At Arrow Rock MO we were in a lovely state park, very quiet, lots of trees, and nearby was the quaint village of Arrow Rock. Apparently Lewis and Clark's keel boat ran aground at Arrow Rock on the Missouri River and spent some time there. The village has been preserved and there are a lot of very old historical buildings that you can tour. There is a live production theater that runs shows frequently and is very popular. No show while we were there, of course, but they have a production coming for Christmas.
On September 23, Wednesday, we went into Boonville for groceries and some other supplies we needed and explored a bit there. We then drove through Arrow Rock but it was later in the afternoon and quite warm. There were just a few people wandering around. Very few cars on the streets. It really looked rather empty on all fronts. I suggested that we return on Thursday morning when it would be cooler and do some exploring. Big Mistake - huge!
We returned on Thursday, September 24, to find the visitor center's entrance blocked by two state troopers, lights flashing, the whole nine yards. I approached cautiously and rolled the window down and was told the parking lot at the visitor's center was full. Today they were expecting 2000 school children for a special living history day! Yikes - we blew it big time! We then tried to drive through the village and there were school buses everywhere and children and parents and the parents' car, so we beat feet out of there.
Plan B for the day was to drive to Columbia,Missouri and mosey around a bit. We followed signs to an antique mall and spent about 2 hours wandering. It was a nicely kept mall with 60 dealers and the prices were really great. But I restrained myself and just looked. I wanted to find a regular shopping mall and we did and I shopped a bit at a Dillard's, where they were having a great sale (bonus). Then we found a great bar-b-que place on Yelp and had a really good lunch (another bonus)! So far so good.
We returned to Arrow Rock around 3 and checked to see if all the school kiddies were back at their schools and they were gone. So we at least got to tour the museum at the visitor's center. Nice little museum with lots of weaponry from the old, old days and they had an obit for Daniel Boone. It said he died in his 90th year! Wow I'd say that's pretty incredible for those days. Also found a quilt from a prominent doctor's house that was in really good shape for it's age. I marvel at the time those quilts took to make my hand.
So after all a really good day!
 |
| A web of worms! They were everywhere in trees in Missouri, this is how they winter! |
 |
| This is the quilt from 1833! Amazing |
 |
| Did I mention the bugs? This guy's brother was in my MoHo! Sorry he had to die. |
September 25, we drove to Spring Mill Park in Southern Indiana. Long travel day for us but we arrived before dark. The park was full of campers as it was a Friday, lots of weekenders. We had a bit of trouble getting level but eventually after moving the MoHo a few times, we got it. We had dinner at the Spring Mill Inn and had our first pork tenderloin sandwich of the trip and persimmon pudding! Yum, yum - I sure miss Gary's mom's persimmon pudding - it was the best.
On Saturday, September 26, we attended the Gilliatt family reunion. It was so great visiting and catching up and bonus - both Kendra and Mariah were able to attend and their beautiful kiddos.
Our Gilliatt clan had the most people represented so that was nice. After the reunion we all headed to Elizabeth and Jim's house in the country. They have a beautiful home and were gracious enough to host us all. Great time visiting and we had a nice fire outside to roast hot dogs. We ate the wonderful leftovers from the delicious lunch at the reunion too. Some great time spent with really nice people, can't ask for anything more.
 |
| Cousins Mike and Elizabeth |
 |
| Art and Roger |
 |
| Jon, Colleen and Art |
 |
| Moon Clan |
 |
| The cousins! |
On Sunday, September 27, we visited cemetery and then visited John and Janet. They came out to the park to see the MoHo then we all went to dinner in Mitchell. Another great day catching up with family.
On Monday, September 28, we met at Porky's in Paoli for dinner with Valerie and Roger; Jim and Elizabeth; and John and Janet. Good food, good folks make a good combination.
On Tuesday, September 29, another wonderful dinner at the most excellent Mexican restaurant in Paoli. Jon and Anne joined us and we sure enjoyed the food and the company. But sadly it was also time for us to say our goodbyes.
Wednesday, September 30, travel day to Kankakee. We are camped at the state park in the very same spot my parents always camped when I was little. The same stand of three trees that my mother used as our private little potty area are still there. I would refuse to use the pit toilets (as I still refuse to do) and literally would make myself sick, so she brought blankets and they attached them around this stand of three trees and bought a porta-a-potty. It was the best! We camped in a tent and it was made of canvas. I remember so vividly waking up with a wet head because if you touch the canvas when it is wet, it leaked! Lots and lots of good times at the campsite. I remember Connie being so little that mom would bath here on the picnic table in a plastic tub. And when she was probably 2ish, she wandered away from camp. My folks were panicked to say the least! Everyone was searching and calling her name. Some wonderful campers had found her at the edge of the ridge that leads down to the river and had stopped her. After she was born she and I would sleep in the back of the station wagon. My mom made curtains for it. As you can see it's been a very emotional stop for me. I shed a few tears when we arrived and I realized it was the same exact spot, as I had hoped it would be.
Connie and Zach came out and saw us and then we went back into town and stopped at Monical's for pizza. Pizza with no cheese please for me. I took the pizza to Connie's and added my own lactose free cheese and stuck it under the broiler. It was the crust I remember and love; that's all that matters.
OK - you all are officially caught up. Stay tuned
 |
| K3 State Park - the Site - see three trees in back to the right! |
 |
| The bomb - Monical's, no cheese please! |
Yay for an update!!! Can't believe you did that to that poor Monical's pizza! I would have loved to been there when you ordered a pizza with no cheese. 😁
ReplyDeleteThe kid didn't bat an eye when I ordered it. I thought it was weird myself.
Delete