the short side...

wrapping up our 66 ways...we kind of cheated at the end.
Since it took us a little over nine hours (double time) to make the road trip from Chicago to St. Louis taking the back roads of Route 66, we decided on the return trip we would head back to the interstate, oh, but which one to choose?If we took I-70, we could have went to Kansas City.
If we took I-44 we could have visited Joplin.
If we took I-64 we could have gone back to Indianapolis.
Now, if we took I-55 South, my personal choice, our road would have taken us to Memphis, but instead we headed back North on I-55 and home to Chicago.
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But it's too early to tell this story. We weren't ready to leave just yet. Breakfast was a buffet of everything you could imagine, and a delicious combination of sweet and salty. YUM! So, where did we leave off? Oh yeah...
#45. Get a good start to your day. (Fill your tummy!)

#46. Repeat visits are the best. (We had the chance to walk back down to the arch.)

#47. Make a good impression, leave your mark, and reflect on it all. (Some of us do this better than others!)
#48. Plan your route. (Even if you have to yawn your way through it!)

#49. Notice the little things. (Even grasshoppers enjoy the view from here - and humans think that Mt. Everest is hard to climb!)

#50. Nothing is completely out of reach. (We followed the sunrise and still fit SO much more into the day!)

#51. Having perspective is a great way to walk down side streets. (Early morning strolls when no one is out yet is even better!)

#52. Let the path have a fork in the road.
(The kids decided they wanted to go to City Museum, but doors did not open until 11:00am...SO, we side tripped to Citygarden.)#53. Worship your idols. (Chato just finished reading Pinocchio in Italian.)

#54. Pick up some souvenirs. (I'm pretty sure most of Aly's friends won't realize the symbolism here.)

#55. Find new and UNIQUE places along the way. (City Museum is a crazy assortment of tunnels and ladders that zig zag every which way.)

#56. Find some cute characters. (And take them home with you to keep.)

#57. Take a break and relax (amongst the sponges).

#58. Enjoy the food. (But don't over do it!)

#59. Find what is around every corner. (Twists and turns into the unknown, such is life!)

#60. Conquer your fears. (Obvious, the night before's adventure with the Arch was encouragement to climb ten stories in the air along this trellis?)

#61. Shake off the long adventure with a sweet treat. (Ted Drewes Custard sits alongside part of St. Louis' Route 66, and offers the best flavors ever!)

#62. Expect the road to end somewhere. (An old bridge section of Route 66 just west of St. Louis, has seen its better days...)

#63. Somethings are better off left alone than fixed by technology. (Rusted and cracked, this section has been shutdown with a detour that guides you around.)

#64. Swift is the path home. (Passing cornfields on the interstate is a much different experience at higher rates of speed.)
#65. Press the pedal to the metal. (Chato's thinking more about making it home in time to watch the latest episode of "Entourage."
#66. Conquered! (One out of the eight states crossed by Route 66 completed...seven more to go!)
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If we learned anything from this short and sweet road trip; we know we love to travel by car. It kind of reinforces that original idea of gathering it all up and throwing it into an RV and heading West. Hmmmm....
...another adventure to plan!