western St. Louis to Hamel, IL

Sunday 20 May 2018

Today's ride went from western St. Louis to Hamel, IL

The start of the day began with a thunder and lightening storm going through St. Louis.  Jim, Diana and I drank coffee and talked about bicycle touring.  Soon the storm dissipated, with hopes of staying dry for a few hours,  I headed out.  The Adventure Cycling Route around St. Louis was excellent.  Minimal traffic and the good roads.

 There is an area south of the St. Louis Arch, along the Mississippi that graffiti artists have free access to express them selves.

Kosciusko Graffiti Wall

The St. Louis Arch.  There are small cable cars that travel inside the arch to the top.  There is an observation area at the very top of the arch where you can get a great view of St. Louis and the Mississippi River.

This statue of Louis and Clark is near the St. Louis Arch

A very good bicycle path along the Mississippi on the Missouri side of the river

The Chain of Rocks Bridge

flowers on the Missouri side of the Mississippi

going across the Chain of Rocks Bridge, you can see the 30 deg bend in the bridge.

Storm is coming. You can see St. Louis in the distance

Entering Illinois.  I got a few miles into Illinois before I had to find shelter from the storm.  I waited about 30 minutes until the storm passed.

I had maybe 20 miles of bike path riding.

coyote, he must be watching a squirrel or something.