A few days ago I stayed overnight in the small town of Windsor, Missouri. I was there for a funeral and it was just a bit too far to go to an evening visitation, drive home, and then back down for a funeral the next morning.
Looking online for a place to stay, I came across Kim's Cabin's, LLC. Perfect. These little cabins are nicely furnished, sleep six, has pretty decent Wi-Fi, and come with a nice kitchenette. And even better--there is no television!!! A perfect stay for a quick overnight or someone wanting a bit of peace and quiet.
The cabins are located along the Katy Trail near the Rock Island Spur trailhead. The Katy and Rock Island are a part of the "rails to trails" movement, where unused rail corridors are dedicated for recreational purposes. The Katy and Rock Island are open to hikers, runners, bicyclists, and equestrians year round. There are a number of readily available publications through an internet search, showing routes, points of interest, and services available in each town.
The morning before the funeral I spent a short time walking about the trailhead on both the Rock Island and the Katy.
This sign is located near where the cabins are next to the trail.
The Katy Trail runs from Clinton, Missouri some 237 miles east to Maachens, Missouri. In 2016, the Rock Island Spur was opened from Pleasant Hill to Windsor, Missouri. It currently spans 47 miles.
Looking down from the Katy.
Services available in Windsor.
The state park rules. Be courteous. Respect private property. What a great idea!
The opening of the Rock Island Spur in 2016 was supposed to be only the first step in extending the trail further east. The next several towns are to be Iona, Cole Camp, Stover, and Versailles. The economic impact to these small towns will be significant. The extension appears to be in the works, but a significant requirement for funding is needed before it can be initiated. See the status here: https://rockislandtrail.org/status/
Something about my overnight stay in Windsor seems to have awakened something dormant within me. Perhaps it is merely a sense of mortality from attending the funeral of a friend's parent. Years ago, I was once a runner. Now the decades have passed and I have the abuse from deployments and a military career. I am slowly facing the fact it is unlikely that my back will ever allow me to be the distance and trail runner that I once was. However, I may be up for a hike or possibly a bicycle ride.
