Cross Country from New York to Arizona –Illinois to Missouri

We departed Red Hills State Park Campground, after a relaxing night of birds chirping and only a few quiet neighbors. The horseflies were out in force, so there was no sitting outside last night. We did take a walk to the Veterans Point picnic area and walked out on the point for pictures. We found this sign and found it kind of funny for many of our camping and drinking friends!

Traveling on Route 50, in this area it is also known as a Blue Star Highway. We also saw flowers that I never see these flowers in Florida, but in many New England states and now here along our two lane adventure to Arizona, there are many roadside orange day lilies. I love how they look and it is amazing that in the states where is snows and they pour tons of rock salt on the roads in the winter. The run-off hits the edges of the roads and does not kill these hardy wild flowers!

As unusual as white squirrels are, Onley is not alone in its distinction. There are several other community that stakes its fame on white squirrels. Although several towns across North America have a few white squirrels, only three have colonies, which is defined as a steady population of at least 25. You can spot them from 100 yards away, a flash of white scurrying through the trees. If people can see a white squirrel so easily, imagine what a target they make for a hawk. It’s a wonder they survive at all. And yet, colonies of white squirrels thrive in several small towns across America, including Onley, in south central Illinois. Although residents of Marionville, Missouri and Kenton, Tennessee, beg to differ, Onley proudly proclaims itself the Home of the White Squirrel, with emphasis on “the.” In our Blog from June 1^st, 2014, we talked about white squirrels we found in Hollywood SC and mentioned Onley, Illinois!

Along Route 50, there are three abandoned bridges in a row, bang, bang, bang. They run parallel with Route 50, but they are a single lane wide, so I doubt they were ever part of Route 50. The first abandoned bridge is over Big Muddy River, the second is over Little Muddy River and the third is over Little Wabash River. All three are very similar in appearance and one has very large trees growing into it, so it has been abandoned for a very long time.

The General Dean Suspension Bridge was built in 1859 and used for nearly seventy years. Previously, travelers at Carlyle crossed the Kaskaskia River by ferry or on a mud bridge supported by logs. The Historic American Buildings Survey recognized the architectural significance of this bridge in 1950 and recommended its preservation. In 1951 the State Legislature appropriated $20,000 for restoration work. The bridge was named in honor of Major General William F. Dean, a Korean War hero and Carlyle native, in 1953. As of 1976 this was the only suspension bridge in Illinois.

Carlyle Lake is a 26,000 acres reservoir located in Clinton County, Illinois. It is the largest man-made lake in Illinois. The lake was created by the US Army Corps of Engineers, which built Carlyle Dam across the Kaskaskia River, thereby creating the reservoir. This area of Southern Illinois is flat thus making the lake is relatively shallow. As part of the lake's planning process, 600 graves were exhumed from seven small rural cemeteries, and 69 oil wells were capped. Construction of the dam began on October 18, 1958, and the reservoir's planned expanse slowly filled with water. The lake was dedicated in June of 1967.

Route 50 merges with Interstate 64, and we crossed from Illinois to Missouri while viewing the St Louis Arch. We have visited the Arch before, so we did not stop this time. But, it looks like they have done some improvements to the park around the Arch and are working on a few more. Interstate 55 merged with us and we fought the traffic on the interstate. It reminds us why we prefer the two lane roads! We veered off onto Interstate 44 as we wound through the lower edge of St Louis.

We got onto Interstate 44, so we could start our Two Lane Adventure on Route 66. We stopped at the Route 66 Visitors Centers and the State Park. 

At the Visitors Center, we met John. He was passionate about sharing the unique opportunity that traveling Route 66 gives us. He was amazed that we travel mostly two lane roads on our adventure. Thanks for the information, John! We put a bunch of it to good use today! Per your instructions, we exited I-44 at 261 and got onto the historic Route 66 By-Way.

We went through Pacific, Missouri also known as Train Town USA. The City of Pacific was originally called Franklin. The citizens were so happy that the Pacific Railroad was coming into town that in 1859 they renamed the city Pacific. The railroad made the town then and still does today! In 1933 Route 66 was constructed through the town of Pacific. Interesting facts about Pacific, not related to the train or railroad. In 1969 the Nike Missile Base was turned over to the city of Pacific and one year later the Meramec Valley School district opens a school in the barracks of the old Nike Missile base. Not many kids can say they go to school on an old Nike Missile Base. Most kids today would say, why is a missile named after a shoe?

Cuba Missouri reminds us very much of Lake Placid, Florida … Both are Cities of Murals, they have painted their towns in a BIG way! The Missouri Legislature has proclaimed Cuba as “Route 66 mural City.” People’s Bank started this movement in 2001, when they commissioned a 100^th birthday painting featuring the banks first cashier, long time bank president and a model T. 

After this mural was completed, a public art project was born and 12 murals were completed along Route 66.

The longest continually running motel is located in Cuba Missouri too, The Wagon Wheel Motel. These were originally built in 1935. It is on the National Registry of Historic Places. The current owner, purchased the motel in 2009. Updates and restoration have been non-stop on some of the most unique buildings left on the original Route 66. The Cafe houses Connie's Shoppe and also serves as the motel office where the same check-in cards and desk are still used today.

On Route 66 you can also stop at the Fanning Outpost, home to the largest rocking chair. Erected on April Fool's Day 2008 outside the store. The Chair was the idea of the Outpost owner as a way to entice customers to his store. The owner remembered a big rocking chair he had seen as a kid on a family road trip, and had heard of a 34-foot-tall rocker in Franklin, Indiana -- Big John -- that he knew he had to beat. At over 42 feet tall, The World's Largest Rocking Chair not only eclipses Big John, it stands nine feet taller than the former World's Largest Chair, now the World's Largest Office Chair, in Anniston, Alabama. The Rocking Chair has a platform seat, but it's only available for sitting photo ops one day a year, "Picture on Rocker Day," the first Saturday in August. The Outpost hires a hoist truck to lift people into the chair. In order to be certified by Guinness as the World's Largest Rocking Chair, the chair had to rock, which it did when first built. But the massive, multi-ton chair was so terrifying in motion, and the owner was worried that tourists might flip it over and kill themselves, that he has now securely welded the chair to its base.

Granddaughters Ashley (lying down) and Kaylee in 2013

Since Father's Day is one of the bigger camping weekends in June, we are spending the night at Magnuson Hotel & RV Park in St Robert Missouri. There are about 15 RV spots behind the two story motel. There are 5 pull thru sites, one of which we have. We have access to all the motel amenities, including their Wi-Fi. It is a great overnight stop kind of place. We are only 90 miles away from Springfield, where we get to have lunch with our granddaughter and her mission sister. We are so very excited to get to see her! The last time we saw her in person, was when she visited Florida in 2013.