April 2, 2007

Robertsville State Park/Shaw Nature Reserve

Route to First Stop

Sulpher Springs to big Bend to New Ballwin to Keifer Creek to St. Paul to Ridge to Old State to 109, North to Melrose (Rockwood) to Allenton to Greensfelder Park. Took the Scenic Loop was at Greensfelder! This is AN AWESOME Loop! Just beautiful scenery!

Route to Second Stop

Back to Allenton Road from Scenic Loop. Allenton comes out at Six Flags, left on W 5th to right on Central Ave, through downtown Eureka to W. South on W to Byrnesville Road! W and Byrnesmill are great roads to ride on. There is a HUGE sod farm on Brynesville.. Really nice! Followed Brynesville to NN, took a left then a quick right at Tom Frost Road. Tom Frost ends at HH, took a right (North) to O. Turned left (South West). Followed for about 1 1/2 miles to Robertsville State Park.

Followed the State Park road back to the Meramec River and a restroom :) Walked a round a bit.. not much to this park but it is a nice ride in and out.




Route to Third Stop

Headed back to O and turned right. followed O across the Meramec River to Robertsville Rd. Turned right heading North. the road come on 100 near Grey Summit close to the Shaw Nature Reserve. Made a right then another quick right to the Nature Reserve. went in and paid my $3 and headed into the reserve. Monday - Thursday you can ride around the reserve, Friday - Sunday, you have to park and hike/walk in. I rode back to the Trail Head pavilion and parked. I walked out to an overlook. They are burning out all the red cedar and honey bushes from the Reserve. It is actually quite interesting. I did not walk back more in the trails as I was just at the Reserve the day before and hiked.

Route to Fourth Stop
Took a right out of the Reserve on 100, followed 100 across 44 to MM, turned left and followed MM to Labadie. Had a nice lunch at the little market in town.


The Not So Smart Route to Fifth Stop
Now here is where I did to much thinking.. I was going to turn in T and go home.. but thought it is so nice I will just run out to Washington Riverfront but go a different way. I saw Labadie Bottoms and Boles Road on Google Earth.. looked like all flat farmland.. so I thought what the heck. Well Labadie/Boles until railroad under pass is gravel :) NOT COOL!! LOL..well I did it but NEVER again! Once on hard top at Boles followed to Dunne Springs, a beautiful cut off road to Old 100. Followed Old 100 into Washington per my normal route from Dunne Springs.


Final Route Home
Came back Old 100 to Dunne Springs to T.. instead of turning left back home, I went back west on T to Old 100 and back to Dunne Springs.. the road is so cool i wanted to do it again :) Once back at T I turned left and took my normal route home.
Can NOT wait to ride this way again!! Just a perfect day!

Some Shaw Nature Reserve Pictures




April 1, 2007

That's Amore!

I absolutely love this clip! It cracks me up every time I watch it!