Biking the Katy Trail - Part 3

I made it!!!!!

Day 6:  Augusta to St. Charles:  Our final day of biking!  Today's ride was only about 28 miles - our shortest day on this adventure.  We took our time this morning over breakfast, coffee drinking and to wait out a passing shower.  By the time we got on our bikes, it was 10 a.m.  We thought our other groups would have left us behind but we saw them all on the trail and made plans for the big celebration in St. Charles.

Octoberfest - my beverage
of choice.

Since it was Saturday, there were lots more bikers and joggers on the trail today.  As we got closer to St. Charles, there were more services available as well.  I think this end of the Katy Trail is used more frequently.  As the three of us approached the end of the trail, Jim and Linda were there taking our picture! We all had such a feeling of accomplishment!!!  WE DID IT!!!

After getting lost in St. Charles, we finally found the Bittersweet Inn B&B.  We left our bikes there and headed back to the Trailhead Brewery to celebrate!!  Jim bought the promised drinks and we had fun talking with them.

We made it!!  Thanks Jim and Linda!!

Jim and Linda had barely left when Kyle shows up.  So, we joined them and celebrated some more!

Peggy, Ardell, Sara, Drue, Andrew, & Kyle

Our motto!!

Day 7:  St. Charles and Getting Home:  Our original plan was to move cars every few days so we would have one at the end.  We quickly figured out we were too tired after a day of riding.  Second plan was to hire a shuttle driver to take us back to our cars.  While we were waiting for a call back from a shuttle driver, we headed over to the Ameristar Casino for a little blackjack:)    Even though all the info we had said it would be easy to find a shuttle driver, that was not the case.  No calls came so over lunch we had to "regroup" and decide how we were getting back to our cars.   We ended up calling Ben (Ardell's husband) and he reserved a rental car for us.  We took a taxi to pick up the car and headed out.  My car was in Herman about an hour away.  Drue's car was still in Sedalia which was over three hours away.   That birthday present Ardell gave me turned out to be the best ever - I was back at the B&B watching the Emmy Awards before they were in Sedalia.  They had an awful trip back to St. Charles in the pouring down rain.  

Monday morning I left St. Charles about 5:30 a.m. to avoid the morning rush hour in St. Louis and was home by noon.

Reflections:  We went into this trip pretty naive.  We all thought we would have time to visit the little towns and site see along the way.  Not:)  The Katy Trail Guide Book says to plan on 8 miles an hour.  We found that was pretty close.    Even though we went faster than that most of the time, with stops and rest breaks, etc. that was pretty accurate.  Riding on crushed limestone is not like riding on pavement - it is definitely slower.  Wednesday when it rained all day, the surface was really sloppy!   Services such as restaurants and bike shops were few and far between - and not always open.  There were more services available at the St. Charles end.  The scenery was probably the prettiest on Wednesday but we missed it with the rain.  Missouri is really scenic and I would like to go back and site see and visit the wineries.  I didn't even know they produced wine in Missouri but the two I had I really enjoyed.  It is amazing how focused you get on "riding the trail".   We all have such a feeling of accomplishment!!!

We liked this!!!

Bikes:  Drue and I both rode hybrids (Trek and Cannondale).  Ardell rode her Bike Friday World Traveller.  All were well suited to the trail.  We had all the supplies we needed.  I'll be adding lights to my bike even though I don't ride at night.  If we had gotten stuck on the trail, we would have needed them.  Also, I am going to practice tire changing!!!  And, yes, I am going to do this again.  I'm thinking next time will be the Pittsburgh to DC Trail!!!

Biking the Katy Trail - Part 2

Lots of Lewis & Clark
historical sites.  We
nodded as we rode by.

Day 4:  Jefferson City to Herman.  After yesterday's hard ride, Ardell decided she would get Randy (shuttle driver and B&B owner) to take her back to Sedalia to pick up my car as an early birthday present for me.  I was not dumb enough to believe that excuse.   After a wonderful breakfast, Randy took Drue and I back to the trailhead and we headed out.  Of course, we had these big ideas on how we were going to knock today's 43 miles off pretty quickly.  Wrong again!  Our first rest break was at 3 miles:)  The headwind was a killer!!  We were lucky to be going 7-8 miles an hour.  Exhausting but by this point we were determined we were going to finish.  Stubborn?  Me???  Drue????  Ardell picked up my car, went sightseeing and bakery shopping (but not for Drue and I) and met us at a trailside restaurant for lunch.  Another great hamburger  was waiting for us when we rolled in!  Drue and I offloaded as much as we could from our panniers to the car and headed out for the rest of the day's ride.  Ardell picked us up at the trailhead and drove us to the B&B.  We were that tired!  We stayed at the Harbour House B&B in Herman.  Simon's Bar & Grill was a short walk away and we had an excellent dinner.  I even had prime rib for my early birthday dinner.  Jim and Linda (we met them the first day and saw them every day) were also there and we made plans for the celebratory drinks at the end of the ride.  Jim keeps telling us he is buying the martinis!!!  What's a girl to do?

