Tuesday, May 7, 2013

We Walked across the Mississippi, on Route 66


No kidding!

After another day of driving, we stopped for the night in Granite City, IL, just across the Mississippi from St. Louis MO. 

I'd like to shout out a thank-you to the friendly UPS driver who helped us with directions to our campground.  We stopped for fuel 3 exits (3 miles) before we had to get off for the campground.  Just as we were getting off I270, the traffic ahead was at a standstill (about 4:15 PM).  We knew getting back on the interstate would be a mistake.  We asked in the travel center store, but the girl didn't seem so sure of her directions.  When I spotted a UPS truck in the parking lot, I walked over and asked the driver for help.  He gave us directions "the back way", as I hoped he would, and we were able to travel the 3 miles in short time.

After setting up our home for the night,  we took off for the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, built in 1929, which used to take cars travelling on Route 66 across the Mississippi.   

Today, the bridge is preserved as a biking and walking trail. 

 

You have wonderful views of the river,
(this one's of the flooded shoreline area):



 
the I270 bridge,

downtown St Louis, including the arch
 
 
and adorable gothic style water inlets for the city of St. Louis. 

 
And we were lucky enough to have a great sunset. 

 

 

 
 
The bridge is a fascinating structure of geometric shapes. 
 
 
For more pictures of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, and our further travel across Missouri, click Missouri