GOODBYE ST. LOUIS AND HEADING HOME

It also turns out to be goodbye to sunny warmth.  We leave St. Louis and 80 degree weather and by the time we make it to Grand Forks it is 37 degrees.  On the way we empty the water and winterize the camper.  No more camping as we find a hotel in Grand Forks.

HISTORY

St. Louis was named after the French King.  There is an urban park in St. Louis called Forest Park.  It is larger than Central Park in NY.  It includes golf course, a zoo, art gallery, planetarium, history museum etc.  They do not charge entry fees to tour except to golf of course.  We caught the sunset outside the art gallery and suitable pictures to end my blog as we head home.

WE MADE IT TO REGINA AND SPENT THE NIGHT AND THEN DROVE TO HOME.  WE ARE HOME BY 6 PM ON SAT. MARCH 26TH, 2011.  WE HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL AND SAFE JOURNEY THAT INCLUDED SEEING AMERICAN COUSINS AND MEETING UP WITH ELEANOR AND JOHN IN FLORIDA.  WE HAVE MADE NEW FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY AND MAINTAINED CONTACT WITH HOME THROUGH SKYPE AND EMAILS.  BLESSED! HOME SWEET HOME!

ST. LOUIS BLUES

These pics are for Marcel.

St. Louis

We spend Monday and Tuesday camping right downtown St. Louis.  We bike to the train station that has been revived.  Not a match to Grand Central but still unique and beautiful. 
Next day we bike to the arch, 2 mile ride.  We really are making good use of our bikes.
Dan has apparently been anxious to have a chance to go up the arch as he says he will scratch it off his bucket list.  We watch the film that explains the construction of the arch started in 1962 and completed in 1965.  Unbelievable!  This is a monument erected to honour the pioneers, the Lewis and Clark explorers and those who ventured the great Mississippi and the opening of the west.

St. Louis and its amazing arch.

                                                     TRAIN STATION

VIEW FROM INSIDE LOOKOUT OF ARCH TO THE MISSISSIPPI

                                         ST. LOUIS HOME OF THE CARDINALS

HOTEL NEAR GRAND OLE OPRY

Beautiful place with a river running through this hotel, inviting gardens with water falls etc.

General Lee

These picture are from the TV show, Dukes Of Hazard, and these pics are for you, René.  We love the memories of you having this car as a toy and brrrrom, brrrroming around our house as a kid.

HUMAN SPIRIT

These pictures were taken along the shore of the Mississippi... the mighty Mississippi.  It is in a park named after the young man in the small craft who rescued people who were close to drowning from a capsized boat .  Seeing the stength of the current in this river, one is awed that he could save anyone.  He made 6 trips back and forth to shore to rescue 32 people from their sinking boat.  They were all engineers and caucasion.  This young man, as depicted in this sculpture, eminates the human spirit at its best.  You are silenced by his courage and his humanity. 

NASHVILLE MARCH 19,20

the Grand Ole Opry.....radio at its best.

ELVIS March 20

Touring inside Elvis' plane....the life of a rock star!

We also visit Beale Street in Memphis... birth of jazz, soul and rock and roll.  wild on St. Patrick's Day when we were there as the green leprechauns roamed and danced the streets.  Reminded us of New Orleans as people wandered with beer etc. in hand and music spilled out into the streets.

Memphis March 17, 18

Touring Memphis, one is reminded of the 1960s.... an era of sit ins and peaceful demonstrations. WE have traveled through Alabama where thoughts drift to Montgomery and Birmingham where demonstrations for equality turn to violence, arrests and people taking sides.  This issue rose above race to issues of rights.  We toured the Lorraine Hotel which has become a Civil Rights' Museum and honours those who loved and adored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Many cities in the USA have a MLK street.  We did go to a MLK parade in Savannah, Georgia in January.
The hotel is the place where King was assinated in April 1968.  It was a very moving museum to tour and very emotional.  To add to the raw emotion, when we came outiside, 3 bus loads of highschool students had gathered and their teacher was playing a recording of Dr. King's famous speech of 1963.The silence and attentiveness of the students were very moving.  The dreamer may have died but hopefully we can all do our part, so the dream does not.

We toured Graceland which is home to Elvis.  He has many awards, costumes, cars, motorcylces and even a John Deere 4010 tractor.  His music isvery much alive. He was quite the movie star too!          

Elvis and his birthplace

Tupelo, Mississippi

Story wall tells stories of humble beginnings.  They came from strong gospel singing background.  They move to Memphis.

DESTIN, FLORIDA

Wild and exciting surfs.  Lovely sand.

This picture was taken as I suntanned.  Unbelievable sand!

Our last day on the Gulf and we sure would come back to Destin and of course we loved the Naples area.

We quad in Florida again

We are  in an forest preserve again.  Paid our $10 fee to quad the trails.  WE follow the river.

WE camped here after driving this road for over 5miles.  Is this really a road, Dan?  Makes me think of the poem, The Road Not Taken.  Somehow, married to Dan one does take those roads!  An adventure around every corner. 

                                                                                                

Cypress trees and the knees that grow!

                

Sunday March 13

 St. George   ... a spit on the gulf by Alpalachicola

 

Shrimp boats

Dan makes a friend who shares his toys with him.... $1200 bike.  fun  in the sun!

Oh the miles!

Shrimp heaven... the oysters are great in this area too.

Some signs are just a suggestion as Dan is amazed what they use oyster shells for.  Here it is in the gravel that ends up on the roads.