Hopkins 4K for Cancer

June 18, 2002

Day 17 (Day off in St. Louis)
Today was our second day off and we were all excited to sleep in at the Washington University dorms. Around 10am my blankets were being tugged from my body and my arms and legs were being yanked at…I was not a happy camper. Why was someone so rudely disturbing my needed day of sleep? Finally, I opened my eyes to Fred laughing at my fight to continue sleeping and he told me that the fire alarm was going off. I continued to put my shoes on and walk down the twelve flights of stairs half asleep. I met most of the other bikers outside the dorm sitting on the pavement in the sweltering heat. I learned later that a few of my fellow bikers decided to sleep through the fire alarm. They obviously had a plan B if the fire alarm was indeed a real alarm.

After a little more sleep in our comfortable beds we all showered and walked to the dining hall for lunch. Now for the big decision of what we should all do with our day off? A large group of us were planning on going to the St. Louis Arch, the Gateway to the West. Others were headed to the local bike shop for minor bike repairs. I decided my bike could wait for the check-up. I wanted to see St. Louis. Seventeen of us pilled into the Green Pooh (the better van in my opinion!) and headed to downtown St. Louis. Arriving at the Arch we found that the tickets for the tram to the top were $8, which in our opinion was too much to charge college students with no income. Leah worked her magic at the information center and our 4K crew got a $3 discount! After buying postcards and looking around the museum we headed to the top. Each tram consisted of a train of about six cars, each car egg shaped with five round metal seats. A normal human being might have been claustrophobic in this small space but the 4K kids could have pitched a tent and slept the night. At the top of the Arch there were small windows to look out and see a view of the entire city. On one side of the Arch was St. Louis and on the other, the reflection of the Arch on the Mississippi River.

Then we followed a path lined with trees and surrounded by a beautiful grass area as we made our way to an Italian restaurant for dinner. Walking into the restaurant I thought we had the wrong place for sure. Gorgeous long mirrors, velvet couches and a grand staircase leading us downstairs to the old wood dining rooms. The wait staff at the restaurant could not have been nicer (especially Bram…the girls table had a hot waiter).

Next on our schedule…Busch Stadium for a Cardinals game! After a day of sightseeing, visiting the bike shop and eating great food everyone was tired but we got our second wind and made it to the game. We were only there for the last two innings but the Cards could not have won it without us rooting them on. They knew they Hopkins 4K crew were in the stands. After the game we headed back to the Wash U dorms to get ready for our longest ride of the trip the next day.
Until next time…don’t beep at bikers, try a peanut butter and honey sandwich and send your kid some Gold Bond!

-Stephanie Beaudet