Missouri River

Ardell & Drue

Day 5:  Herman to Augusta.    After a pretty pitiful breakfast at the B&B, we parked my car at the trailhead and started out again.  Today's ride was only 35 miles but once again there was a headwind.  Ardell was back on the trail with us.  We ran into Jim, Linda, Andrew, and Sara around lunch time.  Jim and Linda kept riding but the rest of us headed to the trailside cafe for burgers.  Fun time!  Before we were finished, we were joined by Kyle.  Andrew and Sara had shared a camping spot with him the night before.   Great guy so we adopted him,  too.

Lunch time!

 Another group of bikers were also there refueling for the afternoon.  We had quite a few rest breaks in the afternoon simply because we were running out of steam - and the dreaded headwind.  All afternoon, the different groups would pass each other on the trail.  We rolled into Augusta around 4:00 to find our great B&B was at the TOP of a hill.  All three of us hopped off our bikes and walked:)  Our b&b was an old log cabin and our favorite of the trip.  We walked across the street to the Ashley Rose for a great dinner and bottle of Missouri wine.  Andrew, Sara, and Kyle as well as the other group from lunch all arrived before we finished.    The owners of the B&B were going to light a fire for us in the outside fire ring but we were too tired:)  We hit the sack about 8:00 p.m.

Loved this B&B in Augusta!  Would love to go back for a few days.

Biking the Katy Trail - Part 1

We're off!!!  (Drue, Peggy, Ardell)

I left Franklin Saturday afternoon for the "epic" bike ride.  First stop was Henderson, KY to visit/spend the night with David and Barbara Lionberger.  It was great seeing them and they fed me well.  Sunday I met Ardell (my older sister) and Drue (my college roommate and Ardells's former boss) in Sedalia, MO to get ready for the ride.

For those not familiar with the Katy Trail it is the longest rails-to-trails conversion in the U.S. and stretches from Machen, MO to Clinton, MO.  More information can be found here (Katy Trails State Park).    The section from St. Charles to Machen just opened recently and we did not ride that small portion.  Our ride from Clinton to St. Charles, MO took six days and covered 225 miles!!!  By bike:)  The surface of the trail is crushed limestone.

High point on the trail.

Headed down the trail (crushed limestone)

Day 1:  Clinton to Sedalia.  We spent the night at the Hampton Inn in Clinton on Sunday night and started riding Monday morning.  We were nervous to say the least - reality was setting in:)  Three 60 somethings riding our bikes over 200 miles??  What were we getting ourselves into?   We left Clinton at 8:10 a.m. and arrived in Sedalia at 12:30 p.m.  Our total ride was 38.38 miles!  We were amazed - the road was packed hard, the weather perfect, and we just flew into Sedalia.  We all had separate rooms at the historical Hotel Bothwell.  After napping, we headed back to Clinton (my car was in Sedalia)  to pick up Drue's car and then ate at Ryan's Steak House.

Mileage for the first day.  Personal best.

School House B& B, Rocheport, MO

My steed:)  Loaded and ready!

Old signal along the trail.

Day 2:  Sedalia to Rocheport.  After parking the cars at the Sedalia Trailhead, we headed for the trail about 7:30 a.m.  This was to be our longest day of the trip but we were still pumped from the great day we had Monday.  The morning's ride included some really long inclines - not very steep but we knew:)  We had decided to take our time and stop for lunch along the way.   The Palace Cafe in Boonesville was recommended at the Visitors Center and we headed there for the best burgers ever.  After loading up on ice, we started pedaling.  First thing we had to cross the Missouri River - on a long scary bridge.  Eyes forward and keep pedaling!!!!  The afternoon's ride was long, long, long!!!  The pedaling was doable but it was really hot - this stretch was out in the open with no shade.  Very draining!!!   At the very end of the day, we had to ride through a really dark tunnel.  Another scary moment.  (Note to self:  get lights on your bike!!!)   We stayed at the Schoolhouse Bed & Breakfast in Rocheport.  Wonderful!!!  It was a converted schoolhouse and was beautifully decorated.  Ardell caught a ride to the (only?) restaurant and brought food back to Drue and I.  We were too tired to move.  I think we were all asleep by 8:00 p.m.  We are beginning to realize how naive we were going into this adventure!

