The Center of America (we made it!)

The heat and sun gave no sign of letting up, and everyone was warning me not to drive to St. Louis in the late afternoon. You’ll be heading right into the sun, they said. And the days are longer up here than in Florida this time of year. The sun doesn’t even go down until after 9.

So Jubilee and I were up at daybreak on Tuesday to begin the last leg of our journey. Once we got through the morning rush hour into Louisville and across the Ohio River to Southern Indiana, things improved considerably. It was still cool and I64 from Louisville to St. Louis has to be one of the best rides in the country. Not much traffic, lush and scenic as it follows the river. I didn’t have to roll down the windows until about 9AM, and was finally able to listen to some of the music I had brought along. This was the way to do a road trip!

As we crossed into Southern Illinois, the land opened up more to large fields of corn and grasses. And we had to roll the windows down. As we neared St. Louis, things got a little hairy (and hot). When we were about 9 ½ miles east of St. Louis I could see, across the fields the river, the city and the great arch – gateway to the West. It was impressive.

Somehow we made our way across the Mississippi River, and through St. Louis. At one point we crossed the Missouri River, which looks pretty impressive as well. These great rivers are mysterious to me.

And somehow, without one wrong turn, we found our way out to this funky little place called “New Town”, which really is in the middle of a corn field. So far, I haven’t ventured out much (it’s hotter than Florida here), but I’m sure I’ll have a lot to say as I begin to explore.

For now, I’m just glad to be here.

[I only have access to the Internet when I carry my laptop 2 blocks down the street to a free WiFi area. I may keep it that way, because it is somehow free-ing (and quieter) to not be “connected” all the time.]