Well we spent almost 4 days in St Louis area. There is so much to see and do we could have spent more time, but winter is coming so we just scratched the surface. The day we got there we went down to the river and around st. Louis to capture some sun setting pictures. Hope to check them out and post some. The next day we went to the Anheiser Bush Brewery for the tour. I got to see the Clydesdale's, pet one, and play with Clyde the dog. It was an amazing and educational place to go and I got free beer at the end, which isn't hard to take.
The next day we wanted to go up in the arch but it was rainy so we ended up going to the zoo instead, and went to the Basilica. The Basilica is the most beautiful piece of art I have seen. It gives you goose pimples. It was well worth seeing. It was all done with small pieces of blown glass (some by Tiffany which are the only ones left as most were in Europe and were destroyed by the Germans in the war) and it was done with the men lying on their backs on a scaffolding (like Micheal Angelo did). The figures even have expression in their faces and the colors are incredible. It took 76 years to complete and it is massive and breathtaking. I am so glad I went in to see it. The zoo is great and has lots of animals we had never seen before. It has nice areas for the animals, very natural and very large areas. It is one of the top 5 in the world and they have plans for more improvements even. It also was well worth seeing.
The next day it rained so I slept late and spent the afternoon washing clothes. Then Leroy and I went on a Lewis and Clark hunt. He is into them and lots of history so I have learned a lot over the years but very little of what I can retain. We went to the spot where they had set up their very first settlement to kick off their expedition. It was pouring by then and both of us got totally drenched.
Today we prayed for nice weather and God obliged us. We went over and went up into the arch. Well let me tell you I should get a medal for my bravery. Not only do i have unfounded fears of heights and close spaces I went. You go to the top (630 feet) via a little egg shaped gondola inside the arch. It is only barely big enough for 4 adults and you are close and very little head and leg room. We got paired with a couple from Tennessee. Thank goodness. They understood my fears and worked with me to help me keep my mind off where i was. He cracked a bunch of dumb jokes and really did make it easier. I asked them to accompany us down when they were ready. I will post a picture of the egg as they had one in the lobby to look at. I am glad i didn't see it before i agreed to go up, or I may not have gone. I only really had one tiny time where i thought I would lose it and got thru that. The ride takes 4 min up and 3.5 down. I took pictures at the top as their are small windows to look out and I was really proud I could even look out the window, It was amazing and you can see for 30-40 miles in all directions and today the weather was gorgeous and the sky was blue, sun was out, and temps were in the high 50's. We watched a great movie by national geographic about Lewis and Clark also afterwards.
Then we set out again to look for Lewis and Clark stuff. we went back to the site and saw the buildings better, with a tour guide, who is also a historian and the info we got from him was unbelievable. I couldn't believe one person could learn all that from different sources, remember it including dates, put it all back together and tell someone else all of it in such a manner as to be interesting. I was mesmerized. That tour took forever as the guy never stopped.
We found the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and saw the great waterways locks. Leroy was in heaven. he loves history and actually remembers things he learned in school. Can you imagine that?
We were lucky when we were in Glacier that we finally found and got senior pass thru the park system. It is a national thing and gets the holder of the pass and any people he has with him in to all national monuments, sites, anything that is national FREE. We knew that such a pass existed but up to that time could not find anyone who could tell us about it. it is a great deal and only cost $10 i think, or 20. I think it was 10 as that was jaw dropping also. So we were able to use that today. So anyone that doesn't have one should get one.
We are driving and I just looked up and saw a huge billboard for a Bra Shop. That's unusual. Also gas here is around $3 a gal, occasionally less.
I have to say I pray the Good Lord continues to bless us as this trip is exactly what we had hoped. We are seeing America the way we wanted to and meeting people and seeing things and learning things about our country that we didn't know. It truly is our long standing dream. We will probably go broke and I am sure things will go wrong on the road, that is life but so far we expect the best and we have gotten what we expect. Everything isn't perfect always but we seem to be taking it in stride. We both always felt it was crazy to go to another country to see it when we hadn't seen our own and we both feel blessed to live in this country as even with all its problems its still the best.
Dogs have been a bit neglected but after a few times out for a walk and a play each day they seem to take it in stride. They are great travelers as are the cats and birds. We pray no breakdown is so severe we have to leave the motor home for its repair, that would be a true disaster.
Guess that is all for today's entries. Am trying to get caught up with letters, emails, and phone calls to let those of you know that I still love you and miss you.
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