On Wednesday I got busy going and doing. I saw in a brochure that the Missouri History Museum was having a presentation called Route 66 - Main Street Through St. Louis and I wasn't going to pass up a chance to see it. Like so many things about Route 66, this one brought back a lot of memories. Not specific memories as much as just general reminders of the many times that we drove Route 66 when I was growing up. It was time well spent.
The next day I went back to the Bluff View Trail for the first time since my knee started bothering me there last October. They were having a pretty hot run of weather while I was there and it was really humid so I was glad to be in the woods. It's a really nice trail with varying terrain, 5 miles to the junction with another trail and back.
After I went home to shower and have lunch I went to visit the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. Despite being a former history teacher I had no idea that Grant had such a connection to Missouri. The museum gave a good look into the life of Grant and his wife Julia as well as children and the parents on both sides. Even as a history teacher I know how boring history can often be. I wish more students had the opportunity to actually visit places like this that are so much more anecdotal than just the facts and dates.
On Friday I started with another hike close to the house at the Rockwoods Reservation. I hiked the Lime Kiln Loop Trail it starts right at an old kiln and has some challenging places but isn't bad. Like Bluff View it is also in the trees so even though you still have the humidity you can be out of the direct sun. While the trail is only 3.2 miles in length it is a good workout because of the hills. After my hike I went back to the house to clean up and then drove to Eureka to have lunch with Jackie and Stacie at a Mexican Restaurant that I like, for Stacie's birthday. That might we had pizza and beer, watched the Cardinals and then sat on the deck and watched the fireworks from Wildwood Days.
The weekend was a typical busy weekend for the kids. On Saturday Tom and Chase went to the first day of Chase's hockey tryouts while Stacie, Haley and I went to the Wildwood Days Parade that was on the road right behind the house. It was a nice small town parade. After the parade Haley had a birthday party to go to so I used the time to just relax. On Sunday it was the same as far as busy days. It was Stacie's birthday, Chase had day two of tryouts and I had a race at Forest Park. I got back from the race in plenty of time to get ready to go with Stacie and Haley to hockey. The rest of the day we celebrated Stacie's birthday with lunch at the Big Chief Roadhouse and later Jackie came over and we had cake and Stacie opened her gifts. It was a crazy busy but very fun day.
On Monday everyone else went back to school and work and I took to the road again. In the St. Louis Guide I read about a few things that were not to far and sounded interesting and when I visited the first I saw the second and from there got a brochure about the third. I finished by driving to another Route 66 landmark on the way home.
The first place I went was the Confluence Point State Park where the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers come together. It was amazing standing on such a small point of land and realizing that so much history has passed through and continues to pass through that location. After that I stopped at a bird sanctuary, the National Great Rivers Museum and then went to a Lewis and Clark State Historic Site - The Point of Departure where there was a really nice museum. Finally I stopped at the Chain of Rocks Bridge and walked from Illinois to Missouri before heading back to the house.
I stayed an extra day because I wanted to watch Chase's last night of hockey tryouts. It also gave Stacie, Haley and I a chance to eat at what might be my favorite restaurant to eat at when I visit them.
I had a great time in St. Louis!
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