Lake Haven RV Retreat, Indy to Meramec Valley Camp Resort, Cuba, MO

Even early, it was already hot out as we prepared the Q to travel.  I couldn’t even take a picture of all the geese in the rode because my lens kept ‘fogging’ up.

Soon we were on our way out of Indy and passed the airport.

I spent most of the morning search for an RV park for tonight, online.  We stopped for gas in Effingham, IL. 

People are funny.  We didn’t find a lot of humor in it at the time, but we just considered it all joy and figured what happened was for a reason.  There was a crowd at the Pilot/McDonald’s when we stopped in Effingham, IL to get gas. We pulled up behind a pickup parked at pump #1 and waited.  There was no one at the truck parked at pump #1.  We waited and waited and waited.  We would have moved to another pump, but we’re towing a big house and it’s just not that easy.  Finally, a man and two teenagers came out of the McDonald’s, each with a McDonald’s sack and drinks.  Really?  Yep, true story.  I guess the gentleman didn’t get the memo telling him that the world doesn’t revolve around him or the other memo about how rude it is to block a gas pump when not in use.  Well, the world doesn’t revolve around us either, and desiring to trust God in every situation, we just said, “It’s for a reason.”  Sure enough, when we finished filling up with gas, the long line that was waiting at the McD drive-thru was gone and almost all the other vehicles around and we had a clear shot to the street, no problems; all as a result of waiting for the pickup to move.  Thank you, Lord, for that man in the pickup and bless him and protect him as he travels.

Just after leaving the gas store, Don alerted me that there was a huge cross ahead, so I grabbed my camera

The Effingham cross is 198 feet tall.

The rest area in Illinois where we ate lunch. In the heat, it was surprisingly comfortable in the shade of the trees with the slight breeze blowing.  Was rather noisy with all the trucks going by, but we enjoyed our sandwiches anyway.

Downtown St. Louis from I-270. With all the heat and humidity, it sure was hazy today.

Here’s my retro-postcard of downtown and the Arch.

Approaching the might Mississippi River.

A barge being transported.

Arches are popular in this metro area.

On I-270… it’s the middle of the afternoon.  So glad it’s not rush hour.

After getting onto I-44, east bound traffic was crawling, due to construction.

Not a good sign.  The only thing we saw was a man pushing a damaged motorcycle.  Started praying for the occupant of the care flight helicopter.

Now east bound traffic is at a standstill.

For miles, people were out of their cars and walking around or trying to see what was going on up ahead.  There was a group of about eight motorcycles stopped and we felt so bad for all the people in the 100 plus degrees heat.

We arrived at Meramec Valley Camping Resort about 3:15 PM.  It’s off the beaten path, but easy to get to.  We are pleased with and grateful for our pull-through site and the trees that provide shade.

As soon as Don got the Q situated, he headed to the pool.  Too hot outside for me, so I stayed in and took a short nap.  Don said the pool was quite comfortable; could have been a little cooler; lots of kids in the pool.

Jeannie, behind the registration desk, told us that the Missouri Hick Bar-B-Q was a good place to eat, so about 6:30, we went to check it out.

We were kind of expecting a hole in wall kind of place, but were surprised.  Very rustic, but very nice.  By the way, those hides hanging on the wall are bull hides.  They’re huge.

I was a little concerned about the chicken wire with chicken feathers stuck in it that covered the A/C vents.  Cute, huh?

You know, the placemats should have been my first red flag!

Because we both wound up ordering the sampler dinner.  It was soooo good.  I didn’t eat all of it, but almost.

I loved all the mule pictures hanging on the walls.  This was my favorite.  He looks like a Mr. Lucky, doesn’t he?  Ha Ha

While Don checked out, I took pictures.

See!  Isn’t it nice!  I love it.

Don is patiently waiting for me to get in the truck. My gentleman. (I see a W and a Z!)

We recommend…

Don drove through Cuba and there was lots to take pictures of.  Maybe we’ll go back tomorrow.

We’re almost certain that this was once a service station.

We stopped at Wal-mart… definitely not a super. Inside, I felt like I had stepped into the first Wal-mart I shopped in years ago.  Men’s clothes on racks to the right immediately inside the door.  Blue jeans on shelves on the front wall.  Very nostalgic is a Wal-mart can be nostalgic.

Back at the park, we drove through and down to the lake and around it.

It was almost to late to take pictures.

So, now I’m preparing this post and Don has turned in. 

Praise the Lord for safety and a good place to park for two days.