September 19, 2020 - Clinton to Green Ridge, MO

We had an different start to our day today. Because yesterday’s ride was on the Rock Island Spur of the Katy Trail, the guys wanted to head to Clinton for the “official” start of the Katy Trail and they didn’t want to ride the 20 miles both ways!

We switched bikes around and loaded Phil and Tobey’s bikes on our RV and we all piled in and drove to Clinton. We passed this old-time looking gas station on the way into town. I don’t think it is in operation, but still cool!Clinton’s historic downtown square is Missouri’s largest and the Victorian setting took us back to the 1800s! We parked next to the museum and did a small walking tour around the downtown area.Several of the building had murals painted on the sides. We enjoyed seeing all of the buildings and interesting architecture.Phil and Tobey posed by a life sized postcard of Clinton. I wish I could have found one for sale!We were back to the RV about 10 and the guys got the bikes unloaded and were going to head to the trailhead – but which way do they go??? Well, they managed to find their way the three miles from town and were ready to make the “official” start!A caboose from the MKT railroad marks the beginning (or end!) of the trail.It’s the end of the trail if you start in the east!This was one of the murals I saw in town and wondered about. We also saw a store that was dedicated to selling all kinds of “chicks” stuff! Marcia and I went to the museum after the guys left and found out that Royal Booth established the first commercial poultry hatchery west of the Mississippi River. He revolutionized poultry breeding by making prodigy testing a standard for poultry producers worldwide and created an industry that funneled millions of dollars into the local economy through the worst of the Great Depression.

Henry County where Clinton is located had 23 hatcheries and shipped a combined total of 110,000,000 chicks when the industry peaked in the 1950s!

The museum was only $5.00 and we enjoyed a private tour by a knowledgeable docent. The picture below is a handbasket and they were used to transport bodies from the death site to the funeral home. If you have ever heard the term “going to Hell in a handbasket”, that may be where it originated! During the Civil War they were also used to transport soldiers who were unable to walk from the battlefield and this is where the term “basket case” came from!The museum has many great displays. They even received a donation of an almost complete pharmacy!In addition to the large museum, we got a tour of the “Dog Trot” log house, and school house which are located across the street. The log house dates from 1869 and was moved intact from 2.5 miles west of Montrose, Missouri to this location in 1993.The school house is located next to the Dog Trot house.It was almost noon and Marcia and I headed back to Windsor to meet the guys for lunch.

Between Clinton and Calhoun, they guys passed over the Tebo River on the old Trestle bridge, as well as going over Sand Creek, a tributary to the Tebo River.We saw fields of these flowers along the road but there wasn’t any place for us to pull over. Thank goodness they were along the trail and the guys took pictures for us!They arrived back in Windsor about 12:30 in time for lunch and a nap at the trailhead where we spent last night.Fed and rested, they were off again about 2:30 heading for Green Ridge. They passed a pretty interesting barn along the way. Between Windsor and Green Ridge is the “high” point along the Katy Trail – 955 feet! When you live in Colorado at almost 5000 feet, it kind of makes us chuckle!Just about 3:30 they arrived at Green Ridge after a 28.7 mile day. We are staying at the trailhead parking again tonight and will head to Pilot Grove tomorrow.