The ride from Chicago to St. Louis, initially in search of an almost undefeatable pizza eating challenge at Pointersauras Pizza in St. Louis, was… something else. A meteor shower had been forecast from midnight to five a.m. the night we were on the road, so around midnight we pulled off the highway to get a good look at the fiery magic baseballs hurtling across the sky before losing them amongst the lights of St. Louis. It was dark and pretty deserted in the small towns we drove through to find a suitable place to park to be sure not to bother anyone while we drank in the sights of the sky. We settled on the side of a “road” and pulled off into a ditchy-type bank, laid out our plastic rug, some blankets, and some snacks fit for kings, Pringles and Chex Mix. After seeing some epic displays of cosmic nature, we promptly fell asleep, only to be awoken at daylight by a police officer who sternly but politely asked we vacate the side of the road as soon as possible because motorists had been calling about the anomaly. As it turns out, the small “road” was actually a frequently traveled thoroughfare, and our presence was successfully concerning multiple drivers.
Location: The Red Apple, small town Illinois
Our first random act after Chicago was in a small town at a local breakfast diner called The Red Apple. It’s a homey place with bottomless cups of coffee (so necessary after a cold night on the side of a highway) and fantastic skillet breakfasts. Our waitress was a gem so we figured a 100% gratuity was in order. She was grateful, but probably the least skeptical of recipients we’ve given to thus far.
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
We went to the public zoo in Forest Park (an incredible urban green space by all accounts) and fell in love with a number of four-legged friends. We decided to become zoo parents, Kevin to the ever-elusive Red Panda and Alex to the Malayan Sun Bear (for you, Gregor), both of which are gravely endangered in the wild.
The majority of the $200 donated in St. Louis, however, was spent on action figures, stuffed animals, puzzles, trucks, and coloring books for children in the care of the St. Louis Children’s Hospital. It is an absolutely adorable and fantastic facility, catered to kids and their families, whether they are being treated for a broken arm or a terminal disease. Unfortunately, a myriad of laws and practices prohibited us from interacting directly with the patients. Nonetheless, the atmosphere is welcoming and warm, and the two women, Jill and Karen, who helped us out most in getting the toys to the right place lead us on a tour of the hospital which included a roof-top garden meant to provide a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere away from the usual tension hospitals can bring to many, especially scared children, and a Family Resource Center to help families learn about and cope with the illnesses their children may be suffering from. It was a great thing to be able to provide the children with some gifts sure to brighten what could be a trying and upsetting day (or days), especially as donations slow around this time of year removed from the holiday season.
Onward to Sioux Falls via Omaha to find what finds us…
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