Day 37 - “Go West Young Man” - (We’re still in Granite City, IL)

Home sweet home KOA, lL.

This is an exceptionally nice KOA.  Showers are warm, everything is clean, the sites a attractive and LEVEL (very nice), and everyone is friendly.

With the cold wind, I think this is the
best view for today!

Today we headed to the Convergence Tower (in Hartford), where the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers come together.  It was closed today for climbing (actually not a bad thing because there was a brisk wind today, but the sun was wonderful!). 

Replica of L & C 's stockade in St. Louis before
they started their journey.

We then went to the Lewis and Clark Museum in Granite City for a great movie (should be seen by every American History student) and a tour of the rebuilt fort and log homes.  Then to the boat house on the Missouri River in St. Louis, MO, where  Louis and Clark and company embarked on that historic journey.   

An engineering wonder!

After lunch at Wendy's we went to the Melvin Locks and Dam #26 (out of 27), in Alton, IL, where we watched a 

Here comes 12 barges at once.

tugboat pushing 12 

They're doing well.

They pass the gates and  . . .

. . . they're home free!

barges, traverse the locks successfully!!  What an engineering wonder these are.  Of course this area is quit flooded after the rains of the past several weeks so it didn't take very long for the barges to get through the locks.

Tomorrow we plan to head to Collinsville, Il  for a tour of the Cahokia Mounds (Davis is a “wanabe archeologist, you know!).  Everyone we have talked to today says they are not to be missed (we’ll take pictures).

Tonight was more laundry for me (I’m a little weary of it by now) and an evening of great leftover subs and fresh popcorn.  Davis is reading as I’m trying to put this  entry together and Precious is asleep already!!  What a great day this has been.

I hope this day finds all of you well and happy - thank you for all the e-mails; I will answer every one, I promise!!  Thanks Tom for the calls - Davis and I consider you such a great “find.”  You just handle it all for us - we are looking forward to spending the rest of our lives in “The Home That Tom Build Us!”

Judy, I need a trim - can you fit me in . . . . no wait, I don’t know when I’ll be back to Morehead (darn).  I miss you so much and not just for the cuts!!

Albert, thanks for your help;  Libby and Steve, thanks for helping us out on Monday - you all are such great friends; that’s what Davis and I will miss the most about Morehead.

Ed, I hope you sleep well tonight; Davis and I think of you often.

Rabbi, it was great to hear from you - travel safely back home.

Dana, what can I say; you know what I want so very much - to hear from my sweet Alexis.  You’re jus “The Bomb.”  I am sending you a surprise in the mail.  (Speaking of surprises, no one wrote that they caught the error the other day - were instead of we’re! - too bad, the prize was chocolate! - watch for the next chance!)

I’m getting a little bit sillier than usual ‘cause I’m tired (I mean I spent hours beating those clothes against the rocks) so I’m off to bed.  

Shalom all,  Heather . . .