ST. LOUIS, MO TO GRAFTON, ILL

May 18, Monday
48 miles

We rode down to the Riverfront and connected with the Riverfront Bike trail, a paved path for non motorized use only. It winds along with the river on one side and industry on the left sometimes divided by a cement wall which served as the levee. In some areas the wall is decorated with murals by different school groups. One mural depicts the Meacham Freedom Crossing, the first nationally recognized Underground Railroad site in Missouri. The trail on the MO side goes for about 12 miles and the crosses over the Mississippi River on the Chain of Rocks Bridge for bicycles and pedestrians only. It was originally a one mile toll bridge on old US 66. Named the Chain of Rocks because of the chain of rocks in the river below causing rough water and rapids. The river was high when we were crossing so the rocks were not visible. The ride then continues on the Confluence Trail on the Illinois side another path for non motorized vehicle use only. The 48 mile ride today was 97% non motorized bike trails. Only three or four times did we have to ride on the road but just briefly to connect with the trail again. It was a great ride on great trails with beautiful weather and no wind. Thank you, Illinois.
We rode in to Pere Margquette state park campground. Named after the first European to set foot on Illinois soil..according to Rusty.
There was no camp host at the campground so we found a site that didn't have a reserved tag for the night and hoped we wouldn't be surprised by the rightful campers. One negative of the day was the flying gnats that have made the scene. Very annoying. The old "opposition in all things" rule, I guess.
Also one thing we miss since leaving the South is the heavenly fragrance of honeysuckle that was so prevalent in the air and the delicious smell of fried "something".