Pedaling with Purpose: A Troop’s 290-Mile Trek Across Missouri

Much of what follows is told in the Troop’s own words, drawn directly from the daily adventure log they kept along the trail. These entries appear in italics below.

Ever crossed an entire state outside of a car or plane? That’s exactly what the Trailmen from Troop OK-0103 decided to do this summer. And we’re not talking about crossing Rhode Island either (you can do that in like an hour, right?). They decided to peddle across the entire state of Missouri, from the outskirts of Kansas City to the edge of St. Louis, in under a week. They set out to ride the full length of the Katy Trail, the longest developed rail trail in the nation—a 291-mile journey through heat, flat tires, bent rims, and long, dry stretches with no water in sight.

And the crazy thing is, a matter of months before the trek, some of the boys didn’t even own bikes. And even the avid cyclers in the Troop had never done something quite this ambitious. Whatever happened, it was sure to test their limits. 

The boys spent months meticulously planning the adventure, mapping out the mileage for each day along with potential stops and camping sites along the way, and locking in a gameplan for meals each day. At Troop meetings, you could find them pouring over maps together, working as a team to divvy up responsibilities and would be ready for whatever the trail threw at them. 

And when the rubber finally hit the road, a lot ended up getting thrown at them, right off the bat. Especially in the way of flat tires. 

Day 1 — June 9, 2025

Kansas City area to Windsor | 50 miles

Some adventures begin with a perfectly executed plan. Others begin with a missing trailer hitch ball, a late morning departure, and an early reminder that control is often more illusion than reality. The Troop’s first day was a lesson in humility before the bikes ever touched the trail. Months of careful planning gave way to the kind of small but compounding delays that often mark the beginning of an adventure.

“The first leg challenged us with an unusual number of flat tires. In fact, we depleted our entire supply of extra tubes on the first day.”

“On the bright side, the boys are now well-versed in how to change a flat on the trail using patches, a hand pump, and tire levers.”

“We also expected more numerous water stops along the trail, requiring a bit of rationing.”

“We rolled into our campsite about 7:30 for a well-earned dinner and rest.”

By the end of the first day, the boys had already learned that adaptability would matter more than perfect planning—and that the trail would be a demanding but effective teacher.

Day 2 — June 10, 2025

Longest mileage day | 61 miles

Day two marked the first full day on the Katy Trail and the longest stretch of mileage the Troop would attempt on the entire ride. 

“The nighttime temperatures were colder than we anticipated which meant some of the boys slept rather uncomfortably with a lot of shivering. Also, we awoke to lots of dew, which meant wet shoes and wet tents.”

“Despite those minor inconveniences, our breakfast of dried fruit and granola was tasty and filling.”

After a morning prayer, the crew embarked on their longest day by mileage at 61 miles. 

“The last five miles of the day were steadily uphill and quite challenging.”

“We also had our first incident today in which one of the boys bent his bike rim such that it could not be ridden. Fortunately, he and the bike were fine, and we were only a couple of miles from the campsite.”

“Mr. Schmitz and Mr. Davis worked on the bent bike wheel, and miraculously straightened it back to usability.”

“Several of us have gone canoeing in the Boundary Waters, and we agree that this is many times more difficult. We’re in good spirits and having a great time.”

Two days in, the boys had already endured cold nights, wet gear, mechanical failures, and long miles—yet morale remained strong, anchored by shared effort, prayer, and the growing confidence that comes from overcoming real difficulty together.

Day 3 — June 11, 2025
Windsor to Jefferson City | 50 miles

By day three, the Troop had begun to settle into a steady cadence. Morning routines were becoming familiar, and the boys were growing more confident in both their abilities and their teamwork. 

“The mornings are mostly the same: eat breakfast, break camp, and morning prayer. We rode 50 miles to Jefferson City to stay in the gym at St. Peter’s Cathedral for the night. We had some great views of the Missouri River along this section of the trail. Due to all the rain, we can see why the river’s nickname is The Big Muddy.”

“Along the trail, we saw a sign for a scenic view. We parked our bikes at the base of the hill, began hiking up the trail to the scenic lookout and noticed another sign that said ‘Strenuous climb ahead.’ Thinking that was an exaggeration, we continued on. That’s when we saw the 200 or so steps carved into the trail. We compared that climb to the one Frodo and Sam made at Cirith Ungol. That truly was a strenuous climb, and the view wasn’t worth it either. On the bright side, we got our steps in for the day.”

“We were very fortunate to find a local bike shop only two blocks from our ‘camp site’ where we were able to have the damaged bike wheel inspected and professionally tuned. The owner of the bike shop was very grateful to see a group of young men embarking on a complete tour of the Katy Trail and didn’t charge us. It was an enlightening experience for the boys to witness an example of selflessness and generosity by the bike shop owner.”

Day 4 — June 12, 2025
Jefferson City to Portland | 30 miles

With a shorter ride planned, day four created space for service, sightseeing, and reflection. It was a reminder that not every meaningful day on the trail is defined by distance alone.

“We helped the parish facilities manager with a small service project to clean out a flower bed, plant new plants, and do general leaf and branch cleanup. He then gave us a tour of the school and grounds.”

“The inside of the church was stunningly beautiful and directed one’s thoughts heavenward. I must commend all the parents on how well-catechized your sons are. They know their faith well and truly love Christ and His Church. Praying with them every morning and evening further proves this point.”

“After a quick bite for lunch we bid farewell to Jefferson City, bound for Portland, MO.”

Day 5 — June 13, 2025
Portland to Washington | 50 miles

Day five brought rain, mud, and a test of attitude. It was the kind of day that offers little comfort in the moment, but leaves a lasting mark long after the trail is finished.

“The rain came during the night as predicted. Sleeping with rain on a tent is typically rather pleasant. Rain is less pleasant knowing we have to ride 50 miles in it. Breakfast, prayer, and pack-up like usual, but this time doing it wet. From the start, we knew that trying to stay clean and dry would be futile. All one can do is thank God for the rain, accept the mud, and keep pedaling.”

The rain mercifully let up for most of the ride to the church at which they would bunk for the night. However: 

“...as we started the uphill side of the Missouri River bridge, the skies opened and dumped rain for the next 20 minutes, just in time to greet the pastor looking like drowned rats.”

The Trailmen cleaned themselves off and joined local parishioners for prayer and fellowship before hitting the sack early. 

“While the day was intermittently miserable, those are the days we will remember the most with the fondest memories. They are also the days that define high adventure.”

Day 6 — June 14, 2025
Washington to Machens | 50 miles

“This is our last day, and we have 50 miles to the end of the trail at Machens. We wanted to finish as soon as possible today since we are driving back to Tulsa after the ride. Toward this end, we rode the first 30 miles without stopping and the next 20 without stopping. This was our most aggressive schedule so far, and it was challenging.”

“After riding as a group for several days, the boys have become well acquainted with proper cycling etiquette and technique. It was truly satisfying to see them work together, forming a pace-line to fight the strong headwind. As cliché as it may sound, we could not have planned a better team building exercise.”

“Around 1:30 PM we actually finished the Katy Trail. All together we rode 290.7 miles from one side of the state to the other. We finished with the same number of boys we had at the start, which always deserves bonus points.”

“All of us had a great time, and we Dads couldn’t be prouder of the boys. Several of the boys did not even have bikes to ride until mid-March. This was an exceptionally successful high adventure.”

Six days, nearly 300 miles, countless challenges, and steady faith carried this Troop from one side of Missouri to the other—and left every boy stronger for the journey.

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