Feb. 23, 2010 – Day Two of our journey across America started early in Cloverdale, Indiana. The roads were slightly slippery but an East rising sun made quick work of the night’s frozen dew. We proceeded west on I-70 and crossed into Illinois mid morning. By 1100 hours we pulled off in Vandalia, Illinois for a heart smart breakfast of sausage gravy and biscuits at the Chuck Wagon and were soon back on the road headed towards St. Louis.
By late afternoon the St. Louis Arch, gateway to the West, was in full view. We had jumped off of I-70 onto I-55 heading towards I-44. As you proceed towards downtown St. Louis on I-55 the specter of the Mississippi River comes suddenly, without forewarning. Looking down at the murky water, it’s measured cadence strolling towards New Orleans and the Gulf, a more genteel time comes to mind. The Mississippi, while separating us geographically, somehow binds our nation together like the seam running up the back of your Levi jacket.
Soon after crossing the Mississippi we were at the Laclede Gas Company for a fueling stop. Laclede Gas Company is the public gas utility in the St. Louis area. Laclede operates a dispensing station for CNG and they were very accommodating in refueling our shuttle. After leaving Laclede we were back on I-44 westbound heading towards Tulsa, Oklahoma. We were soon climbing into the Ozarks as the sun began to set. We crossed over into Oklahoma under full cover of night and proceeded across Cherokee nation in search of Tulsa and a moderately priced hotel room.
Check out Google Maps as we chart the trip