"Road Angel" alias "My Hero" alias "Andrew"
changing my flat tire.  I took notes!

Day 3:  Rocheport to Jefferson City.   The day started with a delicious breakfast at the B&B about 9 a.m.  By the time we got to the trailhead, it was 9:45.  The rain started at 9:50 and it rained ALL DAY LONG!!!  We rode 37 miles and 35 were in the rain - cold, wet, miserable!  You really have no choice except to keep pedaling.  One of our many breaks was at mile 17 - my front tire was flat.  After using one of my CO2 canisters to fill it, I road as fast as I could until it was flat again:)  Repeat!  Repeat!  Front tire was finished.  Still being naive, Ardell rode ahead to check for a bike shop in the next town (about a mile or two) while Drue and I started walking.  A young couple rode by and asked if we needed help.  Still naive and thinking there was a town a short distance away, we told them we were okay.  When they saw Ardell, she told them we could use some help changing my tire.  Our first Road Angels!!!!  We all stopped at a "off limits" pavilion to get out of the rain and Andrew gave us a tire changing lesson while he changed my tire.  I had all the equipment just had not ever actually used any of it.  (Note to self:  take a bike maintenance course).  The silver lining?  We met Sara and Andrew and spent some fun times with them along the trail and celebrating in St. Charles.  We finally reached Jefferson City around 4:00 pm and were met by Randy to shuttle us to The Briar Rose (B&B he and his wife own).  He also took us by a bike shop where I had my front tube changed and we stocked up on some more CO2 cannisters, etc.  Fortunately, there was a sports bar right across the street for dinner.  That was about as far as we could walk:)  Another in bed by 8:00 night!!!!

Sara and Andrew - we liked them so much we
just "adopted" them.  They are in the process of riding from
Oklahoma City to NYC!!!

Labor Day Weekend in NYC

For the past couple of months, I have been trying to schedule a weekend with Doug and Leigh Anne.  Between their schedule and mine, it wasn't happening.  Doug found me a great rate for a last minute ticket to NYC for Labor Day Weekend - $226 round trip!!!!  Yeah!

Doug and I on the Brooklyn Bridge

Doug and Leigh Anne with our tickets.

When I arrived at Newark, Doug and Leigh Anne picked me up in their new car:)  I am so impressed with my son being able to drive in the big city.  Definitely nothing I am brave enough to tackle.  Saturday morning we headed out for brunch at Nice-Matin.  It was a beautiful day and we ate outside.  Next up was a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge - another bridge to add to my list.  Lots of other people had the same idea and the bridge was crowded.  It was lots of fun!  Brooklyn was a really neat place and we walked around a bit and then took the ferry back across. We went to the Half-Price Ticket booth to see if there were tickets to any plays we wanted to see.  We scored tickets to see the Sunday matinee of "Million Dollar Quartet".

Sunday morning we had another great brunch at Doug's favorite brunch spot.  Sangria was involved:)  Of course, I can't remember the name of the restaurant!  Then we headed over to see "Million Dollar Quartet".  It was great fun and we all enjoyed it.  That evening we went to Cafe Lalo for dinner and dessert.  Cafe Lalo has been in several movies, commercials, etc.  "You've Got Mail" is the one we all remember.  Amazing number of desserts.  Leigh Anne had cheesecake and I had red velvet cake.  Yummy!!!

Doug at work.

Monday we had a little bit quieter day.  We went walking in Central Park, did some shopping, and went to see "The Help".  Doug got a phone call and needed to go to the office for a few minutes so I got to see where he works.

Sunday Farmers' Market

Tuesday morning it was back to work for Doug and Leigh Anne.  I rode on the subway with Leigh Anne and she gave me directions to get to Mood (fabric store famous from Project Runway).  My first purchase was an umbrella-it was pouring.  Mood is so big with so much fabric it is overwhelming!!!  Second time I have been there with no purchases.  After that, I headed to Penn Station for the train back to the airport.  There were a few rain delays but I got home Tuesday evening - a few hours later than planned.

