Ward Travels The Wards leave Australia for Canada

Miami, OK – Kansas – Missouri

After spending the night in Miami, Oklahoma we headed off for a full day of driving towards St. Louis. In this section there is a huge amount of the old road that is still drivable, so although much slower it is also much more enjoyable. Plus lots of photo opportunities!

Old Route 66 - One lane highway

So the story goes that they didn't have enough money to build two lanes. Besides this whole automobile thing wouldn't take off!

We passed through Kansas briefly before crossing the border into Missouri. Three states in one day - impressed much?! We discovered that just outside of a small town called Carthage there is a drive in theatre still in operation!!! Probably the coolest thing ever. Except that they only show movies on the weekend and it was currently only Tuesday. There are some drawbacks to not pre-planning our trip and this was one of them. After a milkshake (chocolate chip cookie dough – good, but not great) at a cute diner/deli combo we headed onwards for some more rolling hills and nostalgic sights.

On arriving in St. Louis after a loooonnnggg driving day we headed to Riddles Penultimate Café & Wine Bar for some impressive folk music and a beer or two. Super end to a really long day!

The following morning we headed to the Art Museum to take in some more contemporary art and then wandered on down to the waterfront to check out the famous Arch. It is huge! I was most impressed to discover that it was designed and built before the advent of computer technology (1963-1965) as a monument to the progress of man. Smart little chookens those designers. Love the good old days of pre-technology!

Random shot while waiting for the train into St Louis

There's a cable car running up each side of the arch with a viewing platform at the top

The oldest gas station on Route 66

An abandoned and overgrown section of the old road

The town of Dwight - In honour of Dwight Schrute from 'The Office'