This morning we started by going to the St. Louis Arch (the Jefferson Expansion Memorial). It was a perfect morning – completely wet, cloudy and foggy. We could almost see all of the arch when we were standing below it before entering. Once we got to the top, we could see for inches out the view windows. It brought back memories of Devils Tower in Wyoming, which was shrouded in fog on our visit there a few years ago.
Other than being foggy, the experience at the memorial was actually pretty cool. It is great how they keep everything below ground to not interfere with seeing the arch. We watched an IMAX movie on Lewis and Clark below the arch. The ride up to the top was pretty cool, though if you don’t like small spaces, it is probably not for you.
Afterwards, we headed to the Budweiser facility in town for a tour of the brewery. Despite the rain (and of course portions of the tour were outside) the tour was fun. We had two guides, Jim and Monica, who were very entertaining and kept the tour fun. We got to see some of the Budweiser horses, as well as the brewing and packaging processes. And of course, free beer at the end of the tour can always lift spirits.
On our way to our next stop, the AKC Museum of the Dog, we found Dickeys BBQ chain. Lunch was pretty good. It is another place which you order and they give you a number stand to take to your seat and they bring over the food to you. (Culver's was the same.) For a fast food place, it is a lot more efficient than having people hover around the counter waiting for their food. Dad would like it as they offer free ice cream! Just one flavor of soft serve, vanilla, but hey it’s free! The AKC museum definitely exceeded our expectations. It was a much larger then we had anticipated. All art and sculpture dedicated to dogs.
We tried to get to a park to see a giant eyeball, but the park was closed for an art event that weekend. We skipped that and instead stopped at the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. For just a home which he only spent a few years in, on and off, it was really well restored and they had a good museum and a nice tour of the home.
It was getting close to 5 PM and we had not left the St. Louis area and still had to get to Memphis, which was 4 hours away. The weather had cleared by lunchtime in St. Louis, but as we got closer to Memphis, the weather picked up again and started to rain. On the way, we saw the signs for Lambert's Café. They are known for their “throwed rolls.” While you eat, the staff comes around and serve up piping hot fresh rolls by throwing them to you from across the room. That was a perfect place to stop for dinner. Calling it a “café” is way off, the place is huge, and I would say almost 2 x the size of a Cracker Barrel. Not only are you entertained by rolls flying around the room, but you also get meals served in a giant 12-inch skillet. Your drinks come in giant 34+ ounce size travel mugs and they come around with different sides – potatoes, mac & tomatoes, fried okra, etc… while you are eating.
Erica and I were not completely prepared for this much eating, but it was a great time. On the way down from the café as we got back on the road, there was a billboard for the outlet shops further up that said “…Now come walk it off.”, referencing just coming from Lambert's Café and stuffing yourself silly.
Speaking of billboards, we have seen a number of billboards, displays, signs, etc… for a lot of “Pro Life”. Some of them low key, but most very out there about being pro life and not pulling any punches. Not much of it on or around church property.
Townspeople:
“Cooter Holland”
“Huxley Maxwell”
“Roland St. Paul”
“Randall Stanhope”
“Keiser Wilson”
“Marie Leganto”
“Marion Sunset Wynne” (its hard enough to find a first and last, but a first, middle, last is even more rare)
Tomorrow we tour Graceland and other stuff around Memphis. This will be our last full day before coming home.
- Stephen