Distance: 46 miles
Elevation: +1412 / -1427 - flat on the Katy Trail and then a lot of up and down when we left the trail
Temperature: mid 80s and humid
We had mixed emotions this morning. Today was our last day of riding this route.
We awoke to pouring rain. Ugh. We delayed our departure in our lovely lodging by an hour, since we didn’t have far to travel, so we weren’t as concerned about the mileage. We left at about 8:30 (so late!) when the rain let up.
The trail was soft with a lot of debris from rain, so the going was slow, and made for some lovely mud stripes down our backs, butts, and hair.
There was also the threat of more rain hanging over us, but it made for beautiful clouds in the distance as the sun was struggling to push through.
Our goal was to get to a bridge that would cross the Missouri and put us on the Monarch Trail into St. Louis. It turns out, that bridge doesn’t exist. Huh? So, we talked to a runner on the trail, who told us where we would find a bridge ahead on I-64 that could connect us to the trail. And, of course, we let Kurt know that we were headed to a new location. We found the bridge, and we were delighted to discover that there was a pedestrian/cycle bridge that would keep us off of the highway as we rode over the Missouri for like the 7th, and final, time. (This bridge had gloriously HIGH sides, so I was willing to stop to take a quick pic).
Once we got over the bridge, we quickly found the Monarch Trail. We also discovered that it was closed in the direction we needed to go. Ha! Closed trails mean NOTHING to us. We are not some amateur riders! We are not so easily deterred! So let’s do this!
Or not. It was really closed. The Missouri River covered the trail. Mary Jo assessed if there was a way through or around, but it wasn’t to be, not even over the adjoining scree slope or through the waist deep water. So much for our sense of invincibility. We set out anew with, the help of Siri, to get back on our route.
After only a few miles, we successfully rejoined our route, and we headed for Clayton, where we would be having lunch with Becky’s daughter and nephew. We found a bike trail for a good bit of it, and we had a lovely lunch with Madeleine and Ben. Once we’d had lunch, then we were off to the Arch! Madeleine and Kurt escorted us through the city to avoid road construction, and to keep an eye on our progress. We wound through Forest Park (beautiful!), and then through St. Louis.
And then… we’ve made it!
Our emotions were mixed. Becky wanted a ticker tape parade, Carol was a little sad that it was over, and Mary Jo wanted ice cream and was elated we had arrived in one piece. It didn’t immediately feel like a triumphal kind of finish, because we were all so exhausted, and we needed a little time to fully process what we’d just accomplished. Nevertheless, we were so happy to share the moment with Madeleine and Kurt. We all got cold lemonades, took pictures in front of the arch, and tried to let it all sink in, reminiscing about different moments along the way.
Then, Becky headed off to spend the evening with Madeleine and Becky’s brother and family, while Mary Jo and Carol cycled to where they would be spending the night, and met up with Kurt. Interestingly, Mary Jo had taken an online bike safety course back during the winter, and the teacher for the course, Karen, was from St. Louis. When Karen heard that Mary Jo was going to be cycling into St. Louis, she insisted we stay with her. She had a small house at the back of her property that had been built for her mother, and which she now offered to traveling cyclists to use via Warm Showers (https://www.warmshowers.org/). Her place was in a great location in a lovely neighborhood, and Karen was such a gracious and engaging person to meet! We enjoyed learning about the rides she had done, how they developed their beautiful garden, how she and her husband used bicycles as their primary form of transportation, and how they have watched the neighborhood change over time.
We would’ve enjoyed talking with her far more, but our exhaustion was greater than we anticipated, now that we knew the ride was over. So, we set out to find dinner and ice cream (of course!), and then we fell into bed early.
Knowing we weren’t getting on a bike the next day seemed to enhance our level of fatigue: We could finally relax and not worry about cleaning our clothes and prepping for the next day. We all slept well, and headed out early the next morning to get back to Cincinnati. It felt odd putting our bikes on the rack, knowing we wouldn’t be on them again for a while. Our bikes had truly become extensions of us. No matter how much technology is packed into those small frames, the reality is that a bicycle is not a huge piece of machinery with which to ride 2500 miles across the country through such diverse terrain and climate.
We all feel this immense sense of gratitude toward our SAG drivers, without whom this would NEVER have been possible. At all. The demands of following us, making sure we had ice and water so that we remained hydrated, and ensuring we had safe passage when we couldn’t move ahead, whether individually or as a group, were constant. We hoped every SAG stop would be the trifecta of perfect distance, shade, and potty options (no matter how limited), so the SAG drivers were managing lots of logistics to support us, while scouting changing road conditions. They were very often finding stops and then sitting around a lot waiting for us to arrive and descend on the car in a whirlwind of noise and need, in order to grab water, ice and food, and then head off again. Being a support driver is truly not for the faint of heart, and the gift of their patience and time for this adventure, and love and belief in us, is something for which we could never express our thanks deeply enough.
We also feel an immense sense of gratitude to one another. We pushed one another, championed one another, endured tantrums and tears when it was overwhelming, cheered one another with jokes and anecdotes, and pointed out the really amazing things along the way We were this incredible little, roving community of love and support. What a gift!
And, finally, we’re thankful to our families and friends who endured months of us talking about, training for, and planning for this ride. Your love and support empowered us with the belief that we were strong and made for this kind of adventure. Which, I guess means you appreciate (and maybe value?) that bit of crazy in us that led to this. Thank you, and we love you!
It was an amazing adventure. And, if you are reading this blog, we were happy to have you along for the ride!
