May 5, 2010
Left Carter Caves at 8:30. While getting around to go, we were able to identify a bird we had seen. It was a Summer Tanager. We had also seen Redheaded Woodpeckers. They are not the type we have at home, that everyone refers to as “Redheaded”.

It was a long day driving, but other than the wind, conditions were good, the road was good. The worst part is getting off the Interstate and to our Campground. As usual, I missed the turn (even using the GPS) and ended up across the river and then had to get back over the Mississippi. Still being ill-advised by the GPS we are in the same place we were the previous time we were here. Knowing that
if I went back onto the Interstate I would end up across the river I rerouted us using the least Freeways. Finally got here in East St. Louis around 5:30 CDT. Drove about 428 miles. Needless to say we were exhausted. Set up camp, went and took showers. Felt better after that. Went to the Casino and had dinner. After dinner we played the slots for a couple of hours. We each lost out allotted $5.00.
Really big gamblers aren't we? Back to the Camper and to bed. Had forgotten how noisy this campground is. Highway and Train noise.

May 6, 2010

We have to give a big thanks to Roger and Carol Ingerthol for suggesting that we go to the Missouri Botanical Gardens while here. Such a nice place. I think it has about 84 acres and we spent at least 5 hours walking around it and did not see it all. Joyce saw lots of flowers, many she had never seen before. I tease her that it is like shooting ducks in a barrel. We did see a rare Kentucky Lady-slipper. Very pretty. We will post a picture of it. Back to the campground to rest and get ready for another big night. Joyce will go play the slots, while I go to the hotel and use their Wi-Fi . You would think that next to such a big city, my Verizon Data Card would get a stronger signal than it does. At times I can get a fairly good signal, but other times it is worse than land-line dial-up.

Tomorrow we will move on. Going west on I-44 to Oklahoma. A little over 300 miles. Will probably keep moving fairly steadily until we get to Arizona. NO, I am not boycotting Arizona. Joyce would like to see the Saguaro Cactus there. After that we will head northwest into California.