Days 89 & 90 Alton, IL

We can highly recommend the all you can eat crab buffet at the Argosy Casino in Alton. We all ate more than we thought we could. There were salads, a variety of fish, roast beef, and chicken entrees, vegetables, and desserts, but we concentrated on the crab. Mmmmm, good!

Friday we rented a car with Linda and Tom of the Frances Ray and had an enjoyable day in St. Louis. We strolled past the sun dappled paths and reflecting ponds in the park to reach the Gateway Arch. Under the Arch we toured the Museum of Western Expansion that tells the story of exploration and migration into the west with murals, displays, relics, and talking mannequins representing historical figures. It took about 4 minutes to wobble and sway the 630 feet to the top of the arch in a small, enclosed pod. Once we arrived, we balanced on the curved floor at the arch's apex and snapped photo after photo out the small windows. It was the first time I was able to fit an entire tug and tow in one picture! We also watched a National Geographic movie about Lewis and Clark on the 4 story screen.

After the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial which is the name for all of the above, we had dinner and toured the city past the beautiful old courthouse, the fountains and waterfalls and gardens, and enjoyed the eclectic mosaic of architectural styles that fills the city.

Before we returned the car Saturday morning, we toured the Mel Price Lock and Dam. I guess the 10 locks we've already traversed weren't enough to satisfy our curiosity!

Tomorrow we expect to travel about 45 miles down the Mississippi to Hoppies Marina, which is actually 3 barges tied to a high stone cliff near the town of Kimmswick.