Day 2 St Louis to Springfield

Today was the rest day, only 230 miles or something which was just as well, after a lie in and adequate breakfast we hit the road.  Driving was very different today, not the plains of Illinois but the rolling hills and tree laden state of Missouri.  As we headed south we saw the many billboards to the Meramec Caves we decided to hit the tourist attraction.  An hour and a half tour of the caves that Jesse James resided in after taking out a bunch of Feds.  Photo's following specially for Uncle Chris, look out for the shadow of Jesse running away on his secret exit.  At only 15-17 a bunch of irregulars took out lots of Feds who were mining the caves for gunpowder.  All very interesting...

Lots of the caves only found recently, due to drought and low tide now stretching 28 miles in.

On to lunch at Bourbon at the Circle Inn Malt Cafe.  Sarnies, with sweet potato chips and onion rings, fuelling that already too big belly.  Thanks for the mention, I forget to breathe in now and again.  Walking away with a couple of extra free sodas and apple pie and plum pie ready for our tea in a few minutes.

We then stretched the engine and grip of the Camero as we whizzed along the rolling country lanes.  Missing one left turn (I blame the navigator) we performed a small jump as we left the Tarmac and rattled down a gravel track that appeared over the brow of a hill.  After carefully negotiating a 180 making use of the rear wheel drive we cruised back on route.  Very disappointedly forgot the photo opportunity due the excitement.

Heading down we found an even bigger rocking chair as Missouri outdoes Illinois for big chairs.  Random you could say.

Finally our resting place at Springfield, with no Bart in sight we have a great retreat for the evening clean and pleasant with our own parking bay!  Don't forget to keep track on the Accommodation scores in the previous blog.

Just before we go, as Heidi has been sitting in the car and not in the sun like the family and locals enjoying life sunning in Spain there was only one place to go to keep up with you all.  So Ella you may have the brownest arms but...