Day 12

We started the morning bright and early at 6:26 am at the corner of Lindbergh and McDonald Streets in north St. Louis.  The sun was up and it was already 83 degrees.  The Mississippi River Trail book that Russ got in Minnesota really paid off for us today as we made our way east across the city toward the river.  There was very little traffic on the street we traveled and we made it to the river and Riverfront bike trail in just less than an hour.  On the way down the 4 lane street, a Moline Acres police officer rolled up next to me in the left lane with his window rolled down to ask where we'd come from and where we were going.  He was so encouraging and nice, it was a good way to start the morning!
Here's Russ at the start of the Riverfront trail.  The Mississippi River is HUGE!

We parted ways with Russ so he could take the nine mile ride on the Riverfront trail where we would meet him downtown at the arch.  I am VERY relieved that we went there yesterday afternoon so I had somewhat of a clue where I needed to drive.  HOWEVER, we did drive around a bit before we made it to our meeting place.  Russ was there 10 minutes before us and we didn't make any stops!

We could feel that we were being prayed through St. Louis today, I think we finally made it out of town just before 10:30 am after riding 46 miles in St. Louis today!  After that we took breaks at McDonalds (can't miss a smoothie opportunity!), under a tree in the yard of Rock Presbyterian Church, the Austin Petairin roadside park, and under a shade tree in somebody's yard!! The temperature climbed to 99 degrees on the car thermometer by 2:20 pm when we stopped in Bloomsdale.  Russ said the gauge on his bike fluctuated from 100 to a high of 114 at one point, the difference made by the radiation of the heat off the asphalt.
Here we are under the tree in "somebody's" yard, the shade felt good!

As we drive and ride along, we get different reactions from people in cars going around us.  Some waving or giving "happy" honks as I like to call them.  Today when we were still in the city, a man in a small pickup passed but slowed as he came beside me. He honked and reached a long arm across toward the passenger window so I could see his thumbs up sign.  He had a huge smile on his face and he did the same as he passed Russ.  As he drove off in front of us, he stretched his left arm out his window and pointed straight up for several blocks.  We knew he recognized the cross on top of our trailer and obviously it meant everything to him.  It made me smile.  Shortly thereafter, the road narrowed and a few cars had to wait less than 30 seconds behind us to pass and a man in a flat-bed wrecker truck sped around us, looked back at me in disgust and put hands up in a "what's up" type of signal.  That's when this verse from scripture came to mind, one that had been part of Russ' message on Sunday...

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

It is SO exciting when we cross paths with others who share the knowledge of the cross, but we know it is our challenge and call as Christians to change foolishness to salvation for those who don't recognize the power of God through the cross.

It was getting VERY hot in the afternoon and the hills seemed steeper and longer. Just after 1 pm I noticed a lady in the driveway of Wesley United Methodist Church (I don't even know what town it would be considered in) waving and saying something to Russ. He waved and kept going.  She walked further out toward us and was waving something in her hand. That's when I realized she was flagging us down.  I pulled over a little past her and she ran up to the passenger window and expressed her excitement over what we were doing and handed me a $50 bill. "Maybe that can buy you lunch or something" she said.  She must have passed us somewhere on the road, pulled over and flagged us down - that's what you call RADICAL generosity!  I was so surprised and flabbergasted as well as worried for Russ on the highway that had no shoulder, I'm sorry to say that I didn't ask her name or give her our cards.  But God knows who she was and I thanked him for sending an angel of encouragement to us in the heat of the day.

When we stopped in Bloomsdale at 2:20 Russ knew he'd had enough of the heat for awhile.  We drove ahead 11 miles to Ste. Genevieve where we found a hotel, he took a nice shower and rested.  I began to cook dinner with the fabulous sweet corn, zucchini, peppers and tomatoes we got from Mike Bankhead yesterday at the roadside vegetable stand along with some pasta I had with us.  I can't say that I've ever shucked corn in a motel room! We have a refrigerator and microwave in our room, so I made good use of them.  The corn was DELICIOUS as were the other veggies, too. 

Feeling rested and refreshed, at 6:30pm we jumped back in the car and headed back to Bloomsdale so Russ could ride the 11 miles to Ste. Genevieve.  Here are the guys getting the bike ready to go this evening.

Now we'll be able to start from here in the morning.  It was an 86 mile day today.  Russ is doing AWESOME thanks to your prayers!  We plan to leave at sunrise tomorrow to take advantage of the cooler (that's a matter of opinion!) temperatures. 

Good night and until next time,

Blessings to you from

Russ & Carol