Graukes come to Visit!

Graukes on the Natchez Trace-Barb's got hair!!!!

My sister, Barbara, and her family came to visit for a few days several weeks ago.  We got a lot of eating and visiting in during the week.   Barbara, Jim, Jay and Amy went to downtown Nashville on two different days (those teenagers mean a late start in the morning!) to see the Country Music Hall of Fame, Studio B, The Ryman, Crazy Horse Saloon, etc.

Barbara, Amy, Jim, Jay at the Loveless

Tuesday morning Barbara and I headed out early to have breakfast at Merridee's and then visit The Quilting Squares and Stitchers' Garden.   Barbara is the sister that also quilts and she has a new project to work on:)  When we met up with the rest of her crew, we headed out to the Natchez Trace and The Loveless Cafe for a late lunch.   That night we went to the Grand Ole Opry - great seats this time and we all had a great time.

Grand Ole Opry

Barbara & Amy at
The Puffy Muffin

One day we declared "ladies day" and Barbara, Amy and I went to the Puffy Muffin for breakfast and then out to "Fontenal", the former home of Barbara Mandrell.  It was fabulous!!!  Huge log cabin style home (17,000 sq ft or so) in a beautiful setting. It was fun seeing how the rich and famous live!

Dining Room at the Fontenel

With Jack!!

On Friday, we headed to the Jack Daniels' Distillery.  I think this was Jay's favorite place.  We toured the distillery, ate lunch in Lynchburg, and did some serious souvenir shopping.  Our next stop was Huntsville, AL.  We met Janet and Nick at their new house so they could show the family.  After we all had dinner, Barbara and her crew drove a few hours towards home so their drive on Saturday would be a little shorter.



It's always fun having visitors!!!

Antique Linens

After I turned my master bedroom into a Sewing Studio, my new much smaller bedroom needed some design help.  Nick and Janet helped move boxes in my storage unit so I could get to the ones containing the linens I had inherited.

This redo was pretty easy to do and involved very little sewing or cutting/damaging the linens.  I have the quilt I made earlier this year on the bed now as it is very summery looking but will change the quilts with the seasons.  I also have another white tablecloth that looks really pretty as a coverlet - but is not a good choice with my black/white cat.

Overall view - the headboard was "FREE" (a trade for some sewing) and is just screwed to the wall;
 the euros I found on sale in Chattanooga;
the long bolster I made with a tablecloth; the two small pillows I made with tea towels; the old
silver pot and china cup were my grandmothers (one from each side).  I plan to add pictures of my grandparents
and parents to complete the "antique" look.  My bedside table is my grandmother's sewing table.

 To make the pillow shams, I bought double faced satin ribbon for the side ties.  I could only find bright white or ecru.   Neither was quite right so I tea dyed the white briefly so it would blend in with the white of the towels.  (to do that soak the ribbon in brewed tea until it is a little darker than you want.  Rinse and dry).  I made the pillow forms out of an old pillow case.  The idea at first was to just tie the towels around the pillows.  That didn't work as I thought so I blind stitched the botttoms together.  Cost:  ribbon and a bag of poly filler.

The bolster was made with a purchased form ($10 at Bed, Bath & Beyond) and another old tablecloth.  I folded the tablecloth over envelope style; stitched the ends; done!!

Close up of headboard.  Someone made this using an old shutter
and adding the shelf and rail.  I could have hung it either way but
wanted to use the shelf for display.  Free!!

It was hard to get a good picture of the window covering!
I bought some glass doorknob reproductions at Hobby Lobby
and mounted them to some wood blocks spraypainted white.  The lace tablecloth
is just folded diagonally and draped over the doorknobs.
Cost - about $15 for the doorknobs/wood/spray paint

My new bedskirt is made with two antique tablecloths.  I did
not cut these at all!  Just ironed them carefully and laid
them over the boxspring so they would hang to the floor.  I didn't
have one big enough so used one for the side and one for the
end.  I didn't worry about the other side because it is almost against
the wall and isn't seen.

