Day 15: Tuesday, 05/22/18, Day Off in St. Louis, Missouri

We are in St. Louis today, enjoying our second rest day since leaving New Orleans 15 days ago. In our 13 days of pedaling, we have traveled 987 miles. In the remaining 10 days, we have 754 additional miles to reach Minneapolis, where the AbB ride will be complete.  Weather-wise, we have been very fortunate in only riding for a short time in one downpour of rain. The winds have also been kind to us with no major headwinds and frequent gentle tail-winds. We hope the last ten days are as good to us as the first 15 have been!

We didn't blog it, but on Saturday, May 19, a motorcycle pulled up beside us as we were riding about 20 miles out of Ste. Genevieve and the rider shouted a greeting to us..."Is it Good?"  It turned out to be Bubba, the owner of Bubba's Pampered Pedalers.  I have traveled with Bubba twice on Coast 2 Coast rides from San Diego, CA to St. Augustine, FL. Bubba was riding motorcycles with his son, both of whom live in the St. Louis area. We had already been communicating with Bubba ahead of this ride and he was planning on showing us around St. Louis on our rest day. Bubba showed us the neighborhood where he had lived as a child and he then took us to lunch at a historic business called the Crown Candy Kitchen. After lunch, Bubba kindly took me to a hardware store where I found a needed seat tension bolt. It was great to see Bubba again and as always, Bubba was kind and a gentleman.  I am honored to be one of his many friends.

The Gateway Arch is a curved 630 foot tall monument celebrating US Western expansion.  It's the world's tallest arch and tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere, and Missouri's tallest accessible building.  It is officially dedicated to "the American people".

Dred and Harriet Scott filed suit for their citizenship at this old St. Louis courthouse in 1846.  Their case reached the United States Supreme Court and was decided in 1857.  The Court ruled that the Scotts and all African Americans were not citizens of the United States.  Opposition to the decision was one of the causes of the Civil War and led to the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution.  The Scotts' struggle for freedom stands as a defining moment in the history of the Civil Rights movement.

Crown Candy Kitchen...A St. Louis Tradition since 1913!  This is one of St. Louis' oldest and most popular attractions.  You take a step back in time with the vintage jukebox, the coca-cola collectibles and the soda fountain.  Today it is run by 3rd generation with a little help from 4th generation family members.  They make their own chocolate candy and serve great food for lunch and dinner.  This picture features three of Bubba's coasters - Dad/Wayne, Mike, Tom and Bubba.

Dad and I split a "Heart Stopping BLT"!  There was a pound of thick sliced bacon, lettuce and tomato with Miracle Whip on white toast.  What you see in the picture is 1/2 the sandwich!  Dad also enjoyed a chocolate milkshake.  The Crown Candy Kitchen has been featured on the Food Network.  They have a 5 Malt Challenge - drink 5 malts (or shakes) within 30 minutes and your get them free!