Last October, my wife and I put the bikes on the train in Kirkwood, and took the train to Sedalia. I had no interest in the western-most segment between Sedalia and Clinton. Over the next five days we rode back to Saint Louis. We got off of the trail at Creve Coeur Lake Park in STL County. From there, we rode the streets to friends' house in University City. Although we hit the streets at rush hour, the only bad part was Marine Avenue out of CCL Park. It is steep, one lane in each direction, and has a ditch instead of a shoulder. Fortunately, the drivers were polite.
Our five days on the trail were very good. I'd do it again.
Bob