As students here at Mizzou, we are constantly being prodded to get creative and think outside the box. So where is a student to go? The great outdoors. That’s where Isaac Newton discovered gravity, right? And if that isn’t enough to get you out on the trails, the excuse for escaping final-studying-distress-and-suffering should be. The latter excuse can be admitted as mine last week when I decided to ditch French verbs for some Katy Trail loveliness. Columbia’s extensive trail systems provide for some seriously scenic exercise. It is unbelievably easy, aka easier than French, to access these trails as well: All you have to do is lace up your running (or walking, of course) shoes or load up your bike!
A few of my outdoorsy friends were recruited by yours truly to go exploring out on a trail that we had never traced down before—we were getting off the beaten path, our professors should be proud. Being a runner, the MKT and Hinkson Creek Trails have been staples for me all year, so I wanted to see what the Katy Trail had to offer. This monster trail is 237 miles long and follows the path that Lewis and Clark took while exploring our dear Missouri, and it inspired my comrades and me to make the journey southbound down Providence to the teensy little town (or village, or hamlet, or speck on the map) of McBaine, where the highway and trail meet, only about 10 miles outside of city limits straight down the highway.
In all seriousness, the trail was beautiful. After a long day in the MU asphalt jungle, this is exactly what the doctor should prescribe. Riding by the craggy cliffs (yes, there are some Ozark-esque cliffs!), the river, the hanging vines and the towering trees put my stress to bed. We three bicycling ladies drank it all in, and the scenery and warm weather tempted us into daydreaming of summer, when we could ride free and easy like this every day. French verbs faded, calculus combusted and sociology sputtered out of our brains and were swapped with thoughts of maybe riding the entire Katy trail, taking up fishing or maybe attempting to climb one of the baby cliffs. Maybe that last one was a little out there, but I feel like Scroggs Peak at the Rec has really prepared me for the real deal—maybe.
Ultimately, I was inspired to do something. I was sparked with excitement about the potential and unknowns of this summer. It’s better than the anticipation of Christmas morning because it’s three months of surprises! So take a break and get out there. Take the Katy Trail, the MKT, Bear Creek, Hinkson or County House—really, take any trail your heart desires and see what you can find. Even if you don’t have a bike, our spiffy little college town boasts plenty of bike shops you can rent/buy from. Downtown alone has Cyclextreme Bicycle Warehouse and Flat Branch Bike Rentals, located on Sixth and Fourth streets, respectively. So now that you have a trail, a bike and a beat in your heart, you no longer have an excuse. Happy trails!
