Rock Island Trail Forum

Is there good parking at this trailhead? I would like to leave my car there for two days/one night. Is there a better trailhead to park at that is close to Rocheport?

There is excellent parking at Rocheport and it should be secure as the City Hall shares the old depot with the park ranger.

In Rocheport....there is a park ranger??? Never seen em or city hall at the trailhead.

Well unless they have moved out since October, the City Clerk and staff are in one end of the building and DNR occupies the other.

Maybe it's the Riverboat Red from the top of hill, but I still don't recall an old depot, the city hall, or the DNR near the trailhead.



There is ample parking around the trailhead and an overflow lot nearby. Also, the Trailside bike shop is right across the street. I wouldn't worry about leaving my car for any length of time. There are restrooms at the trailhead as well as the typical Katy info center.



In Boonville, the old depot (just north of the trailhead) has been restored and is owned by the DNR. It houses the local Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Info Center as well as Division of State Parks offices.

I think Arkie is thinking of the Boonville depot.



Rocheport would be my first choice of any of the trailheads in the area to leave a car. I have left my car there overnight. I've never heard of any problems.

I believe Arkie is correct. The trailhead depot does house city hall and a DNR office. The restrooms do not take up the entire bldg. As you look at it from the trail, I believe City Hall is on the left end (west) and DNR on the right (east).

Thanks for the support as I was beginning to wonder about my sanity. I stopped in and visited with the City Clerk during a rainstorm in October. I would have sworn that I was in Rocheport, but was beginning to wonder if I had been abducted by aliens and subjected to probing.

I stand corrected! The only entrance to the depot building I have ever paid any attention to was for the men's room. I'm going to blame it on the Riverboat Red up at the winery as well - I love that stuff. (:

Article in the December 4, 2006 edition of the Kansas City Star on the Katy Trail Expansion.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/16157952.htm

Thanks for the link. Just getting the trail to Pleasant Hill would be great.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrow is not located on Bluff Street it is actually located in Starkenburg which is on Highway P, It is approximately 5 up hwy. P. The Church of the Risen Savior is located on Bluff street.

Is there good parking at this trailhead? I would like to leave my car there for two days/one night. Is there a better trailhead to park at that is close to Rocheport?

Is there good parking at this trailhead? I would like to leave my car there for two days/one night. Is there a better trailhead to park at that is close to Rocheport?

Terry, a longtime bartender at SOB's has bought the place and renamed it. It seems like it is the same old place, but she is now the owner.

Wow I ate there alot when I was working at the nuke plant41/2 yrs ago.took a bad fall on the fire dept have not been back since. what happen to Berny and Betty and Ronda.

Your food is WONDERFUL !!!!!



Do you have a cookbook for sale?



Please let me know.



Thank you.

Your food is WONDERFUL !!!!!



Do you have a cookbook for sale?



Please let me know.



Thank you.

Can anyone provide me with directions on how to hike the St. Charles to Machens part of the trail? I understand there are some sinkhole obstacles, what would be the easiest way to go??

There are no sinkhole obstacles I am aware of. The improved trail does end on the north side of St. Charles and a couple of miles is along the existing river levee. There is a thread and it is easily biked or hiked until you regain the official part of the trail. There is leagal access to the trail here, but the DNR is in dispute with adjacent landowners about improvements. It is well worth the trip on north of St. Charles and it is a pleasant journey. The TH at Machens has a recently completed kiosk and is not easy to find. Best to park at Black Walnut or spend some time searching for Machens.

I hiked the extension last week. Really nice except the 50 yard strtch where you get an up close look of the junk yard. I encourage everyone to hike this leg, the rest of the extension was beautiful.

Doug,

That is great news! Ray, do you have a map of this section? I am in the early stages of planning to finish off my Gregwalk 2006 in Spring of 2007, so I would love any info you have on the St. Chuck to Machens section. When does it open officially?

No, I don't yet have any maps for the section of the trail beyond St Charles. But one of the items on my to-do list for the long, cold winter is to better integrate Google maps into the website. Once I get that done (probably January), the website will have a decent map for Machens. I'll post something to the forum at that time.

I'm not sure when the trail will be "officially" extended to Machens. The last I heard on the topic was this 10/30 article in the St Louis Post Dispatch which said the state was nearing agreement on the extension. I wouldn't expect anything to officially open until spring or summer. If I hear anything, I'll post it here.

