Missouri -

Traveling still, going from Nashville towards Missouri.

On the way, we discovered Lost River Cave - well, we were captured by the many billboards that showed folks floating through the cave on boats! So, here we go, signed up, got the lecture, learned about the Union soldier bodies in the "infinitely deep" blue holes near the cave following a simple swim to get away from the heat.

The cave has a history of destruction for any business mounted above it, including the original still (the fellow's wife was relieved, so they say) and a flour mill that got power from the flowing waters. Today's gift shop is now located at the top and the guides are all "just waiting for history to repeat."

Here's a picture from inside the cave. Of special note is "wishing rock" a low outcropping that required the passengers to duck waaaaay down. As was explained by the pilot of the craft - "If you don't duck, you'll be wishing you did!"

After the Lost River Cave, we continued West and shortly thereafter we spied the St. Louis Arch, followed Maggie (our Magellan) down to the river walkways, found a place to park the rig and toured the arch. We watched the 20-minute film about construction of the arch and are totally convinced that high-steel workers are absolutely insane. Once Doug watched the movie he was having serious reservations about taking the elevator (four person tram) to the top!  For me, Sharon, it was like an amusement park ride and I was ready to scream at any moment.  The creaky sounds as it kept rocking and climbing to the tippy top of the arch, 630 feet.  What a cool experience.

(The Arch from the Interstate.)

Amazing construction techniques and ingenuity combined to make this great sculpture and monument. 

By holding Doug's hand, I, Sharon,  managed to get him into the tram and all the way to the top and as you can imagine, the other two passengers had to succumb to as many jokes and stories as we had time for, all 630 feet worth.   Took some great photos of the "arch view."

(The arch's shadow spreading across the park.)

When we were ready to descend, the tram we selected had some "technical troubles" all we really remember is a guide pushing his way through the congestion at the top of the arch while muttering something about the problems "in the middle of a code 3." Oh Good Lord - What's a CODE 3?

(Downtown St. Louis and the old capitol from the arch.)

We made it down, unscathed, needless to say.

Further West, Sharon was wondering if there was anything else to see in Missouri besides the arch and corn.  So she did some searching on her phone and found a little german town that sounded so quaint, we just had to stop.  Just in the nick of time as the exit was only a couple of miles down the highway.  Then about 16 miles down a sweet county road…Hermann, Missouri. We also saw a sign for wine tasting and between the two attractions we stopped, sampled some wine, selected a bottle, had some bratwurst (at least Doug did) and drove through the little town. We found a community park where they allow camping, so we hunkered down for another night on the road.

The next morning we both looked at each other and said, "let's get to Yellowstone"  - on with the adventure.

'Till the next tale of triumph, infamy, perseverance, obstacle and fame - Cya.