Pevely, to Perryville, MO

Friday, September 26, 2003
Distance Cycled: 58 miles
Total elevation gain: 2,745 feet
Our Total Flat Tires on trip to date: 1

We have been staying in very low cost motels where the rooms cost from $40 to $55 per night. When you stay in this type of motel, a lot of the extras are not included like continental breakfast, shampoo and guest laundry. It is always a question if the rug and the room will be clean. However, when traveling long distances by bicycle, it is sometimes difficult to find a motel in some of these small towns so you take what you can get.

Today's ride was mostly up and down hills from the start to the finish except for one 7 mile stretch between Sainte Genevieve, and Saint Mary. We would climb a long series of hills, climbing 3% to 7% grades and then we would go zooming down to a creek or valley and then we would start another climb. To make it more interesting we had a strong head wind (estimated at 15 miles per hour with higher gusts) for the last 20 miles. So we would be going up this hill against the wind and the wind was strong enough to slow our decent so we could not get a good run for the next hill.

We stopped in Sainte Genevieve and ate lunch in a restaurant where lunch was served on tables covered with white table cloths and the luncheon special cost $4.25, and was very good.

We traveled around the town and looked at several of the very old homes that had been built by the early French inhabitants, and visited the Visitors Center. We left Sainte Genevieve and headed south to Saint Mary. On the way we stopped for a rest and we watched the wind in the trees to the west of us. We were protected from the wind by a high bluff.

When we left Saint Mary we headed more into that head wind. For the next 8 miles we went up and down hills into the strongest head wind we faced all day. By the time we reached Perryville, we were very tired and none of us knew where the motel was located. We had to stop and ask directions to the motel twice. The Budget Inn is next to a restaurant, so tonight we do not have to walk into town for dinner.