Forgot to mention. They (whoever) are building a trail/road along the trail. I'm not sure if this could be part of the trail or a series of access roads to the river.

Thank you Ray. That was long over due! :)

Has any one eaten here? It sounds like a cool place, but I haven't seen any comments on it.

It is an excellent place to dine. Their raspberry chipolte entree is excellent, but I think just depends on what is on the menu on a given day. Excellent tho.

Three things come to mind:

1. expensive!

2. "strange" items on the menu - try to get a normal steak!

3. the only thing open on Sundays...

Bottom line, If you are looking for "normal" cuisine, look somewhere else.

great place to eat. if you like flavor, and chain restaurants don't do it for you, you can't go wrong. i've ate there for lunch w/ friends on a day ride, and I take my g/f there for a nice dinner too. if you are going for dinner make reservations, though.

Strange? I think you mean gourmet! The food is fantastic with wonderful, original recipes on the menu that alternate each day. One of the best chef's in Missouri owns the place. If you love fine food, you'll love this place and while not exactly cheap, the prices seem quite reasonable for the type of food served. I've eaten there a number of times.

I don't think the cater to the bicycle crowd. They didn't look too excited when I walked up in spandex and a light coat of sweat from a 30 mile ride.



Try Trailside Cafe (right in the same town). Eat on the outside patio and watch the action on the trail. Test ride their bikes too!

Don't go to a gourmet restaurant if you're a McDonald's kind of guy. The food is excellent, and for the food served here, the prices are downright cheap! They do cater to trail riders---have them there all the time. Now if you smelled really gross, I can see why you might not be welcome.

They're amateurs

looks yummy

This was the only place in Missouri that had decent bread and lettuce. Loved every bite. They can't be responsible for sweat paranoia. Let us sit there and read the books we had purchased across the street at Pebble Publishing.

Sweat paranoia has nothing to do with it. Their associates are equal to any McDonald's worker in any inner city.



Pebble's and Rocheport is great. While there, go eat at the Trailside Cafe.

The line cook everyone calls a chef that owns it has not been to culinary school. He's just cocky and knows how to read a cook book. Yeah!!! Don't be disillusioned that the hole in the wall restaurant is good. It's just budget gourmet meals microwaved and slapped on a plate served by McDonald's quality staff. Bon Appetit!!!!

Abigail's is hands down one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. Who cares if the chef hasn't been to culinary school? He's got plenty of experience, as you would know if you would have really done your research. He was the head chef at Les Bourgeois winery in Rocheport for a number of years (which has excellent food as well) before he opened Abigail's. If you don't know good food, then don't write negative comments!

They're amatures.



Several other riders have made similar comments on other threads. Where there's smoke...



Guess it depends on how world traveled you are.

I've been there a few times and have always been pleased with the food. Their prices are fair and the desserts are great. However, the menu is a bit different and may not appeal to everyone.

Horrid service. Beyond unprofessional. Other threads on this forum say the same. Don't go.

We eat at Abigail's often and refer many B&B guests as well. Most meals I've had there have been excellent(about 100) and I routinely question our guests about their experiences. Most are very positive about the food and the price. Most comment that an equivalent dinner in a larger town would cost much more money. A small number of guests are disappointed in food and/or price. Several years ago, New York Times travel writers complimented Abigails. About two years ago, Southern Living Magazine named Abigails dessert as their "staff favorite dessert" within Southern Living's circulation area (about 1/3 of USA). They are generally excellent and are accessable to cyclists especially at lunch time. Dressing up a bit from your cycling gear would be nice for dinner time. The owners are competition cyclists and tryathletes and are members of the national champion tryathlon team based in Columbia, MO.

Great. You would only not like the place if you are the franchise type of eater that won't try new eats.

Having thought more about various flames directed at Abigails or others by BikeKatyTrail visitors, I'd like to offer the following comments. When you attack a business, town, etc. it is helpful to the rest of us if you describe your own behavior/appearance/demeaner/expertise/etc. I find it difficult to believe that a successful hospitality business would randomly pick you out for special and bad treatment unless your behavior somehow contributed to the situation. So, please be a better reporter, show some personal insight and tell us what you did and how that contributed to the situation. It's only fair.

