|
Our first stop was at the Turtle Creek information center. |
|
Let this photograph stand as a representation of about six solid
hours of driving, with no sleep the night before. Caffeine (which I had recently
given up) probably saved all of our lives that first day. |
|
A bridge across the Illinois River. This is the first bit of excitement
we have had sent starting out. |
|
a rail bridge parallels the highway. |
|
|
A small exhibit in the "Route 66 rest stop" This is the same one
with the outdoor exhibit. It is also the first sign of acknowledgment we
have seen given to the old road. |
|
The Dixie Truck stop, one of the landmarks of old 66, which has
survived as part of the Interstate. I never could resist a buffet, when
traveling. |
|
The Route 66 Hall of Fame inside of the Dixie Truck Stop. |
|
The inside of the Dixie Truck Stop. |
|
More of the inside of the Dixie Truck Stop. |
|
The buffet line. Not too busy at the moment, but it is still pretty
early on a Sunday morning. |
|
What truck stop, or tourist attraction would be complete without
a game room. |
|
|
The very photogenic arch, of the very photogenic St. Louis. This
city is right on the Mississippi, and played a major part in the settling,
and trade of the nation. |
|
|
|
|
Ted Drewes, on old Route 66 in the heart of St. Louis. This place
has been famous for decades, as one of the better custard stops for long
distance travelers. |
|
The heat of the day certainly did not hurt business. |
Three Please |
Good stuff, but it's hard to impress Milwaukeans with custard when
we have Copp's, and Leon's. The custards help with the heat of the day,
and then it's off to the Ozarks. |
|
|
|
West of St. Louis, and traveling through the beautiful Ozark Mountains.
A visitor center sits right in the middle of it all. Oddly enough it was
staffed by a pair of retirees, both from Michigan. |
|
More Ozark scenery, as the road meanders through. These are beautiful,
soft, well forested mountains, as opposed to the rough peaks of the west. |
|
|
There is an almost tropical quality to the verdant growth in these
hills. |
|
This was our first real meal since breakfast. Our only other food
of the day had been our custards at Ted Drewes. I never had a burger, and
a bowl of chili taste so good. |
|
I had never heard of these places before, but I guess it is a fairly
large chain. it is very much in the fifties style, but unlike most of the
"retro' establishments, this is the genuine article. They have been in
business since 1934. |
|
Our rooms for the night. Days inn is generally a pretty nice place.
This one was on the outskirts of the Branson area |