2002-10-02

St. Louis - Castles in the Mississippi? Dutch windmills? Pink elephants?

Honest, officer, I really did see a pink elephant on Route 66!

The old Chain of Rocks bridge spans the mighty Mississippi river. No, it's not a warped perspective in the photo. It really does take an angled turn in the middle. As far as I know it's the only bridge of its size that changes direction mid-way.

The bridge has long been closed to autos though it's still open for walking and bicycling. A little known fact: The bridge in the final scenes of the 1981 movie, Escape From New York, is really the Chain of Rocks bridge.

The last thing I expected to see would be castles in the Mississippi river! They appear to be built on the foundations of an even older bridge. I wonder if anyone lives in them? Tired of door-to-door salesmen? Have I got the place for you!

The Mississippi river is the largest river in North America. At 2,350 miles it is almost precisely the same length as Route 66. Coincidence?

The famous arch. The photo doesn't give you a good sense of scale but it's every bit as tall as a skyscraper.

Don't ever say that you wouldn't see a Dutch windmill on Route 66!

View of the rotunda in the Old Courthouse of St. Louis. The courthouse dates back to 1839. It is one of the oldest buildings in St. Louis and is the site of the famous Dred Scott trial.

The worst thing about being a tourist is having other people recognize you as a tourist. -- Russell Baker

I had parked my motorcycle on the sidewalk and as I left the courthouse I saw some tourists taking photos of it. It struck me as very funny since, there I stood, camera in hand and every bit the prototypical tourist, yet my motorcycle has become something of a tourist attraction too.

"Indian Harvest", where you can restock your buffalo sausage and jerky!

Another barn advertisement for Meramec Caverns.