Adam's Blog July 8th, Day 3!
Started the day as usual, packing stuff, doing the normal morning routing, heading out to breakfast at the hotel. We headed out to Lincoln's Tomb after breakfast and what an impressive place this is. Lots of sculpture and handsome monument to a great man. Gideon isn't impressed, he just says that he needs to go potty. So we make the hike back up the hill from the temporary vault, hit the head and leave the tomb.
The second step of the day was to try to find a post office along the route to attempt to get blankie back. Now at this point, I'm sure you've read the drama from Courtney's blog about what ensues. What should have been a 15-20 minute stop tops ends up taking well over 2 hours while we drive around Springfield, IL trying to find a place that would be able to help us. We finally arrive at the OfficeMax that does end up being able to help us and Courtney heads in. The rest of us wait in the car. 5 minutes later, Courtney's still not out of the store and Abigail starts saying,"This has to be a good sign right?". 20 minutes later, Gideon is getting restless and asking if he can play with the office chairs that they have on the sidewalk, Abigail starts doubting her original statement, I have people looking at me funny when they park next to me because I had poured Gideon's milk out to get him fresh milk at around the 10 minute mark and now there's a really odd looking, and likely smelling, stain on the pavement out my window and Courtney finally emerges from the store. There isn't a smile on her face so we don't know what's up. She finally gets back in the van and Abigail breathes a sign of relief. Finally starting to leave the town again at noon. This is becoming a habit.
We drive through some pretty field areas. There is practically no one else on the road, which is nice as it affords us the opportunity to slow down and try to figure out where we are going. The route has been well signed, up until about now. There was a gorgeous barn on the way that was painted with an old American flag. We finally reached the next stop, the Chain of Rocks Bridge. It's a beautiful bridge that used to be the path along 66 but is now closed to all but pedestrians and bikes. About half way across the bridge is a big bend and just before it is a marker that indicates that you've crossed from Illinois into Missouri. The kids stop to play on a fake fire engine that's out here for some reason. We are about to turn back but Abigail says that she wants to walk to the other side so we press on. This gives us a chance to see a nice little pull off with some other antique stuff and to hear yet again from Gideon "I need to go potty". Great, we are a good 3/4 of a mile from the other side but there is no one out here but us so we find a drainage port on the bridge and I guide Gideon on the finer points of going in the wind. Man does this kid need to go. The Mississippi River has some extra volume today. We return to the car and head out to Saint Louis.
We check into the hotel early to head into the city again and stop at the Gateway Arch. What a beautiful monument as well. Looking up at the top of it makes you feel insignificant and significant at the same time to think that we as a species have been capable of creating such structures. It also provides a feeling of vertigo and I have to stop as I feel like I'm swaying like a drunkard. Heading into the area under the arch we decide to give a pass on heading up to the top of the arch. Not only are the lines insanely long but the sample capsule sitting next to the ticketting booth doesn't make one feel comfortable if there is any hint of claustrophobia. We visit the Museum of Western Expansion instead. It's a nice place but the kids aren't as impressed as I am.
Last stop of the day, a famous frozen custard joint. We drive up and there is a mob scene around the place and no obvious place to park. The first gut reaction is to just give it amiss rather than deal with the crowds but when you get closer you realize that a ton of these people are just sitting there eating. So we decide to head in. This is some of the best ice cream that we've had and it is now obvious why they are standing around to eat it, it melts really fast. There is a symphony of mmms and for the first time since the start of the trip other than his naps, there is silence from Gideon. Back to the hotel and back to bed.
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