Kansas & Missouri

Saturday 22nd August 2009...Left St Louis early and had a very easy 256 mile drive to Kansas City, which is actually in Missouri not Kansas (Der?)...Turned off at a random intersection and found a little town called Blackwater (see picture above) it had a single street, a railroad crossing and a station, it really was a one horse town...We had a gammon sandwich in the cafe then went to the western antique shop and had a great spend, I got my genuine 'sheriff of Dodge City' badge!! because we can't stop at the real one now on our way to Colorado...On to Kansas City which is totally empty, where is everybody, it resembles a ghost town. First on the list is our meal in the revolving restaurant on the 42nd floor.......WOW.....great food and a great view... Jon stayed in the restaurant to have a drink... He then got a taxi to downtown to have a few drinks... Met a few people and danced till about 3am...



Sunday 23rd August 2009...Jon is having a lie in so we are off for a spot of sightseeing. We found the war memorial and yet more fountains (apparently Kansas is the city of fountains) and Grand Central Station which is a great renovation and museum. Lunch at Fritz's where your food arrives on a little train and a little lift. I also got a train drivers hat (see photo).





So tonight its off to the sports bar for a giant pizza and beer then an early night before we get back on the road again.

St Louis

Wednesday 26th August 2009.... Road trip began 297 miles to St Louis...hot and sunny, air con in car welcome....stopped for lunch at Wendy's...unbelievable amount of food for $18, including mega "chilli salad" for Jon.....bought supplies in Springfield for more Jerky and the sheer fun of shopping in a place called "Schnucks"...

Arrived St Louis Crowne Plaza, unpacked and went to bar - Margheritas $5 Happy Day....lots of Cardinal fans around (baseball) for first of 3 day games....ate at TGI Fridays, Jack Daniels steak, uber enormous desserts and yet more Margheritas....spotted a "Hooters"...deep excitement for Jon...returned to apartment sized room...1 sitting room, kitchenette, 2 en suit baths and beds, air con working, thank god.....Jon swam in the dark on rooftop swimming pool, whilst Jim took pics of baseball game at Busch Stadium...

Thursday 27th August 2009.....Went up Gateway Arch - amazing views, unbearable 89F heat, enjoyed shade in Jefferson Park, Jon & Jim attempted Cob Nut consumption....epic fail....took Mississippi Riverboat trip which last 1 hour and was fun....ate snacks at Riverboat Cafe on the actual Mississippi River...Swum and sunbathed in afternoon on rooftop again, then went to TGI's again, due to extreme heat and lack of imagination in choosing new eating place..Jon had one more swim then all crashed to bed before 10 pm...

Friday 28th August 2009...Buffet breakfast for Jon and Carol, then took cab over to the City Museum WoW........school bus on roof.....jcb on roof....ferris wheel on roof....giant turtles, whale sculptures, gargolyes, stonework, giant wooden pencil, bank vault, etc.etc.etc....in other words the wackiest place on earth and tribute to a visionary of epic proportions - the Willy Wonka of Engineering and Inventiveness...truly this place was magical....returne to hotel, rested and then went for most excellent meal at next door Hyatt Hotel, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, where Jon ate a 22oz Ribeye Steak and finished it....Jim and Carol's filet's were also excellent, as was rest of meal...

Tomorrow on the road to Kansas City....

Chicago

Wednesday 19th August 2009.....Landed on time at Chicago O'Hare in quite a severe thunderstorm...rain was torrential and made the journey to the Westin a little miserable...checked in but were all too travel weary to enjoy the first evening much...


Thursday 20th August 2009....Travelled on the Blue Line train into Downtown Chicago...weather was a mixture of frequent sun and heavy showers but didn't dampen our enthusiasm for what is a great city....spent some of the time shopping - Old Navy being Jon's favourite for cheap clothes, Macy's for Jim and window shopping only for Carol - big surprise there....had lunch at "The House of Blues" - discovered by accident, enjoyed immensely...great cocktails and Jambalaya - live music in evenings but not at lunch...returned home and in the evening went to The Wyndham to meet a friend from Florida...


Friday 21st August 2009....packed Carol off to The Wyndham to attend her Convention....Jim attended to take photographs, Jon returned to Downtown Chicago on his own and walked for miles sightseeing again...Jim returned to Westin and Jon in the evening and enjoyed drinks in the bar, at the same time as Carol was enjoying copious amounts of Gin & Tonic with her friends...


Saturday 22nd August 2009....Daytime taken up with Convention stuff for Carol and Jim, Jon resting back at the Westin.....Jim and Jon ate at The Ram pub, large 14oz steaks and beer...Jim returned home to sleep, Jon met a fellow club goer from Philly and ended up in Downtown Chicago at Excalibur nightclub till 3 am....


Sunday 23rd August 2009....Jon slept in....Jim came over to see Carol and found amazing Flea Market across the road....a very hungover Jon joined him and bought some unusual bargains...a 1950's number plate, workman's tool belt and braces....go figure!!.....Carol finished off convention, Jon back to sleep off his hangover and Jim to bar....after Carol had said her goodbyes to her friends, she joined the boys back at the Westin for a Stargate free vacation....


Monday 24th August 2009....Moved from Westin to Inter-Continental on the Magnificent Mile, Downtown Chicago...lovely hotel, great location, easy for all shops and sightseeing....spent time checking in, then walked to Sears (now called Willis) Tower, met up with Nora and Debbie (Convention friends)...said farewell to Nora who was returning home and then with Debbie went up to the top of Sears and the Skydeck...magnificent views and we walked on the glass ledge!...returned home and ate at Riva on Navy Pier, excellent fish, wine and views of Lake Michigan...Went on to late night club called "Howl At The Moon" where they had duelling piano players and large buckets of Margherita's with straws for $25....


Tuesday 25th August 2009....Jim and Jon went to collect hire car, which involved a 15 min coach journey to the nether regions of the airfield to pick up the motor, whilst Carol and Debbie visited The Art Institute to see the Impressionists and other works of art....met up for lunch and then spent a pleasant hour or two shopping along the Magnificent Mile, especially Jim in Tommy Bahamas and Eddie Bauer...weather was nice and warm....mid-eighties....had a farewell drink with Debbie in the Inter-Continental's bar then said goodbye to her...Jon went for another swim in the magnficent Art Deco swimming pool of the hotel before we all went to Phil Stefani's Italian Restaurant.....very nice but far too much food!!