Post for 14 June 2021

This morning, I said good-bye to my great host, Karoy. He’s a graduate student from Budapest and an active cyclist. I thoroughly enjoyed talking with him about bikes, international topics, and sights in St. Louis. I also enjoyed St. Louis much more than I expected. Both of those reminded me of how parting is a sweet sorrow, sweet for having the moment, sorrow from rolling away.

When I cycled out of St. Louis, I changed my route to cycle by the Mural Mile one more time. There’s so much I like about that wall. It’s public art. It changes weekly, even daily. Impressive works stay longer out of respect. The wall is brightening up a tough part of town and more.

I should have taken more pictures while leaving St. Louis proper, but I enjoyed the sights too much to think about pictures. I did take some as I approached the southern suburbs. The buildings showed a gritty old-world charm that I love.

The song for today is Simple Gifts, like pictures on the Mural Mile, new friends in St. Louis, and the lovely modest homes I saw while cycling out of the city.

Me and Karow, in the loft I stayed in.

I like the blue cowboy.

And I like the red dragon.

And the guy with dark hair.

I talked with the artist who made the mural in pink. She called it a ‘break up mural.’

Leaving St. Louis.

The street sign says I crossed Itaska, fun!

More fun neighorhoods.

Out of the city and into the burbs.