Katy Trail mm 153-143 Hartsburg to North Jefferson

I road this stretch of the KATY Trail in February on a 65 degree day and road it today the 30th day of November on a 70 degree day.  It is as stretch that I use to ride frequently starting at Hartsburg and going toward North Jefferson, a short distance north of Jefferson City.  What appealed me was that Hartsburg is a pretty little community not far off of HWY 63.  It has had a bike shop in the past, now it has several restaurants and a winery.

It had a nice restroom, which until the last few years was open year round.....

Most of the restrooms along the trail are traditional "pit" toilets that do not require heat in the winter, and while acceptable, it is far nicer to have a nice warm restroom to change from my business attire into my riding attire.  With many meetings in Jefferson City, it was easy to pack a bike in the car, and after the conclusion of the meeting, take a ride.  So Hartsburg moved up my list of favorite starting points.  You can go west toward McBane or east toward North Jefferson both are nice rides.  While not spectacular, they are varied from bluff to field to river.

There are a nice number of riders that use the trail either from Columbia or Jefferson City, and usually a car or two in the parking lot at Hartsburg. I like to have some other riders on the trail.  Today I passed, or was passed by approximately six riders.  What interested me is the greeting, or really the lack there of that comes from all but two of the riders.  All but one of the riders were male.  The only female was the only one that was riding full-out fast.  She was on a bike with aerobars and was focused, but she could still wave a hand and say hello.  One of the men had earphones in his ears, and so one could conjecture that the tunes were pumping loud.  That does not explain that the others did not wave, nod or say any greeting or acknowledge any greeting.   I mean there are six riders in a stretch of 20 miles and two hours, that could not even acknowledge that the person they were passing or meeting was saying hello to them.....I am not expecting a long conversation on the beauty of the day, just a simple howdy.  Something has gone in this world....or I look at lot more frightening than I think I look....as a 60 year old man that looks a lot like Kris Kringle.......

It is fun to be riding on the trail on one side of the river and hear the train whistle from a train passing on the other side of the river.  Makes you wonder what you are going to find around the next corner of the rail trail.....