*NOTE: Five years ago I began a journey across the country with Thiel, a dear friend of mine. I was moving from Chicago to Long Beach, California, and she agreed to make the drive with me. I present my journal of that journey on the corresponding day that it was recorded five years ago. Enjoy reliving this adventure with me!
Day 5: January 7, 2014
We got an early start to our day. We were up, ready, breakfasted, checked out, and on the road by 9:00 AM. The road was still a solid sheet of ice. We drove a few miles down to Meramec Caverns in Stanton, Missouri, which has billboards all along the road for miles, as well as ads painted on roadside barns. We arrived and were the only people there besides employees. The next tour wasn’t to begin for 20 minutes, so we had to wait in case anyone else showed up. They did not. We got a private tour with a cute little tour guide named Ricky. He was great, and the cave is a piece of roadside treasure, quite famous in those parts and with Route 66 enthusiasts. There is a grand finale at the end which was pretty cheesy, but it’s all part of the experience.
Meramec Caverns, Stanton, MO.
Following the cave tour we hit the road once again, passing through town after town until we reached Fanning, Missouri, where we stopped to get pictures of the world’s largest rocking chair. The temperature had warmed significantly from previous days and finally the salt was able to start working on the ice, but then sometimes there are patches of slush that are treacherous in their own way, so we still couldn’t get up a lot of speed.
Fanning, MO.
The World’s Largest Rocking Chair, Fanning, MO.
Thiel with the World’s Largest Rocking Chair.
Me with the World’s Largest Rocking Chair.
I wanted to stop by Onondaga Cave State Park, just a short detour off the road, so we drove there only to find that it’s closed for the season, until April. Heading back out, our next point of interest was Devil’s Elbow, a particularly scenic part of the road overlooking the Big Piney River; there’s a sharp bend in the river there called the Devil’s Elbow. Upon approaching the steel bridge that crosses the river on the old road, we found that it’s closed. The bridge looked really old and I’m not sure if this is a permanent closure or if it’s just closed for maintenance, but we circled around and found our way to the other side of the bridge because that was the portion of the road that featured Devil’s Elbow. We made a few pictures then were on our way again, passing through Waynesville where we saw Frog Rock, an outcropping of rock high up in the bank beside the road that resembles a frog and, natch, has been painted as one.
We passed by this closed restaurant. What a name! I wonder what they served?!?
Devil’s Elbow, MO.
Another interestingly-named business.
Frog Rock, Waynesville, MO.
Yet another. Waynesville, MO.
We reached Springfield, Missouri at dusk and grabbed some dinner, then found a room for the night. Thiel has been lamenting since we ate that she didn’t go ahead and order a second cup of delicious tomato basil soup like she’d considered doing. To placate her, and satisfy my own craving, we went to Dairy Queen and had Blizzards. I guess we deserved one, having just driven through conditions resembling one for two whole days.
We’re in the land of weapons and Jesus, apparently, as there are billboards all over the place for both, as well as radio ads. We even saw a billboard advertising auditions for “actors for Christ.” Not sure what that’s all about, but apparently these people love their god and their guns. Not sure which one is more popular. We’ve seen megachurches and mega indoor archery ranges.
There are rumors of more weather heading this way, but I’ve heard conflicting reports, and we’ve been moving steadily west and south, so I’m not sure what to expect at this point. We’re planning on getting an even earlier start tomorrow morning to see the two things we want to see in Springfield, then move on and make up some lost time.
I’m loving the photos alongside the text. Cool…