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A RIDE IN THE COLOR

I love the Fall. I hate election season. I think they should change elections to February 5th right where it should be—in the dark, gloomy winter. Man, it totally drains me. The negativity sucks all the color off the Autumn leaves. I had to get away from it all and get out there. So I threw the bike on the rack and hit my favorite trail—The 11-mile loop at St. Joe State Park. That's where I met up with another biker. He works with a local doctor and he's from California. He loves the fall in Missouri and he Gets Out There! Meet Jeff Nattkemper.


Jeff Nattkemper with mountain bike at St. Joe Missouri State Park

Missouri State Park St. Joe's 11-mile paved path and mountain bike

Jeff Nattkemper on paved trail at  St. Joe Missouri State Park
My name is Jeff Nattkemper.  For most of my life I’ve identified as being a surfer from Southern California.

My name is Jeff Nattkemper.  For most of my life I’ve identified as being a surfer from Southern California.  I’ve lived in Farmington for almost a year and a half now and I’m loving the change of pace I’m experiencing here in Missouri.  


Oddly, it was Surfing that brought me here.  I badly injured my knee while surfing and I was told I might not regain mobility enough to continue with my passion in the ocean.  My good friend Dr. Humberto Olivero at Show Me Younger in Farmington told me that he was curing complex medical diseases and injuries through using stem cells harvested directly from each individual patient’s body and he said he could help me.  I’m back to 100% of my athletic abilities since my stem cell transplant rejuvenation therapy with Dr. Olivero and am back to surfing, biking, running and daily exercise.  




St. Joe Paved path in the Missouri State Park
The forest, the rivers, the people...make the 573 the only place on earth I choose to live...

Jeff Nattkemper with mountain bike at St. Joe Missouri State Park

My experience with Stem Cell Rejuvenation was so impactful, I knew that I needed to get involved.  I am a liposuction specialist by trade and have been working with Dr. Olivero to develop new Stem Cell harvesting techniques from Adipose Tissue (fat) at Show Me Younger.  Together we are launching a national brand of Stem Cell Rejuvenation Clinics called Stem Cell Regeneration MD that offer the most effective Stem Cell therapies that are made more attainable to the average person than were available in the past.  Everyone should have access to the regenerative ability within their own bodies to heal themselves and Stem Cell Rejuvenation MD’s purpose is to bring these regenerative therapies forward. 


St. Joe State Park 1 mile marker on the 11-mile paved path loop
I get on the trail, plug in my headphones, and watch the seasons change a few times a week. I wouldn’t trade it for all the tea in China.


Jeff Nattkemper with mountain bike at St. Joe Missouri State Park
The yellow and orange leaves are spectacular this time of year in Missouri.

Born and raised in Southern California I didn’t experience real changing of the seasons. In the Midwest, fall is my favorite time of year because of the wide spectrum of beautiful colors the leaves change to before they fall. I’m in a state of constant awe of the raw beauty nature provides here in the fall.


St. Joe, Elephant Rocks, Hawn, Trail of Tears, Sam A Baker, Johnson’s Shut-ins, Taum Sauk Mountain, St. Francois, Echo Bluff, Washington, Meramec, Onondaga Cave, Missouri Mines, Lake Wappapello, Montauk...make this place rock!

Jeff Nattkemper riding mountain bike at St. Joe Missouri State Park


St. Joe Missouri state park 11-mile pave path loop


Autumn foilage at St. Joe Missouri state par in October


St. Joe State Park is a public recreation area consisting of 8,243 acres along the flanks of the Saint Francois Mountains. The state park includes the Missouri Mines State Historic Site with its former St. Joe Minerals mill buildings and museum of geology and mining. The park features four lakes, two swimming beaches, equestrian trails, a hiking and bicycling trail, a water trail, motocross/off-road trails and picnic sites, as well as two campgrounds capable of accommodating campers with ORV or horse trailers.


Colorful autumn leaves in Southeast Missouri


Black top with scattered autmn leaves and pine straw



Jeff Nattkemper with autumn leaves at St. Joe Missouri State Park


Jeff Nattkemper riding mountain bike at St. Joe Missouri State Park

We get why Jeff loves this place so much. The entire 11 miles is paved and well maintained. It’s perfect for road bikes with thin tires and it’s a great workout up and down those beautiful hills. Hitting this trail in fall is like a dream. The colors almost hurt your eyes and the silence is deafening. I love them both. The forest, the rivers, the people...make the 573 the only place on earth I choose to live—I could live anywhere I like. And the best thing about all the cool outdoor things the area has to offer is it’s ALL free.


I get on the trail, plug in my headphones, and watch the seasons change a few times a week. I wouldn’t trade it for all the tea in China. It takes my stress away, it gives me a new perspective, and it keeps my senses sharp. The idea of wasting this wonderful resource for time in front of a computer or television is no choice for me.




GET OUT THERE!


Here’s a link to the park’s site https://www.mostateparks.com/park/st-joe-state-park

1 Comment


I love your story. Sorry, I did not meet up with you last night at St Joe's State Park.

You should write a story on the 2025 Trans Am Non-Stop Bike Race next June 2025.

The cyclists race starts on the first Sunday morning in June at Astoria, Oregon. They ride through Farmington, Missouri to Yorktown, Virginia.


Wayne Linnenbringer

8 N Jackson St

Farmington, MO 63640


Cell 573-705-8909

Business 573-756-0481

🙂

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