + metal silo = bad idea.” Trip bumped to Tuesday. Silo stay postponed to October hopefully for our Anniversary. I pout a little.
- Final Plan: Washington train to→ Sedalia ride → Boonville → Jeff City → Hermann → Washington.
Seven nights became three.
340 miles became 175.
My ability to pivot became Olympic‑level.
I HIGHLY recommend this itinerary to ANYONE!
Also, I came down with a monster head cold—100% self‑inflicted from turning 60 like it was a competitive sport: parties, rides, deck‑building, zero sleep, and 120 miles on a bike. My body has filed a formal complaint. This gives me yet one more extra challenge to overcome. Turning 60 is exhausting.
Day 1 (For Real This Time)
We LOVED the train. I haven’t been on Amtrak since our biker‑chick ride from Jeff to Sedalia 12 years ago. Everything is high‑tech now. We rolled the bikes on, parked them in a hallway, and boom—vacation mode activated. Husband's only stress for the trip relieved.
This was Battery Test Day. We only had 34 miles but the next day's 53‑miler loomed large, and historically Mark’s battery taps out at 40. So we had to test battery by keeping it slow at 11–12 mph to conserve battery life. This is hard when you want to belt it out and get to your destination.
The plan: Ride 24 miles to a bar for a celebratory beer.
Reality: small‑town hours said “no it's hair washing day so we are closed.”
So we ended up drinking cheap travel size wine in the Casey’s parking lot like two sad homeless drifters. When we discovered Mark had a back flat. Perfect timing, honestly. Tube #1 exploded. Tube #2 survived. Back on the trail.
And Then It Got FUN
Ten miles to Boonville, plenty of battery left, and suddenly we were flying—20 mph, dodging storm debris like we were in a video game. Pure joy. Pure adrenaline. Pure “this is why we ride.” We saw maybe three humans in 36 miles. Heaven.
Boonville Shenanigans
First mission: spare tubes.
Mark refused to pedal the two miles to Walmart (tragic, because that would’ve given me another 40 miles). I didn’t push my luck. We Ubered—yes, Boonville has exactly one Uber driver, and we met him twice. No trip is truly complete without one Walmart trip. Feeling better now with 2 spares each. We got this.
Dinner at the hotel was perfect: great food, Tank 7 on tap (destiny), and two lovely couples swapping biking and retirement stories with us at the bar.
You should see our room.
Two giant e-bikes are plugged in and blocking every walkway. One whole bed has vanished under a full saddle‑bag explosion. Getting to the bathroom now requires agility, prayer, and at least one well‑timed hop. This is a hard environment for me. I like things neat and tidy.
What will Day 2 bring?
Hopefully some relief from this head cold and not such a messy room in Jeff. Mucinex is my new best friend. Sorry Mark you have been replaced by desperate need.
