108 miles ridden – 2000 feet climbed – temperature 29C

The first 46 miles today was on either dedicated bike paths or well-marked bike lanes so we didn’t have to concentrate so hard on traffic. We followed a bike path for 11 miles out of St Louis past industrial complexes that we had seen from the river cruise yesterday and nice parkland until we reached the Chain of Rocks Bridge. This was the original Route 66 crossing – long since disused – but now open to bikes and walkers.

It took us out of Missouri and into Illinois where we followed a series of levee-top bike paths through to Alton where we followed the Illinois River. We also passed the confluence area where the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers converge and soon after we saw the first lock upstream on the Mississippi. Bit different from Teddington!

We followed the river out of Alton for 20 miles – it was beautiful.

The Brussels Ferry took us across the Illinois River and back towards the Mississippi although via a 60 mile route. It was by this stage getting hot but it was pretty flat with a few little bumps as we went through Brussels itself.

It seemed much more picturesque the its namesake in Belgium. After our second SAG stop at 60 miles we had a detour to contend with due to a road being closed for tree-felling. The detour was simple – go back the way you came for 1/2 mile, turn left, and after 9 miles turn left again and ‘we think’ that will put you back on the route. Great isn’t it – cycle 11 miles and then what if it doesn’t work? Cycle back 11 miles? Anyway fortunately it did work even if it was more hilly than we had expected.

While the road surfaces in Illinois are pretty good it has to be said that there are definitely more bugs in Illinois that Missouri. It doesn’t matter when you’re cycling but about 10 seconds after you stop – particularly with us being so sweaty – you suddenly find yourself in a cloud of bugs.

Anyhow the roads were quiet and we did spot some wildlife including this turtle who happily was still alive. There has been lots of roadkill all the way from New Orleans – armadillos, racoons, possums, and skunks are the main ones but we also see snakes and frogs – so it was nice to see something not squashed.

Our final climb of the day led up to a bridge which took us back over the Mississippi River into Missouri and our overnight stop in Louisiana. The Rivers Edge Hotel is quaint in a Bates Motel kind of way but it does have a fabulous view over the river.

Today was the longest day of the trip and tomorrow is the shortest at 38 miles. We are heading to Hannibal where Mark Twain grew up and was the setting for Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. I hope my legs appreciate this literary opportunity.

Two other interesting pictures. A little castle in the middle of the Mississippi -why? And in Alton, Illinois an Irish Pub……..