Route 66 - St Louis to Springfield

Day 4, Route 66 - St Louis to Springfield 256 miles.

First stop this morning was the Chain of Rocks Bridge (with the 22-degree bend in the middle) which was built in 1929 and became part of US 66 in 1936, but abandoned in 1968.  The bridge has been refurbished (completed 1997) and now open only to hikers and bikers. Walked across the bridge and can now say we have walked across the Mississippi River!

Chain of Rocks bridge which crosses the Mississippi River from Illinois to Missouri

The bridge is part of Route 66 however only open to hikers and bikers now.

There are some signage and an old gas pump which may have been put there later.

The bridge has a 22 degree bend which was needed to find solid footings for the bridge piers

One of the seats on the bridge with a Route 66 sign.

The Mississippi River from the Chain of Rocks bridge.

From the Bridge we travelled on Highway 270, Highway 44 and turned off at Stanton where we had lunch at the Meramec Caverns (apparently Jesse James hid out in caves along the Meramec River).  Decided not to do the tour and drove on Route 66 which was a more pleasant drive than rattling along the Motorway.  Passed the town of Bourbon (infamous for its water tower labelled "Bourbon"), then onto Cuba (proclaimed Route 66 Mural City) enjoying the many murals and saw the Missouri Hickery Bar B Q with its sign of a coverall-clad Hillbilly, holding his favourite hog.

Our lunch stop

I thought we would top up with bourbon here, but as it turned out it was the name of the town on the water tower

Cuba and is known for the various Murals on the buildings around town.

Once again time was getting away from us so travelled to our RV destination in Springfield via the Motorway - hang on tight to the steering wheel, go like the clappers and put up with all the banging and clanging in the Motor Home, not to mention being passed by trucks!

Seemed to be a long drive not getting to the RV park until 6pm so a well earned happy hour.