The Replacements, the Gateway to the West, and the Breadbasket of America

No Kid Hungry Ride – Days 43–49

Day 43 marked a milestone of a different sort on this journey. We were leaving St. Louis and heading toward Greenville, Illinois, crossing another state line and saying goodbye—for a few days at least—to Karen and Scott, who were off attending family events.

Their replacements had arrived.

My sisters, Andrea and Lynn, along with their husbands, Mark and Brad, stepped in for the weekend. What I can tell you is that the maiden voyage of "The Replacements" was a complete success.

Brad assumed navigation duties and did an excellent job keeping us on course. Mark took over driving the Outlaw and handled it like a seasoned veteran. Lynn and Andrea brought enthusiasm, encouragement, and plenty of energy to the mission. After more than six weeks on the road, it was refreshing to have some new faces, new stories, and a little extra excitement injected into the adventure.

We started the morning riding along the Mississippi River trail in St. Louis. As we arrived at our starting point, the fire department was preparing what appeared to be a search-and-rescue training exercise in the river. Fortunately, we managed to get underway before they shut down the area.

Not long afterward, I found myself riding beneath one of the most iconic landmarks in America—the Gateway Arch.

The morning sunlight reflected off the stainless-steel surface while the Arch towered over everything around it. It completely dominated the skyline. Looking up at it while the Mississippi River flowed nearby created a dramatic scenes and a memorable moment. It was easy to understand how St. Louis earned its reputation as the Gateway to the West.

For roughly the next twelve miles, I followed trails, levees, and river roads that paralleled the Mississippi. Sometimes I rode atop the levee, sometimes between the levee and the river itself, and occasionally through old industrial sections that reminded me of the role this river has played in building commerce throughout the heartland of America.

Crossing the Mississippi on the historic Chain of Rocks Bridge, I entered Illinois and immediately noticed another change in the landscape. The rollers of Missouri largely disappeared, replaced by flatter terrain can’t say I was disappointed. 

Most of the day followed beautifully maintained trails that wound through shaded tree canopies before eventually opening into vast agricultural fields. As I rode through miles of corn and wheat fields stretching to the horizon, I found myself reflecting on the purpose of this ride.

As far as the eye could see in every direction, there were crops growing. It reinforced a thought that has crossed my mind many times during this journey: if we have this much agricultural abundance in America, surely we can find a way to ensure that 14 million children don't go hungry.

That remains the reason for every mile.

At the end of the ride, we stopped at Kim's Munchies in Greenville. Kim welcomed us warmly, provided some much-needed cold drinks, took photos, posted about the ride on social media, and enthusiastically supported the mission. Encounters like that continue to remind me how many good people there are across this country.

That evening we made our way to Effingham, Illinois, where we enjoyed dinner at a local barbecue restaurant affectionately named “Lickin your Chicken and Pulling your Pork”  that was half barbecue joint and half neighborhood bar. The owner had a larger-than-life personality and the food was excellent. The last stop of the day was at Culvers for frozen custard and lots of laughs as Brad broke out the one legged rider routine.

The next day brought nearly ideal riding conditions.

Cool temperatures, overcast skies, and relatively flat roads made for an enjoyable day on the bike. The original route called for roughly fifty-four miles, but I decided to add additional mileage and stretch the ride to approximately sixty-five miles. The weather forecast for the following morning wasn't particularly encouraging, so I wanted to bank some miles and shorten the next day's route.

The Replacements continued their outstanding stand in and sometimes standup routine.

Mark was eager to help with anything and everything. Brad and Lynn engaged in an ongoing debate regarding who deserved the title of Chief Navigator. From what I understand Lynn ultimately won that competition. Andrea wisely avoided taking sides and focused on providing moral support.

Mostly, though, I simply enjoyed having family around.  

One thing this ride continues to teach me is that the people make the journey. When the weather cooperates and there are no mechanical problems, what you remember most are the conversations. We stopped for lunch at Mark’s,  a local café  (how could we not with 2 Marks on the journey. We were actually supposed to have sandwiches from Subway – but somehow that communication got fouled up and we were all better off for it.) The patrons and servers were eager to learn about the ride, offer advice about local roads, local points of interest and share stories of their own. (Ignoring some advice Mark and Brad had to stop at the Slinging Beaver Bar, where T-shirts were acquired.) Over and over again, once people understand the mission, they become invested in helping.

Day 46 marked the departure of The Replacements and the return of Scott.

Before they headed back to Atlanta and New Orleans, I had the chance to thank all four of them for bringing so much enthusiasm and positive energy to the ride. We laughed constantly over the weekend. Some of the funniest moments probably fall into the category of "you had to be there." The one-legged bike rider story. The mystery of the missing half tuna fish sandwich. Trust me—they were hilarious.

