The next day we launched into the hardest driving day of the trip (as far as we know). Accompanied by quite an eclectic range of songs from NGEN radio, "The Luckiest" by Ben Folds, "Stand in Your Love" by Josh Baldwin, Alessia Cara, Arrested Development, and Miles Davis. We crossed into Indiana, passed through Illinois, made it part-way through Missouri before stretching our legs at Little Lost Creek Conservation Area. Lacking formal trail signs, we headed down one of the forest access roads and then followed a mixed use (hiking/horseback riding) trail for about a half mile before heading back to our fully packed Tucson for the remainder of the day's drive into Kansas. While hiking, we startled a flash of red fur with a bushy tail. A red fox darted through the underbrush, scampered over and under logs before hiding behind a tree. Thankfully, two of us got to see its beautiful color amidst the brown leaves on the ground, the green leaves and white dogwood blossoms of the understory in a mixed deciduous forest.
Some other sights from the day include the St. Louis Arch, a beautiful bridge over the river just north of the arch, and then our first taste of Kansas topography. Who knew eastern Kansas was lush, green, and hilly with tiny ravines? Not us! Beautiful with an exclamation of, "This looks like Middle Earth," for all of you J.R.R. Tolkien fans. We were blessed to stay with Dale and Margaret Engle in Abilene. They graciously opened their home for us to rest up after a long day's drive, and we shared our stories and overlapping Brethren in Christ (BIC) experiences and connections. Thank you Engles for the gracious hospitality!
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