Mood:  a-ok

I had made arrangements with the owners of this Bed and Breakfast to have breakfast at 8 AM, quite late for me, but typical for B&Bs.  This gave me a chance to sleep in, which I took advantage of, arising at 5:45 AM.

By the time other bodies were stirring, I had two cups of coffee, and was packed and ready to go.  I tried to figure if I was just imagining the disdainful attitude of the owners.  The breakfast was good and sufficient for my needs.  I loaded the panniers on the bike.  Since the sky was overcast, the weatherman notwithstanding, I put rain covers over the panniers. 

I called Diana Oleskevich.  She was going to ride her bike out to St. Charles from St. Louis.  Since the distance for her was about the same as mine, we would try to synchronize our departure times.  So far everything seemed to be working as if we knew what we were doing.

The ride started smoothly.  The temperature was mild because of the overcast. Then it started to rain.  Lightly at first, then harder--sort of a decent Puget Sound rain.  My rain jacket still hasn't figured out that it is supposed to repel the water, and soon I was soaked to the skin.  The miles started going by as the legs kept churning.

Trouble started about 12 miles out from St. Charles.  Somehow, I got some sunscreen into my left eye.  Since I hadn't put any on today, it must have been some on my forehead that I had not washed off.  It stung like the dickens, and I resigned myself to having my left eye closed until St. Charles.  Then my right eye started having the same problem, but not as bad.  Finally, when I could not keep my right eye open either, I stopped, found a cloth and wiped my eyes.  It worked for about 5 seconds on my left eye but the right seemed okay, so off I went.  Every mile or so, I had to repeat this.  When it happened a fourth time, I discovered that the cloth had fallen out of my pocket, so I used my wet shirt under the rain jacket.  I swear that this 12 mile stretch was one of the most miserable times during my whole trip so far.  When I got to the restaurant, I could hardly see the sign for the restrooms.  Once there, I washed and rinsed my face and head thoroughly.   Air conditioning isn't nearly so pleasant when your soaked, I discovered.

Diana arrived.  We had a nice lunch then took off for St. Louis.  The route was a conglomeration of bike trails, and roads through subdivisions and industrial parks, and city streets.  At one point I was thinking "What a nice, pleasant bike trail!  Paved.  Scenic...".  About that time I cut a corner too closely and my front tire slid off the trail, tipping my bike over and I with it.  Note to self:  "If you are going to fall, try to do it gracefully next time".  No damage, except for a couple of road rashes and, of course, my pride.  It was the first fall I have had this entire trip.  Hopefully my last.

When we got to the Oleskevich's house, I had clocked in 55 miles.  Still wet.  Both Jim and Diana had commitments, so I took the opportunity to eat, shower and do laundry.  When they came home we had a delightful evening talking about our ride.  I wonder if Diana pushed me off the trail, out of jealousy of my bike?  Hmm.  Not.

Tomorrow both Jim and Diana will escort me to the downtown bridge that will take me across the Mississippi River into Illinois.  We will be getting up early, have an early breakfast, then head out.

Will McMahan