I have never been to Abigails, However...I would love to try it. The comments are 50/50 so I say even. I know there are lots of cyclist that rather eat regular stuff. Nothing wrong with that. If I were having a good time, hungry, and not picky, I would try Abilgails. If I were a picky eater, I would bring my own lunch or a bunch'a cereal bars.

As far as service goes, I hate bad service. That alone will send me packing. But I agree with last comment, there must be a reason why you got bad service.

I guess I will have to check for myself.

Please keep in mind also, if you went to Mc Donnalds and the food/service was bad...would you take your time and write it in a Forum?

Too each his own.

A friend introduced me to Abigails...quickly a favorite of mine. It is a very quaint and simple place, but the menu is unique and delicious. Everything we have ordered was wonderful. If you are looking for a unique and truly delicious dining experience, then this is the place. The meals are not cheap, but not outrageous either. Don't show up without reservations, or you may miss out. Rocheport is the perfect backdrop for this special place.

"I find it difficult to believe that a successful hospitality business would randomly pick you out for special and bad treatment unless your behavior somehow contributed to the situation. So, please be a better reporter, show some personal insight and tell us what you did and how that contributed to the situation. It's only fair."



(Saturday noonish) I walked in, stood quietly by the door, and stood without being acknowledged for about 8 minutes. The workers looked at me, passed by, and said nothing many times. I stood there and looked at them. They kept working and looked at me. I finally initiated conversation with excuse me... Strange.



My wife and child stood outside on the sidewalk.



All a worker has to do is "I'll be right with you" as they pass by. It's just common courtesy and not too difficult.



They're unprofessional.

Try it, you will like it. Go early for dinner if possible, i.e. reservations for 5:00 or 5:30 pm. If cold outside, don't sit up front by the window. From a senior who rides a Harley and appreciates good food and service.

Am I the only one to read this string and notice that every negative comment is anonymous? This causes me to suspect the motives of the person{s} who posted the negative comments. Having eaten at Abigails several times and found it excellent, my conclusion is that Mr. or Ms. Negativity has an agenda. A competitor perhaps?



David Roundy, Webster Groves, MO

They suck!

I hate them too!!!

They are terrible neigbors. Dirty kitchen too. Their little dog is in the dinning room and kitchen during off hours.



Run - Run!

You might want to take the above three comments with a grain of salt. Not only were they posted within a few minutes of each other, but my web server log indicates that all three came from the same IP address (i.e. all 3 posts came from the same computer).


Based on other comments coming from that same IP address back in April-June, I don't think it's a competitor - probably just someone who had a bad experience there.


The "little dog" comment did make me chuckle though...

Ray,

I knew I was fooling no one - it was kind of a joke. You know I've posted several positive comments about establishments along the trail.



The service is horrible at Abigails, and that little black and white pug type dog is for real!! I've seen it in the restaurant.



Thanks for your service to the trail.

I must reply to "Roger/Jason/Kim." I would really like to know how making negative comments is "kind of a joke?" If you really are a neighbor, please approach me in person so that we might discuss this. My wife and I have owned and ran Abigail's restaurant for 10 years now and in a business where only 20% survive past 2 years, we must be doing something right. That something is the food. I have never called myself a chef and if anyone were to ask (and they do) where I went to culinary school the answer is always the same: "I never went to culinary school." Our menu does change every day and being able to have an ever-rotating menu allows us to try some combinations that some might not expect (or like.) We don't use a microwave - you can stand in front of the open kitchen and watch us cook your food to order when it comes in. I will admit that occasionally (sometimes more than occasionally) we get so "slammed" that patrons are often not helped or seated as soon as they walk in the door; we've had that problem for years. At Abigail's, our food cost is over 30%, compared to the industry standard of 25% or less and, it should be noted that the price you pay for dinner includes your entree, a salad, bread, veggie and starch. We have a ton of regular customers and we love them, just like we love the town of Rocheport. I invite anyone to visit us and please, have a little patience if we are running around like chickens with our heads cut off. Again, I would ask "Roger/Kim/Jason" to visit with me, but I doubt that they will for the same reason they create false names. Thanks to the people who did post positive comments - we get a ton of those in person and they are always appreciated even if we are too busy to acknowledge them as we should.

Oh, by the way, we do have two little dogs and they are Boston Terriers (Jake and Percy are their names) not pugs and they are in the restaurant from time-to-time in our off hours. The cat is not allowed in. Todd