FALL TEXAS TRIP: Day 1

We're on the road AGAIN! We left home this morning, just after 7:00. This is our SEVENTH road trip to Texas since the fall of 2007. So we're getting pretty used to it!

Packing for a trip like this is ridiculous! You can't believe the amount of totes, suitcases, crates (of games, puzzles, toys, etc.) camera cases and backpacks are tossed into the back of our van! It looks like we're never coming back!

We made good travel time today. We had thought perhaps we would skirt past the rain, but by mid-morning, we were driving through quite a bit of it! This is one of the pretty bridges that cross the Des Plaines River (in Illinois ... just outside of Chicago). I love bridges like this one.

We reached St. Louis where I tried to snap a few pictures of The Arch with the window down and the raining pouring in on me! I have plenty of pictures of The Arch, so I wasn't too terribly disappointed about not getting any good ones today.

Another rainy picture of the Mighty Mississippi ... but what a great bridge! We've stopped for the night in Rolla, Missouri. We've stayed in this same hotel on prior trips. We liked it here, knew it was clean and comfortable, so we checked in for the night. Would you like to know a little known fact about Rolla? First of all, it is pronounced just like "Raleigh." When they were trying to decide what to name this settled area back in the mid-1800's, one fellow who farmed in the area thought it ought to be called "Hardscrabble" ... yikes! Whatever for?!! And a railroad official thought "Phelps Center" would be a lovely name. But there was a gentleman, a "nostalgic N. Carolinian" who requested it be named "Raleigh" ~ the name was approved, but they decided to SPELL it like the gentleman had PRONOUNCED it ... hence, R-O-L-L-A ... ah, these southerners!

Well, more rain is predicted for our travels tomorrow. I'm hoping we drive out of it into sunny skies, but ... even if we don't, I'm glad to be on the road again ... heading to Texas to see our family there. I'm very thankful we are able to do this!