As we sat in tiered bleacher built into the rock we heard Kate Smith (yes, the one from the 50s) belt out her signature piece "God Bless America." As her last note echoed throughout the caverns this image was projected on the stalactite stone curtain. I thought I was still in Branson.
Choosing not to drive through St. Louis but needing, at some point, to cross the river from Missouri into Illinois, we drove south along the river to a lesser known and traveled bridge. We headed toward the one indicated on the map only to find that the bridge was closed. A car ferry was the only transportation across the river at that point. For $12 one-way we drove onto the ferry. Chatting with the young man on the raft-like ferry it was discovered that this was his first day on the job.
Sadly, Purina Farms was closed the day we were there. Looked like a fun tour. We may have to return.
On the highway was a sign for the local attractions and we headed toward it. The Largest Rocking Chair in the World. You don't see this kind of tourist site on groups tours.
Another sign offered puzzles. Who among us would not be curious about this commercial venture? Fifteen rows of floor to ceiling shelves of puzzles. One had 24,000 pieces and came in a box the size of a large TV.
Hungry for lunch we found the charming little town of Chester, IL, home of Popeye....and his friends.
We detoured to Carbondale to see the university from which our son-in-law graduated. We drove around campus envisioning him walking to class and studying in the library. Unfortunately, we found out later, he hadn't graduated from here but from the Edwardsville campus.
That's the kind of vacation we sometimes like to take. Just start off and see where the road takes us. And that's what I think about it.
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