Day 2 - Missouri Doesn't Love Company - They LOVE Fireworks!

Terri ALMOST got a picture of the 'Welcome To Iowa' sign....Almost.

Well, another 1,000 or so km in the books and we are happy to say we are now over halfway to Miami.  Unlike Tuesday, we managed to get away on time and made good time throughout the day.

We waved farewell to Iowa and welcomed Missouri... or shall we say Missouri welcomed us, according to the sign.

Not much time was spent in this state as we drove straight through... but here's what we learned about Missouri -- they love their fireworks superstores, their adult 'emporiums' and they care not for their rest areas and their highways.  In fact, it was an immediate change as we crossed the state line, much like when the I-29 turns into Hwy 75 when you drive back into Manitoba - smooth sailing on one side... riding a horse on the other.

We made our first wrong turn today!  We hit St. Louis and went 'right' instead of 'left' (south rather than north)... but all was fine because we were on the city's version of 'The Perimeter', so we still made it to our destination, just took us a little longer than it should have.  But I'm pretty sure fate had a part in this, because if we would have gone the correct path, we wouldn't have seen THIS!

Can you see it??  We barely did, as the photo suggests.  It's the face of St. Louis - The Gateway Arch.

Oh, another thing about Missouri, people enjoy changing lanes.  Without signaling.  And when you are still occupying the lane beside them.  We've been on our toes because this was a regular occurrence today!

Illinois was next and WOW, what a beautiful landscape.  Rolling hills, lush trees, lakes, fields.  Check out this rest stop on Rend Lake (I know, the highlights of our drive... but when you have pups... and Terri... they are important!)  It was like a campground, complete with a lakeshore.  Jonny's obsession with playing fetch nearly landed him in the water as Jeremy casually tossed stones out into the lake.  He definitely wanted to go find them.  Thankfully he was leashed.



Tonight, we are in Paducah, Kentucky... where I seem to be asking people to repeat themselves as I'm having a hard time understanding them!  I almost need subtitles... kind of like that ridiculous excuse for a television show, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo on TLC.

"We get our own bed tonight!  Yay!"  (but we'll still sleep with Mum & Dad)

After getting a delicious meal from Panera Bread next door, we settled in and flipped through the channels on the TV in our hotel room... watched the season premiere of Modern Family, the end of Rocky IV and then about 3 minutes of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo on TLC before realizing what a ridiculous excuse for a television show it was.

Favorite podcasts listened to today:

1) Rich Eisen from the NFL Network interviewing Olivia Munn, former sports journalist and current actress on the new HBO show 'The Newsroom'.  She is a straight shooter if there ever was one and she loves NFL/College football.  She is also single....Steve Fehr, we're lookin' at you!!

2) The Nerdist - interview with Michael Dorn (or Worf for you non-Trekkies!).  He signed the podcast off AS Worf and it was awesome!!

3) Alec Baldwin's 'Here's The Thing' - interview with Kristin Wiig.  Fantastic!!  She is such an intelligent, strong lady with just a little self-doubt mixed in to keep her modest.  We love her!!

Tomorrow, zipping past Nashville & Atlanta before crossing into Florida for one last 'road night' in Jacksonville.

Thanks for reading and for all the good wishes!!

J&T with F&J