Happy brought Percy along to relive his adventures there.
A wonderful coincidence--the Gateway Arch museum had been closed since last year for remodeling, but re-opened the day before we got there! It was another nicely done museum, with displays that highlighted the history of Saint Louis and its significance in the growth of our nation.
Crammed together in the little pod on our ride up to the top of the arch.
The birthday girl getting her wish.
The view to the East. If you embiggen the photo you can see our campground, off behind the casino there on the waterfront left. Fascinating fact: gambling is illegal in Illinois except for on the Mississippi River (because of historical precedent, so they utilize the iconic paddle boats for evening dinner & gambling cruises). So how can that casino be on land? The hotel and casino is built on land--but the casino floor is actually floating on river water, a sly technicality to get around the law!
Why does it look higher up when you look straight down?
After our Arch visit it was time to grab breakfast and head back to the campground, get the car & trailer, and head out towards our final destination. Because it was the Fourth of July, there was a parade happening elsewhere in the city, and it was so eerie walking around empty city streets in the late morning! We didn't have time to hunt down the parade and watch, but we did want to celebrate our nation's birthday--so we listened to the musicals 1776 and Hamilton in the car as we drove on.
I love the rest stops in the Midwest and South. Spacious. Lovely picnic areas. Great for stretching legs and photo ops.
Because Mr. Incredible and I had decided we were ready for this leg of the trip to be over, we pushed through Tennessee and Mississippi, deciding there would be opportunity later in the fall to go back and visit anything we regretted missing. I had a crazy hope that we would arrive in our destination city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama in time to watch the fireworks and have a bit of July 4th celebration. I knew the fireworks would be set off right near the river, which we would cross on our way into the city. I was hoping that we could find a place near there to park the car & trailer so we could watch. It became more than a fun & patriotic activity in my head--it because the perfect conclusion to a long and fun but also exhausting journey (physical, emotional and spiritual).
As the day went on and we grew closer to Tuscaloosa, it was exciting to be so close to the end of the trip--but there was no guarantee we would make the fireworks. So I was not counting on it, but was really hoping. It got later and later and closer and closer to when the fireworks were to start, and finally we knew we would not be there in time to park and watch. Well, maybe at least we could catch a glimpse of fireworks out the car windows as we drove by.
And this became the final moment on the trip when God decided to show me His love. Because exactly when we drove onto the bridge the firework show began. Cars naturally pulled over to the shoulder to watch--as did we. And so we had the perfect, spontaneous, stress-free fireworks show. It felt like the city welcoming us weary travelers, celebrating our successful arrival with us. But most of all it felt like God's intimate, playful, abundant love raining down on me and my family. He didn't have to give us fireworks. But He heard the longing of my heart, and He gave us fireworks.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!
--1 John 3:1
We arrived at my parents' house around 9:30 that night, our journey done. Dad and I had conspired to surprise my Mom, since we were coming a day ahead of schedule. So it was such a great way to end the trip--with ringing the doorbell and seeing my Mom's surprise and getting happy hugs all around.
Best yet--sleeping in a real bed, taking a real shower, getting to stay in one place for a few days.
I hope you are all having a smooth and positive transition back into the school year. : )
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