August 4 Quincy to Alton, IL

Distance 120 miles only rode 11 miles on bike, 10.0 mph average, 1:03 minutes ride time, actual time taken 4 hours and 15 minutes, expenses $108.33

Have you donated to National Multiple Sclerosis Society yet?  If not here is the direct link to my profile page where you can make a donation and end this world of MS:
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?px=1782261&pg=personal&fr_id=17893&s_tafId=230714
your donation will make a difference, please help.  Thank you.  The Old Guy

This day didn’t go all that well for the old guy.  Actually began last night when I was applying an anti-fungal cream to my back side.  Due to the extreme heat and humidity as well as long days in the saddle I developed an annoying rash this past week.  While applying the cream my foot slipped off the toilet seat causing me to pull a groin muscle.  Great, yet another irritant to deal with for the final three days of riding stage one on the Mississippi River Trail, I’ve ridden 899 miles on Spirit, my bike, through today and hitched a ride another 39 miles for a total distance traveled 938 miles.  By my calculation it should be another 150 miles +/- to the St. Louis Arch.  OK, I can tough this out.

Since Jim and family had to go home yesterday Spirit and I will be dragging nearly 330 pounds down the road today.  Going to be a few hills to climb and for good measure the weather is not going to be cooperative.  The forecast is for temperature to be at 100 degrees with a heat index closer to 110, throw in a 10-20 mph headwind and let’s not forget to add a bit of rain to make this a wee bit of a challenging day.  OK, I can see I’m going to have to dig down deep into my inner strength and say a little prayer the Lord helps me make it through this day.

Less than three miles from leaving the Comfort Inn on Broadway Ave there was a fairly decent downhill, about a 7% grade, to the river.  Spirit likes to go fast downhill when she’s toting such a heavy load.  It takes a bit of finesse using the brakes to keep her from careening out of control.  This downhill had three intersections with signal lights and it was morning rush hour traffic so it wouldn’t be a good idea to blow through a red light.  Made it through the first two signals on green light but the third turned red just as I sped up to go through causing me to lock down on the brakes, came to a screeching halt but due to my groin injury was unable to unclip from my pedal before coming to a full stop.  I went crashing to the ground in the middle of the street, lucky for me there were no motorists coming up alongside me.  At the last second I did manage to unclip but it was too late and all I managed to do is break my fall and hyper extend my leg causing yet another pulled muscle this time my right ham string.  Can anything else go wrong today?

Ouch!  Each stroke of the pedal my hamstring muscle let me know it didn’t like to be abused.  It really protested anytime I exerted a little extra effort such as going up even the slightest incline.  I struggled onward another 8 miles before having to stop.  As I rolled to a stop a little red pick-up came driving up and I stuck out my thumb.  The young man whose name is Brad asked if I could use a ride.  I said sure and together we loaded Spirit and my gear into the back of his truck.  Once inside the cab I asked how far he was going.  Brad said he’d just finished delivering newspapers and was heading home about 5 miles down the road.  My heart sunk for a moment than jumped with joy when Brad offered to take me however far I needed to go.  I told him my destination for today was Pleasant Hillabout 40 more miles down the road.  Brad “The Good Samaritan” said he’d take me there but would stop at home a few moments to let his family know what he was doing and ask his girlfriend to ride with us.  We stopped, she agreed to come along for the ride and as I was getting out a map Brad brought out a 44 ounce glass of ice water for me.  I could hardly contain my elation at his kindness, told him I’d pay for his gas and thanked him numerous times for being so generous of heart.  It took less then 40 minutes to reach Pleasant Hill by motor vehicle.  I’d venture a guess it would have taken me 7 or more hours to cover this distance if I could have even done it.

Upon arriving in Pleasant Hill we discovered there wasn’t much more than a  convenience store and definitely not  4 motels as I had thought based on the Internet search Julissa had done for me week ago.  I have to admit there are a good many small towns in America suffering from the poor economy and looking more like “Ghost” towns of their former self.  I put $25.00 worth of gas, not many gallons @ $4.00 per gallon, in Brad’s pickup and was getting ready to take my bike out of the back of his truck when he asked what I planned to do, I told him I had no choice but to continue on toward Alton, Illinois which way my next overnight town.  Brad then said he’d take me there.  I asked, “Really you would do that?  You have the time?  I’ll pay your for your gas to go the extra distance as well as buy lunch for you and Johanna (his girlfriend).  As we headed down the road I kept thinking about what Paul, the General Store owner in Freedem, MN I had met, told me about God will provide when there is a need.  He sure does Paul, he sure does.  Brad you may not realize this but God meant sent you to me and I to you today and we are both better for it.

Stick figure fisherman along the bank of the Mississippi

Arriving in Alton, we had a little difficulty finding a hotel/motel with a vacancy but finally managed to get a room at the Holiday Inn at the Lewis and Clark Trail location thanks to the dedicated help of manager Patty.  Once I secured my bike in the room Brad, Johanna and I went for lunch.  During lunch I learned Johanna is six months pregnant with their first child, she hardly showed it even though she is a petite girl.  As promised I put another $25.00 gas in Brad’s pickup and gave him an additional $20.00 just in case.  Brad’s going to work as a salesman for a satellite dish company soon.  I wish him all the success in the world as he’s a good hearted soul.  Thank you God for bringing Brad to my rescue today and for all the goodness you bestow upon me day after day.

Johanna, Brad and Me

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