Route 66: Day Ten
Every day just gets better. Especially when that day starts with a sunrise in a field of sunflowers. But I'm getting ahead...
Day ten {projected*} itinerary:
Grinter's Sunflower Farm {Lawrence, KS}
The Corner Restaurant {Kansas City, MO}
Mini Stonehenge {Rolla, MO}
Great Wall of China Restaurant {Rolla, MO}
World's Largest Rocker {Cuba, MO}
Meramec Caverns {Sullivan, MO}
Shaw Nature Preserve {Gray Summit, MO}
Purina Farms {Gray Summit, MO}
Chain of Rocks Bridge {St. Louis, MO}
arrive on the Illinois side for sleep
*the sunflower farm and Corner Restaurant were not in our original plans, but worth the sacrifice of not going to Mini Stonehenge, the Great Wall of China Restaurant, Purina Farms and saving Shaw Nature Preserve for the next day. We initially intended to stay the night in St. Louis but canceled our reservation because we found out our place was in a bad area and we wouldn't get there until after dark. So we stayed on the Illinois side instead for that night.
Approximate mileage: 389
Approximate driving time: 6.2 hours
Approximate expenses: $172.98
Gas: $25.58 @ $2.039/gallon, 12.544 g
Food: $25
Experiences: $21 Meramec Caverns
Stay: $101.40 Comfort Inn & Suites
Read more for map, trip details and photos...
I think my favorite picture of the three of us is the gem right above. Those faces...
We had debated about whether we wanted to wake up for sunrise the morning before and go, but Krystal and I were both so tired that sleeping in and making time for the sunflowers seemed better on this day. But then the storm came through. And we didn't realize until we got there that these weren't the same sunflowers or the same field from 24 hours ago. A lot of them were damaged from all the rain and the ground was super muddy. I ruined a pair of $10 Rite-Aid shoes by sludging through it.
It was so beautiful though. All the sunflowers faced toward the sun as it rose, like an expectant audience looking toward the main attraction, or source of life. There were some that were still blooming, and others that were about to die, and everything else in-between. Although it was a detour back to Kansas to see it and we were tired as koalas (which apparently sleep about 16-18 hours a day) — as with most wonderful things — it was so worth it.
Plus, sunflowers are my favorite flower. Pretty sure I couldn't have a better way to see them except in a field in their natural habitat.
And then after the whole sunflower field excursion, Whit took us to the Corner Restaurant for brunch! Because it was a weekday, the restaurant wasn't as crowded as it normally is so we didn't have to wait at all. And, like, I'm not a food photographer so don't blame the photo quality because it doesn't do that meal justice. It was incredible. When I visit Kansas City again, I'm going there. But then it will be tricky because there's just so many great food places! #decisions #sacrifices
Our first stop out of Kansas City was to this giant rocker. We didn't see the sign that said "don't touch or stand on the rocker" until after we had already stood on it. We considered climbing it, but I'm glad we didn't make it that far.
There's also a little store right next to it to refuel at. They've got some souvenirs too! Although nothing as grand as a huge rocker to sell.
We initially had reserved a room at some cheap motel in St. Louis to spend the night until Whitney and her mom were adamantly against it because it was apparently in a bad area. So we booked a place just over on the Illinois side that was a bit more pricey than what we were used to spending, but seemed worth our safety.
Since the day was again fading and the rest of the stops we wanted to go to were closing, we chose Meramec Caverns as our final stop. We were unsure of whether we really wanted to go and do the tour — this place seemed so different and more like a set-up experience than the Grand Canyon Caverns in Arizona. And it was to a certain extent. But it was also supremely amazing. And Krystal and I were both so happy we spent the money to see the incredible things that nature is capable of producing.
Unlike those dry caverns, there was water here and things like stalactites and stalagmites formed. They looked fake. Very plastic-y. But to think that they took an estimated 80-120 to grow ONE INCH and to realize that some of them were more than two feet long was just incredible.
The tour even included a video at the end projected on one of the cavern walls with a waterfall and music and different colored lights. It was like a show, a tour, a natural wonder, and a good exercise all in one place!
We're headed to finding the beginning, and our end of Route 66 tomorrow!