Lionberger Offspring Update

Its been a long time!!!  I have a sewing post I started weeks ago that I still haven't finished but my sewing mojo took a nose dive.  It is finally coming back so I'll update that post over the weekend.  My sister, Barbara, and her family came to visit a couple of weeks ago.  Great fun and I'll post details soon.  My bike training has been coming along.  The Katy Trail bike adventure starts in two weeks so the bike is at REI for a tune-up.  REI is having a big sale so I'm picking up all my last minute items - like a rack, panniers, gloves, etc.  Its getting serious!!

All three of my children have had exciting news over the last couple of months.  Since many of you know them, I thought I would do an "offspring update".

Janet:

Janet and her husband, Nick, have bought their first home.  The building started several months ago and they signed the final papers and moved in two weeks ago.  The are officially in debt!!!  The house is beautiful - they did a great job of picking out all the stuff that goes into a new house.  I have been there a couple of times.  My jobs included putting in shelf paper and helping with some painting.  I did feel my age after the painting:)

They've got the keys!

Dining Room - Love this color.  For someone who never
painted before, she did a great job on those straight lines!

Janet painting the MBR - really pretty shade of grey

Moving In!

Janet and Nick are having an Open House in late September so you'll be seeing more pictures soon!

Sarah:

Sarah has a new job.  She has worked at Heritage Coffee the last several years but has changed brews.  Alaska Brewing Company is a great company to work for with great benefits - including free tasting!  Sarah started her new job there several months ago.  Amazingly, she gets up really early (as in 4:00 a.m.) to go to work.  She'll be learning all the different jobs as they move the employees around.

Sarah with one of the new brews!

Beware!  Student Driver on the Forklift!!

Doug:

Doug and Leigh Anne have wonderful news.   Baby Lionberger is due mid-February!!!!!  We are all so happy and pleased for them.  This blessed event will make me a "Gram" for the first time.  Doug is also transferring back to Houston before the end of the year.  They hope to rent a house in the Heights area since his office will be downtown.  In preparation for the move, they have already bought a car.  They are in Manhatten so we'll be praying for them this weekend as Hurricane Irene hits NYC.  I know they both grew up in hurricane country but as the mother, I still get to worry.  

Leigh Anne and Doug with a picture of "Baby Lionberger"

Mother/Daughter Weekend with Janet

Janet and I decided it was time for another Mother/Daughter weekend.  We first thought about going to the beach but so did everybody else in TN and AL.  We regrouped and came up with Plan B.  Chattanooga!!!  A new place for me and I had heard great things about the area.  Chattanooga was even on my "relocate" list at one time.  Janet and Nick had been on a "day trip" so she was game for a repeat.  We stayed in the downtown "area" not right downtown like the website led me to believe but it worked okay.  Chattanooga is a 1.5-2.0 drive for both of us so we met at the hotel in time for dinner Friday night.  After taking the trolley to town, we had dinner at the Blue Water Grill and walked around a little.

Walnut Street Bridge

Walkway beneath bridge

Saturday morning we headed back to the downtown area and had a full day!  We started by walking across the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge.  Beautiful views and I got to add another bridge to my "bridge walking" adventures.  The art district was a fun place to walk around.  We walked across the "glass bridge", admired the great sculptures, and admired the quaint houses and great architecture.

Tourists that we were, we went on a luncheon boat cruise on the Tennessee River.  Very relaxing and learned some TN history.  When we docked, we headed back to the Art District for an ice cream cone and then visited the Tennessee Aquarium.

Penguins at the Aquarium

Headed back to the hotel for a brief break!  Very brief!  Janet got on the internet and found some things she wanted to do on the North Shore so we headed out before they closed.

Wine & Tapas!!!!

We went to a great antique store housed in an old warehouse.  Lots of great things - Janet found a really cute caddie she bought.  There was also a design store having a "moving sale" - oh my:)  I found the perfect euro shams for my bedroom makeover (blog post soon) and a gorgeous mirror  for Janet and Nick's new house.     Janet found some glass vases, etc. for the new house.  Time for dinner!  Janet had done her research and we ate at a wine and tapas bar on the North Shore.  Really a fun day with my daughter.

Top of the incline

Sunday morning we slept late, ate breakfast and headed to the "incline" on Lookout Mountain.   We decided to call it a day and both headed for home with plans for more Mother/Daughter weekends.  Next time we need Sarah and Leigh Anne!!!

Good news!!!

Barbara

Great news today!!!  My sister, Barbara, has her LAST radiation treatment and gets to ring the bell signaling that she is FINISHED!!!!  Yeah Barb!!!


I will try to update my other news soon:)