Today, Scout and I left Dublin, OH at 7 and journeyed across the remainder of OH, IN, IL, and into MO, where we crossed the Mississippi River to the "proper" (i.e., west) side and wound up in Westport on the outskirts of St. Louis. The Mississippi is just as wide and magnificent as I remember it from my travels in the opposite direction in 1973 in New Orleans. Unfortunately, I didn't see the Arch as I think we were too far north.
I have only three words to describe the states we drove through today: flat, flat, flat. No, make that a total of six words by adding: hot, hot, hot. I had forgotten just how level the landscape is in our central states. But what I did remember about the beautiful farms and acres and acres of corn and other crops hasn't changed. I am beginning to see quarterhorses (and paints and pintos, too), stores for western wear and cowboy boots, and signs for Mexican food restaurants. This is a good sign! I also saw three oil wells today which was not so good.
The air in St. Louis this afternoon is like being in a sauna so I'm particularly happy to head out for the drier climes (I hope) of KS tomorrow morning. I'm also in the central time zone--halfway between mountain and eastern time--and, at about 1,400 miles, Scout and I are over halfway home.
Some observations about today's travels:
- Ohioans must be a very curious bunch of folks. I can't tell you how many times a car would pull up close behind or next to me on the interstate and slow down to check Scout and me out. Is it because they've never seen anyone with MA plates? Do I look like an Okie from the Dustbowl days with my car packed to the gils? I don't know the reason, but after they made sure we were okay, they sped on by.
- The IN and IL DPWs must use the same kind of asphalt for the interstate as OH as there was an equal amount of shredded truck tires on the sides of the road. It decreased somewhat in IL, but it was still there.
- The folks in Indianapolis drive just like race car drivers. There must have been a race at the 500 track today because there were digital signs with directional information and a blimp sitting above what I think is its location.
- We saw some Amish on their way to church (I assume) in their buggies and carriages.
- Motorcyclists in all the states we passed through today still have that death wish or else just like having the wind in their hair and the sun on their faces because there were still no helmets. Are these people crazy?
- I wished that I had had a mathematician with me today to talk about the mathematics of how many times I passed the same trucks (after stopping at a rest stop)--I saw one particular rig at least 4 times!
- A nasty little bumper sticker that has popped up has a picture of Uncle Sam pointing at the viewer (as in the old recruiting posters) with these words: "Uncle Sam wants you ... to speak English." I'm no longer in Happy Valley, that's for sure. :-(
- I think I've discovered one of the reasons for the obesity plague in this country: all the food and restaurant signs along the interstates and all-you-can eat places.
- And speaking of signs, immediately upon entering IN this morning there were these two: "Hell Has No Exit!" (with some quite well-done flames) and "Jesus Saves." Oh brother--the Bible Belt has moved farther north than I thought.
Hasta manana, mis amigos.....
