Day 2: June 15, 2003
Saint Louie & Beyond
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A 630 foot arch isn't too tough to find and I zeroed in on the one in St. Louis fairly easily. I had missed my "crack of dawn" target but parking seemed readily available. A sign very close to the arch said $3 (one up the road had read $5) and I pulled in. This good rate, I eventually figured out, was partly due to the fact that parking spaces were on rough blocks that sloped into the river and partly due to the spaces being eight inches or so below the level of the paved drive that ran across the top. It took a little searching but I managed to find a location where the asphalt to block distance did not require Hummer like road clearance. It was a short walk to the arch. Security was tight but efficient and crowds were not a problem. I was on my way to the top in a few minutes. Snug 5-passenger cars carry visitors up and back and, I shared a car with the Maynards, from Oklahoma. I'm sure the somewhat arbitrary passenger pairing doesn't always make for perfect companions but I lucked out. The Maynards were great company and I'm glad to have met them.

Looking down from the arch, I managed to find my car on the landing then, after checking out the great museum below the arch, had lunch on the boat at the far right in that same view. The food was great and so was the staff. Norman, my waiter, not only took care of me in the restaurant, but gave me directions to Ted Drewes. I also had a nice chat with Don Posten who I took to be the owner or manager but I never did ask. It seems I also never asked (or remembered) the name of the place. But it's easy to find. It is the southernmost boat in front of the biggest arch in the world.

ADDENDUM: The restaurant is Yackey's which apparently opened just about a month before I got there.

It's possible that this is the best frozen custard in the world and there are a lot of people who think the same. The Drewes family has been serving their tasty product in St. Louis since 1929.
There were no major landmarks seen during the rest of the day's drive so here are some Missouri sights that have next to nothing to do with each other. The road sign is to prove I was in the right state, the Bourbon tower actually holds water for a town by that name, and the half scale Stonehenge is at the University of Missouri at Rolla. That fourth picture is from the only intersection that, as far as I know, ever inspired the naming of a car model.
I ended the day in Lebanon, MO and checked in to the Munger Moss Motel. Bob & Ramona Lehman run the Route 66 landmark today and do a fine job of it. Good rates, a clean and modern room, and a touch of history. Plus you can actually pull your car up to your room the way it's supposed to be at Mo-Tels.
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