I finished the Katy Trail today, or at least the sizable chunk of it that the ADT follows. Not to worry, though, I won’t be losing the security of long straight-aways and flat gravel tracks quite yet, as I transition here, in Windsor, to the Rock Island Trail, following the old Rock Island Railroad. The land I’ll be walking along was given to the State of Missouri by the Amaren Corporation about a decade ago, as part of a settlement for the Taum Sauk Dam failure. I didn’t know about this, but apparently a series of devastating mistakes and failures resulted in the “catastrophic failure” of a chunk of the reservoir and the release of one billion gallons of water in 12 minutes. Amazingly, nobody died, though there were a few close calls, but Amaren has been forced to pay around $200 million in settlements. Thanks for the trail, Amaren!
After yesterday’s march, today was a leisurely stroll, just 20 miles to Windsor, with another break at a Casey’s General Store along the way. I made it here around 11:45am and couldn’t have been happier. Windsor’s Main Street has about two intact historic blocks, flanked by plenty of residential structures. After a brief tour, though, I was happy to be in bed for a good chunk of the afternoon.
Over the last couple of days, I’ve been listening to a couple of recent books from staunch Trump critics, Michael Bennet (Democratic Senator from Colorado) and Jim Acosta (CNN Chief White House Correspondent). My reactions have been quite divergent.
I don’t know a lot about Bennet, but he finds himself in an interesting political climate in Colorado, one of the purplest states in the country. His background, informed by experiences in business and education, is unusual as well. He comes across as being far from an ideologue, pursuing bipartisan initiatives in the senate and demonstrating a willingness to reevaluate and criticize some of his, and his party’s, choices. Of course, he also happens to be a man positioning himself for a dark horse presidential run, and this book needs to be read through that lens. This is Bennet sounding presidential.
I appreciated Bennet’s candor as he reflected on some of his voting choices in the senate, including his decision to not oppose the Keystone XL pipeline and his choice to support the Iran nuclear deal. It’s refreshing to hear a politician actively weigh an issue and unpack the costs and benefits with nuance. I recognize that it leaves him vulnerable to accusations of wishywashyness or being a flipflopper, and that those are roundly condemned these days, but to me it conveys a certain depth of thought that I often assume is absent.
Most striking to me in Bennet’s book, though, is his reflection on the “nuclear option” in the senate. A great deal was made, of course, of the Republican-controlled senate’s exercise of the nuclear option in support of Neil Gorsuch’s elevation to the Supreme Court. Bennet notes, though, that this event was little more than the extension of a precedent amply set by the Democrat-controlled senate four years earlier. Frustrated by Republican obstruction–and there was a whole lot of that–Harry Reid pushed through the nuclear option for executive branch appointments and federal judicial appointments. Bennet is fairly critical of Republican disingenuousness during the Obama years, but he also owns responsibility for his part in setting that precedent. It’s important to add that he is unflinching in his condemnation of many elements of Trump’s presidency. He’s measured, without falling prey to both-sides-ism.
A recurring theme in Bennet’s work is the challenge of pulling ourselves back from the precipice on which we find ourselves. He highlights the value of requiring a supermajority in senate votes, to force some measure of bipartisanship and dialogue, and longs for a return to that. But with both sides having small claims to the moral high ground, and similar, well-nurtured claims to victimhood at the expense of the other, how can we walk back to middle ground? While Bennet respects the reader by not offering simple answers, he runs the risk at times of falling prey to some measure of bleakness.
Whereas Bennet’s work offers a politician’s perspective, Acosta writes from a media lens. And he’s not just any journalist–he’s Trump’s favorite whipping boy, one of the foremost “enemies of the people” and purveyors of “fake news.”
Acosta’s work is all about two people: Trump and Acosta. It is, at its best, a call for the defense of the free press in the US, and an explanation of the great threats currently facing that institution. Acosta has experienced many of those threats firsthand, as his social media is routinely chockablock with grizzly messages. It’s easy to understand why this has become personal for him.
That said, the fact that it has become personal for him is a problem in this book, as he often sprinkles excessive asides into his recounting of encounters with Trump administration officials. If Bennet comes across as measured and reflective in his book, Acosta comes across as heroic and preening, part of the last line of defense against tyranny.
Here’s the thing: I recognize the importance of his work, the challenging nature of his life over the last couple of years, and the courage he has displayed by continuing to do his job with devotion and persistence. However, I can’t imagine a conservative reading this book and feeling like they need to reevaluate any suspicions they’ve had of leftwing media dominance. Every stereotype, every Rush Limbaugh-style talking point, is bolstered by this book. It’s not the facts. It’s the tone.
My prognostication skills aren’t great, but I had one observation on Trump’s inauguration day that feels on-point: I talked then about the challenge the media faced over the next four years. Trump’s antagonism of the press, his attacks on their truthfulness (or lack thereof), their bias, their professionalism, would wear at journalists. It would be hard not to be angered or hurt by the US president being so dismissive or hostile, especially when it’s not grounded in facts. However, as that anger or hurt built up, as the months passed, it would take a Herculean effort on the part of journalists–almost certainly an unrealistic or impossible one for most–to not have that skew their coverage. By belligerently and unfairly attacking their professionalism and judgment, Trump could feasibly erode their professionalism and judgment.
These two books speak to the challenge of confronting a man like Trump, who operates outside most of the norms that have shaped public political discourse in the US. He can bring the fight to the mud really quickly, and once it’s in the mud everyone’s getting dirty. Acosta highlights the trap that’s lurking there, but I think Bennet offers an example of how the tightrope can be walked more adroitly.
Technical Notes on the Katy Trail
- No ADT waymarks on the road, but I don’t think they’re allowed. There is an ADT logo in the Katy brochure, though!
- Don’t blindly believe the glossy brochure. I’ve found a significant gap between what’s promised there, facilities-wise, and what’s actually available. Try the bikekatytrail website for more up-to-date info; the comments at the bottom of each page are often really valuable
- Water is hit-or-miss at the station houses. Some bathrooms have running water, but others are pit toilets. Some stations have red taps positioned somewhere around the yard
- You’ll often see “camping” listed, but it’s hard to know what that will mean. Some places allow you to sleep in town parks, like in Marthasville (shower available here) and Pilot Grove, though they’ll sometimes ask you to call local police to inform them of your plans. Sometimes, though, you’ll find nothing, as I did in Huntsdale; I just pitched my tent on some grass and hoped for the best
- Lots and lots of restaurants are weekends only, or they open later in the day. I frequently had long walks at the beginning of days that had no hope of facilities
- Good supermarkets/grocery stores are very rare. Loutre Market outside of McKittrick was a godsend
- I had my best meals at Kate’s Coffee in Augusta (a genuinely tasty veggie sandwich) and Meriwether Cafe in Rocheport. And both are open mornings!
- As I noted before, I didn’t love my Jefferson City detour. It’s a tough city for pedestrians and I think you’d need to really commit some time to be able to do it properly. By contrast, I suspect Hermann would be much more walker-friendly
- There was a ton of trail damage this year. Three significant trail closures were in effect and non-negotiable–Klondike Park near Matson, the trail west of Bluffton, and west of Rocheport. There were other places the trail was closed, but a ranger told me they’d be fine to walk; lots of bikes were still on them.
- That said, I would be very, very attentive to weather when walking through here.If you come during a time of flooding, you could have your whole trip wiped out pretty quickly
- It seems like a number of businesses have been shuttered here over the last couple of years and this year is not going to help. Double-check what’s in operation before you go
