Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Moving on...


This is not exactly riveting reading material, and is only a prelude to the next edition which i promise you will have actual food content.  

Our last two (big deal) trips (Ireland, Cayman Island) involved air travel, which requires you to think enough to get stuff in a suitcase that weighs less than fifty pounds.   That is a struggle for the Feeder who tries to pack for everything from hurricanes to blizzards.  So when the time arrived for the annual trek to Missouri, it was a treat to know the MOMSTER was at our disposal.  You might want it?  Just chuck it in the back and if it fits, it goes.   Well, MFO is a gift wrapper extraordinaire, who usually has most ribboned and bowed by oh, Halloween at the latest.   And with such elaborate parcels, you can’t just pack ‘em in.  Nope they have to be carefully arranged such that not a single bow is crushed.   So suitcases, boots, this and that personal stuff has to chink in where it can.  So on the morning of the drive here’s what we had for Santa's MOMSTER



At about 9:30 am, we left the friendly confines of the digs and headed west (young man).   We were not alone on the highway, on roads we have traversed innumerable times (301 to I95, to I64 etc.)  Waiting for those programmable self driving cars, but until then we sit and drive (rather I sit, and MFO drives)



But we have developed diversions to kind of help the miles slip by, such as keeping a record of license plates from the various states.  That day we saw 25.  Since our route involves a small piece of I95 it’s usually rich in snow bird folk.   Besides the plates there’s always interesting places along the way, which somehow fascinate me




Traveling in the winter (which was some 60 degrees) is more enjoyable since you can see “stuff” not obscured by foliage.  
Due to favorable winds or something we made it to Beckley, W (BG)V before stopping to give the MOMSTER a drink


At a little gas station which was accompanied by a local independent restaurant (which we didn't investigate further)



we continued on through the mountains, seeing some interesting advertising somehow appropriate to West Virginia (some of my best friends are Mountaineers)


Intriguing, but not worth a side trip.  Would certainly be interesting.  

Finally exiting the mountains in Charleston with its landmark capitol dome of West Virginia


And eventually we got to our normal place for the night at the Courtyard in Lexington, Kentucky.  Unfortunately our restaurant there has remained shuttered, so we just dined on some cheese and salami we packed along for the purpose (with suitable adult beverages of course).  Our first day accumulated 586 miles in pretty close to ten hours.. Long day

Before launching on the next (shorter) day, we decided to eat breakfast in the hotel, which was not too bad. The Courtyard was fairly empty and we had a chance to chat with the manager, who was also doubling as the kitchen help.  She asked where we were going and we said Missouri, Oh, where in Missouri?  St. Louis.  She said she lived in St. Louis for a while in a small town outside of the city called St. Charles!”  So we had to talk about the fact that FOJTE resides there.  Small world.
Eventually we refueled the MOMSTER and headed out again.   Passing through Indiana into the flatlands of Illinois bathed in their winter garb


And finally we got to our destination, as evidenced by the famous “arch” and the skyline of St. Louis, which is pretty much obscured by the white truck.  It never is easy trying to get a shot in a (rapidly) moving car past MFO at the controls…  best I could manage.


We passed some familiar St. Louis landmarks, kind of at both ends of the spectrum 




and finally we arrived at our st. Louis hotel in Earth City, our home until Christmas when we transition to FOJTY in Cape Girardeau



We arrived early enough that we had time to visit some friends and eventually went out to dinner with them.  It was the first of three straight meals of Italian food, which of course St. Louis is famous for.  I'm pretty sure their food wasn't delivered by

Rather than lengthening this any more, I think we’ll do a trifecta next time.
Our dress varied, but the third place we were definitely
DFD


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