KATY Ride Day 6 - Jefferson City to Hermann

 Hermann is a small town on the bluff across the Missouri from the KATY Trail. We are at the Hermann Motel.

I thought this was going to be a typical cheap motel when I booked the reservation. Turns out it's newly renovated and works like an AirBnB. There is no staff on site. Each room has a keycode lock. The email you your room number and the key code, and you let yourself in. It's a very nice place. I'm surprised more motels don't do this. Perhaps because it doesn't work with long term guests?

Yesterday was very scenic. It was 48 miles along the bluffs at the edge of the floodplain. They purposefully built the railroad at the edge of the bluffs on the highest part of the floodplain so it would be flat but not flood so much.

The floodplain is about 3 or 4 miles wide. Here's a view across it with the bluffs on the other side.

The floodplain is planted with corn and soybeans. It's all unpopulated with no towns. Occasionally there is a farm house on higher ground. Check out these "Naked neck" chickens. Naked necks are a rare heritage breed.

There is lots of wildlife along the trail. This is a Three-toed Box Turtle, which is different than the Eastern Box Turtles we have at home.

Towns and services are few and far between in this part of the trail. The towns are very small, and are typically a few houses and a grain elevator.

There was only one option for lunch, which was Holzhauser's Bar and Grill in Portland, population 400. 

Holzhauser's is like going back in time. Back to the good old days, where you could put your toddler in the stroller, walk down to the bar, and sit there all afternoon chain smoking with your friends.

I just can't wait until the rest of America is great again.

There are lots of places to eat in Hermann. We had brats in a beer garden with a couple playing music at the 1837 grill. The weather is perfect, so this was great.

Here's the Strava track for today: https://www.strava.com/activities/16153600731