Scott returned and immediately jumped back into action. He emptied the tanks, refilled the water, loaded fresh ice into our makeshift cold plunge, and diagnosed what turned out to be a minor issue behind the check-engine light. Fortunately, it was nothing more than a gas cap issue. The folks at the local Ford dealership in Effingham were kind enough to help us confirm that everything was fine.

The ride itself was relatively uneventful until the final hour. The road narrowed considerably, traffic increased dramatically, and the shoulder essentially disappeared. Suddenly one of those escort trucks with flashing lights and "Wide Load" signs came around me.

Whenever that happens, I know something interesting is coming and it is best to move off the road and out of the way. A few moments later, a massive truck hauling part of a wind turbine rolled by. The section was enormous easily one of the largest things I've seen transported on a highway. 

The day concluded with another cyclocross obstacle course entering Terre Haute. Construction required carrying the bike through partially completed roadways, over barriers, and around equipment before finally reaching the hotel.

As an added bonus, directly across from the hotel stood the Larry Bird Museum. Unfortunately, it was closed, but I still managed to grab a photo and appreciate being in Larry Legend territory.

One observation from this ride continues to stay with me.

As we have traveled through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, I have become increasingly aware of the broader health challenges facing our country. This ride is focused on ending childhood hunger. But hunger is only one piece of the nutritional puzzle.

What I've observed in many communities is a growing health challenge tied to nutrition, food quality, and lifestyle. The contrast is striking. In some places we have children struggling to access adequate nutrition, while in others we see the consequences of diets that create long-term health problems. Obesity is an issue and its long-term burden on the healthcare system and costs related thereto is easy to understand. I don't pretend to have the answers, but the reality is obvious and difficult to ignore.

What remains clear is that helping children gain access to healthy food at an early age  and teaching good nutrition habits is one of the most important investments we can make in all of our futures.

Day 47 started with an unexpected surprise.

Thanks to Scott's resourcefulness a local television reporter from WTHI  the Terre Haute Fox affiliate met us at the hotel for an interview about the ride and the No Kid Hungry mission.

She asked thoughtful questions, spent considerable time gathering footage, and showed genuine interest in the cause. The segment was scheduled to air Friday June5th on both the 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. newscasts and will hopefully help bring additional awareness to the campaign.

The interview delayed our departure, so I didn't get on the road until around 11:00 a.m. The ride into Indianapolis was fairly straightforward, but about ten miles into the day, an old friend reappeared. The wind.

For the remainder of the ride, I battled a steady headwind that ranged from about eight to fourteen miles per hour. While it made the ride more challenging, I was encouraged by how strong I felt at the finish.

I'm down roughly six or seven pounds since leaving California, but I seem capable of producing more power than I could earlier in the trip. I may actually be riding myself into better condition. Hopefully that trend continues all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.

Day 49 took us from Indianapolis toward Dublin, Indiana.

Even at seventy miles, it was one of the easiest riding days of the trip.

The terrain was exceptionally flat, with only about 1,300 feet of climbing over the entire route. What stood out most, however, was the incredible agricultural abundance that surrounded me.

For nearly seventy miles, fields stretched to the horizon. Corn. Wheat. Soybeans. Agriculture in every direction. Once again, I found myself thinking about the mission. We have an extraordinary capacity to produce food in this country. Seeing that abundance firsthand reinforces my belief that ending childhood hunger is achievable if we make it a priority.

The other theme of the day was oversized loads. Several times I found myself pulling onto the shoulder to allow oversized transports to pass. One load included a manufactured home. Others were giant pieces of agricultural equipment that occupied most of the roadway.

One of the most enjoyable stops of the day came at Long's Bakery, an Indianapolis family business whose roots date back to 1929. Five generations of the Long family have operated the bakery.

Naturally, I felt obligated to conduct a thorough quality-control inspection. Apple fritter, German chocolate cake, Pecan brownie, Apple strudel. For anyone keeping score at home, the apple strudel was the clear winner.

2400 miles behind me. Tomorrow we head toward Dayton and will be joined by my  friend Jim Schroeder, who is coming out to spend 2 days on the road with us. (Maybe I get to draft for a few miles?)

The Atlantic Ocean is getting closer.

We're going to keep riding.

Help Us End Childhood Hunger

The No Kid Hungry Ride is a 3,400-mile cross-country journey from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean with one goal: helping ensure that every child in America has access to the food they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

Today, approximately 14 million children in the United States live in food-insecure households. No Kid Hungry works to address this challenge through school meals, summer meal programs, advocacy efforts, and direct support for communities across the country.

If this journey has inspired you, please consider supporting the mission. Every contribution helps provide meals, hope, and opportunity for children who need it most. Donate here.