The Trans Missouri Trail - The "TMOT"

[sieg]

Originally Posted by lfs225

I feel I must add my two cents worth. Laying out a trail across Missouri is a fine idea but it can not be done with a committee. I suspect Sam Correro knew that so he did the TAT by himself. Or at least, with no committee.

Getting ideas from others is a grand idea. But sooner or later SOME ONE person is going to have to be the leader. Take responsibility on whether you turn left or right at intersection A and then DO IT.

All of us will appreciate his efforts. Most of us will follow and be thankful we have a continuous trail to ride. All of us could make minor improvements but all of us CAN'T. Or it will never get done.

Bash3r, Big Dog and DRZ Charlie may need to take the bull by the horns.

I think it can be done in sections by different people with maps and GPS's and computers. As long as each person rides and confirms their section as previously discussed. I laid out a 200 mile off road course (MTRA's SHOW ME 200) in that fashion, surly a road course can't be harder. Cut and paste sections, it was correct when we went out to ride it for the first time.

[ezrdr55]

Originally Posted by ThumperDRZ

Up though Hannibal is a great ride staying by the river.....I have it plotted with almost all gravel and for a first timer would be a great ride. I went to College in Kirksville and there are gravel roads everywhere up that way....we used to head 5 miles any way out of town on a gravel road and go fishing....loved it up there.....I used to hang at Thousand Hills State Park but back then it was about beer, frisbees, and hot wimmins . I'm in for a ride up north for some plotting this summer......See if we can't link the TWAT with the TIT (Trans Iowa Trail) to the TMOT and the TART

That is if there is a TIT - Pete you listening?

EDIT: I see the TIT is 205...(Trans Illinois Trail and Trans Iowa Trail) so I guess that means there will be two of them

ThumberDRZ,

We use to ride out to the lake (1973-1977) and ride around the entire lake and miles of trails. I graduated from MNSU in '77 and I'm sure that is no longer allowed, but man some of my best riding memories are there and the local MX tracks on my Bultaco Alpina & Pursang.

[devrodirt]

Yea, get the Trans-Mo defined! Good work to all.
There is a TART, Trans Arkansas Trail that is the result of a lot of work by a local Arkie, these trails could tie together.

Maybe I didn't read enough, but is this route across MO to be a small bike (450 or less) or BIG Bike route (650 and more)?

I haven't ridden the TART but knowing of the guy who put it through I think it favors small bikes.
I am working on a north/south route through Arkansas that is going to be BIG bike and fender bunny friendly. It will go to Blue Eye.

[DRZ Charlie]

Devro,

The TART is small bike friendly. There are sections near Lake Winona and in the Weyerhauser Forests that would present problems for anything larger than 650.

JoeNuclear did the TART with his XRL however, he is an accomplished rider and his bike is set up for it. There are some long sections of pavement on the TART due to lack of adjacent gravel or trails and rivers without crossings. But, the paved sections (which were unpaved three years ago) are nice and twisty so it makes up for being paved.

Damn Gubermint is screwing with roads by paving them...ack For those who are interested in tying the Missouri trail into the TART you will find routes and tracks HERE.

[intothenew]

For what it's worth, I got a chance to lay down some tracks through IL recently. I took the opportunity to try and extend the OTC to something that you guys have laid out. BigDogs was the most convenient. This ain't polished by any means, but the track logs are legit. The run along the levee on the east side of Ol' Miss is pretty nice. The section through Hamilton and Wayne Counties is pretty nice also. Zig Zagging between the lakes is mostly paved. I also collected a detour around Evansville, and I'm still not satisfied. I think that section is going to have to run up into Gibson County for any satisfaction.

[lfs225]

Originally Posted by intothenew

For what it's worth, I got a chance to lay down some tracks through IL recently. I took the opportunity to try and extend the OTC to something that you guys have laid out. BigDogs was the most convenient. This ain't polished by any means, but the track logs are legit. The run along the levee on the east side of Ol' Miss is pretty nice. The section through Hamilton and Wayne Counties is pretty nice also. Zig Zagging between the lakes is mostly paved. I also collected a detour around Evansville, and I'm still not satisfied. I think that section is going to have to run up into Gibson County for any satisfaction.

This looks like a neat route. Is it something you would share the .gpx files on?

[intothenew]

Originally Posted by lfs225

This looks like a neat route. Is it something you would share the .gpx files on?

Yep, it's free to any ADV member. It's the sticky just above this thread, "A Hole in the Fence".

It's a long way from home for me, I really need some help on it from some locals.

[lfs225]

Thanks. Did as you directed. Thanks again, up front.

[bash3r]

Originally Posted by intothenew

Yep, it's free to any ADV member. It's the sticky just above this thread, "A Hole in the Fence".

It's a long way from home for me, I really need some help on it from some locals.

No worries there.. you're gonna get some help for sure

[intothenew]

Originally Posted by bash3r

No worries there.. you're gonna get some help for sure

And I really, really need it. I ride the pig out on slab for a few hundred miles, collect about 200 and then have to head back, slabbin' it I might add. A man shouldn't complain about ridin' I suppose, but it just seems so inefficient.

I've got plenty of bright ideas, I just run out of time each time I am out that way.

IL/IN/KY, somebody step up to the plate. Please? It's just "A Hole in the Fence", we need somebody with a key to the gate.

[devrodirt]

I'd just like to see the TMOT completed. I have time in April to ride it.

[Yedmod]

Originally Posted by ThumperDRZ

When I can get some tracks cleaned up (and ride a few parts) I have a straight shot ride from Iowa to Arkansas staying pretty much east of Rolla ....down south by Eminence is Buzzez inspired which probably means be careful if there are Spring rains.........including a detour of the Tram Trail he told me about which is another story in itself.....We stopped by there on our way back from Arkansas in 07 but it was all mud from the bad rains so we blew it off...In '08 I plotted a ride to camp and visit but didn't get to go due to unforeseen circumstances......but everyone told me what a great time they had.....

Where do you end in IA? I have a route mapped out from the Highway 61 bridge south of Keokuk to the beginning of the Trans Mn. Trail. If it ever stops raining and the temp gets above 40, I'll try to get out to prove it out.
If you end somewhere else, I might as well try to find a way to link up to that so then we would have a continuous route from Canada to LA. Then our friends in LA or TX could take us all the way to the gulf coast or even Mexico.

[bash3r]

Originally Posted by Yedmod

Where do you end in IA? I have a route mapped out from the Highway 61 bridge south of Keokuk to the beginning of the Trans Mn. Trail. If it ever stops raining and the temp gets above 40, I'll try to get out to prove it out.
If you end somewhere else, I might as well try to find a way to link up to that so then we would have a continuous route from Canada to LA. Then our friends in LA or TX could take us all the way to the gulf coast or even Mexico.

We haven't routed north yet.. I've gone as far as Hannibal but that's it. Mid-May we are going south to AR, to hand-off to the TART. The north section will be next unless someone else gets to it before I can.

[bash3r]

This weekend, we ride from Wentzville to the end of the TART..

Spent a weekend getting my buddies DRZ ready to ride, put new tires on it, wired it up for some accessories, new CS sprocket, oil change and its packed ready to roll.

My WR just got a oil change, filter clean and I'm still packing her up..shoving off Friday, rain and/or shine!

[DRZ Charlie]

Heya Basher give me a shout when you are about to Blue Eye, I may be able to shake loose and ride over to meet you. I will pm my phone#