July 2, 2004
This is just a collection of photos. not the best connection here and we are trying ot get on the road will download all the cameras and attach better photos later. We are in Clinton OK now. The weather has cleared up Hannah has put in some serious miles so we are all doing well. Sorry that caththis collection is not so organized.
June 30, 2004 Dead ends and open road.
We did a bunch of sight seeing and had a great a time. The old road it tough to follow. We have hit a bunchof dead-ends. Often it runs right next to the main road.
June 30, 2004 Trail of Tears an abandoned place.
Staying on the old Route 66 is tricky. Have found several dead ends. Somewhere, around Devil’s Elbow we found the strangest place. It was an abandoned commune or tourist trap. We are not sure what exactly. But we had to explore it. This one deserves photos so please take a look. Words cannot describe what we found. This is a maze of walls build from cobblestone. Ornate arches built the same way. Water falls and fountains and cement figurines that are larger than life. Boy it was intriguing.
June 30, 2004 Meramec Caverns
Every one slept in today. Last nights episode stuck on the side of the road tired everyone out. But it has not dampened our spirit. Today is a new day. We drove in to Cuba, Mo for a nice breakfast at the Route 66 café(see Hannah’s journal for a report). Then back a few miles to the Famous Meramec Caverns. They were very impressive we all enjoyed it. Even the corny old jokes and stories were fun. If you plan on ever going bring a jacket it’s a cool 60 degrees. Picked up a few charms, ate ice cream and back on the road. Matilda is running great today. She is like a whole new car with her fuel pump gasket on tight. Today she is happy cruising at 65-70 what a difference. She is also now getting well over ten miles to a gallon.
Tuesday June 29, 2004
The day has been an interesting one. Stopping at many out of the way places. The car has not been traveling well, so staying on old Route 66 is best. She is most happy traveling at 45-50. We went through Saint. Louis, stopped at the Arch. It was very impressive. St. Louis is where we left the National Pike Route 40 and joined historic Route 66. Then on to Ted Drew's Famous custard. We would like to stay at the famous Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba Mo tonight so back on the road. It's getting late and the car is not able to keep up the speed on the main highway, she has been smelling of gas every since we left the Tri- County Grill in Pacific, Mo. So, back on the old road, to let her drive more slowly. But wait it's a dead-end. OH NO!!! Matilda has just decided to quit. It's ten thirty at night. On an abandoned road in the middle of nowhere and we are dead. Well, lets take a look. We look and see nothing. Rick fiddles with stuff then she starts right up. One minor problem. The car is spraying gas everywhere. Something is definitely wrong. Rick jumps out looks at the steady stream of gas. He makes a quick assessment. Looks like a gasket on the fuel pump is leaking. So he takes it apart puts it back and presto it is fixed. Now back for gas. BUT the only gas station just closed for the night. A little old lady tells us through the door that we will need to go back six miles. After a very pathetic pleading she says she will turn on one pump for us as long as we usea credit card. 18 gallons. The car had gone through 18 gallons of gas in 70 miles. Thank god for the kindness of strangers. We were back on the road and heading west. The car runs better now than she has the whole trip. Wow! What a night that was. But as we said in the beginning ?Life is an Adventure.?
June 28, 2004
After homemade pie and updating our journals we took off from Gramma Kozak's for the open road. The weather is overcast and the car is missing going up hills. But we are remaining optimistic and motoring on.
We learned today that we couldn’t drive far in one day. We are only able to make 300-400 miles.
It feels as if the car is flooding out. Rick has stopped to buy all kinds of stuff to try to stop the missing. Maybe Tuesday we can find a mechanic. We didn't make Saint Louis tonight but we are close.
We did eat ice cream and we found a nice little resturant (Adair's) in historic Centerville, Indiana. Go to Hannah's journal (Route 66) for the food run down and collections of food photos.
We stopped at "the largest antique mall in the United States". Bought a circus outfit more on that later.
Goodnight, June, 28 2004 11:12pm
