Page 1 - You are on Page 1, scroll down: Day 1-2-3 (June 27-29) Metropolis IL, Cape Girardeau MO, Steelville MO, Amish Bakery, Leavenworth & Atchison KS, Nebraska

TRAVEL AMERICA/CANADA

June 27 through September 1, 2013

67 days, 15,501 miles

How did this even happen?

Glenn made the drive from South Carolina to Alaska 18 years ago in a big motor home with his first wife before her death from MS.  He wanted to drive this route again with Heidi, by car.  THIS turned out to be the year, and we actually exceeded the miles he drove back then (15,000)

So, we started out the day after our 12th wedding anniversary, thinking we would be gone a month.  Little did we know it would be 67 memorable days, a real life-changing trip for both of us.  Thanks to our confidence in newly-trained Kathy to handle the business while we were gone, we were able to make this trip without worries.

Here's the map showing the route we took to Alaska (orange), and the return route to SC (green).  You will see we put the U.S. and Canada maps together to show the whole trip.  When we looked at it, even WE thought we were crazy to do it!

Sections of the U.S. map close up to show the trip up, through the States, exited the U.S. through Montana, then Canada (Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon provinces) to reach Alaska (orange)

 and the trip back (green) entering into WA State.  We were already at a month being gone when we hit Washington State.  That's when we realized the trip would take much longer.

 (720 miles)

We drove a long day from Myrtle Beach SC to reach Metropolis IL as we were driving familiar territory and wanted to make good time.  Plus, we were so burned out from too much work and no play, we, had little curiosity to find new sights along this leg of the trip.  Instead, we stuck to the freeway, what we call the "corridor of trees" right to Metropolis.  We apologize to all the folks living in SC, NC and TN for overlooking these great States on this leg of the trip, though we have numerous travel segments on the Latest Travels pages of destinations in these States.

We did note, however, that Al Gore's father (Albert) sponsored the famous Highway Bill in 1954 which was responsible for the highway system we enjoy across America.  We saw the tribute to him in Eisenhower, TN.  Here is more info about it:

http://docsouth.unc.edu/sohp/A-0321-2/excerpts/excerpt_3128.html 

METROPOLIS IL

Metropolis is known for being the "Home of Superman".  We have done a photo tour of the town on the Latest Travels pages but it's always a novel stop.  We spent the night here at Harrah's (free).

leaving METROPOLIS IL

Here is a gigantic cemetery headstone Monument for "Kimball" in the Metropolis IL cemetery

MISSISSIPPI FLOODING, BRIDGE from IL to MO

The mighty Mississippi had flooded nearby wheat fields in IL, creating a habitat for white cranes and other birds such as redwing blackbirds, near the bridge to MO

Bridge over the Mississippi from IL to MO.  We love how the shape of bridges changes from different angles & distances.  Last 2 photos are taken from the Cape Girardeau side in MO.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO

Just over the bridge is this lovely, historic, quaint town.  Our natural curiosity has come back in full force.  We are realizing we really are on vacation and it's time to have fun.  Here is a beautiful red brick church near town, and a view of just one of the downtown streets.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER TALES

The 1100 foot flood wall downtown, between the Mississippi River and Cape Girardeau here, is painted with scenes of Missouri's history called Mississippi River Tales - from Native American history to Spanish conquistadors to missionaries, Lewis & Clark, early settlers, African-American history, etc.

WALL OF FAME

A 500 foot mural wall also on the Mississippi, of 45 famous people who came from the State of Missouri is called the Wall of Fame - such as Dale Carnegie, Harry Truman, Mark Twain, Dred Scott, George Washington Carver, Walter Cronkite, Calamity Jane, Jean Harlow, Vincent Price, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Tennessee Williams and Jesse James.  It was a great tribute to them and very educational as well.  Painted by Margaret Randol Dement.  Full list here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_Wall_of_Fame

FLOOD WALL & DOORS

Info on the flood wall, compliments of the Army Corps of Engineers.  Note the size & thickness of the flood gate

ANDY'S FROZEN CUSTARD

A bright spot was finding Andy's Frozen Custard stand just outside of town.  Heidi, being a Wisconsin girl where these stands are everywhere, has missed having frozen custard since moving to South Carolina except when we travel further north.  We did not realize how far south the frozen custard has now traveled.  A pleasant surprise!

Commemorating the date 12/3/1859 First Campaign Speech for the Presidency given at Stockton Hall, 4th & Delaware, Leavenworth, KS

Botannica Salon & Spa, lovely door and ivy growing on the building.

Unexpected effect - the windows beside the door reflects a mosaic of our car and the Abraham Lincoln statue

What EVERYONE knows about Leavenworth -

 the Federal Penitentiary is there.  It happened to be visiting day.

Outside Leavenworth

Buffalo in a field, heads buried in the sweet grass, like so many cows.  Little did we know that up in the Yukon we would encounter a herd of 200 free-ranging buffalo that would be a huge  highlight of our trip.  Buffalo are one of Glenn's favorite critters.

Yup, sure looks crooked to us too

http://www.ameliaearhartmuseum.org/

Look at the cow catcher on this!  And the huge railroad switching yard.

It's ALIVE!  

(Sorry, we forgot to grow up).  We saw this "Lazarus come out" "stone rolled away from the tomb" on the Mount Calvary Cemetery sign in Atchison County, KS,  and Glenn couldn't resist playing Lazarus.  This cemetery is between Atchison and Bendena, Kansas, also known as Saint Benedicts Cemetery, GPS coordinates: Latitude: 39.59720, Longitude: 95.13110

Bendena KS

Not only was it fun to see Longhorn cows again, but there's a buffalo happy to mingle with them as well. 

http://bigboy.com/history.html

Union, NE (9 miles N of Nebraska City)

FIVE GENERATIONS OF NEBRASKA FARMERS

Here's a layout of the farm, and a Palmer Filter Press for cider, outside the store with its history.  We bought apple cider donuts and cherry juice here (yum!)

Its history starting out as the University Fruit Farm is fascinating:

http://www.unionorchard.com/history/history-of-union-orchard/ 

outside of Omaha NE

Impressive plane & flags at the entry to the AFB & VA Center

Veteran's Memorial Bridge

originally the South Omaha Bridge, but renamed the Veterans Memorial Bridge in 1995) was a continuous warren through truss bridge over the Missouri River from Omaha NE to Council Bluffs, IA on Hwy 275

"ODYSSEY"

Well, that's ONE name for them.  $3 million for four abstract art -  jagged sculptures on the Interstate 29/80 in Council Bluffs IA on each corner of a highway overpass.  Created by international sculptor Albert Paley, it’s intended to represent the "transformation of the land through machinery and agriculture".  Many locals have other names for it, "Nightmare on 24th Street", "a pile of junk"; one man rear-ended another car while he craned his neck to look at them; other opinions of locals cannot be printed.  Roadsideamerica.com dubbed them "Iowa's Spiky Towers".  We love whatever's weird.