St Louis...friends forever

We pulled into St. Lou-wee on a hot, sultry Wednesday afternoon and checked into the Westport Sheraton Chalet hotel.......wait.......what?  Yep, thank you, Donna Ellis, for two wonderful nights of pure heaven in a real bed & bathroom in a class hotel.  Donna is not only a dear old high school friend of Tim's, but she's also the executive assistant to the head coach of the St. Louis Rams football team. She's damn good at it and pulled strings all over town for ol' friends, including memorable margaritas at poolside.

High school girlfriend, Donna

Donna was Tim's girl when he left for Vietnam in 1969. She was the inspiration that gave him hope while he was so far away. She re-shared these photos he had sent her while in the Navy. 

Tim 20yrs

Vietnam 1970

Tim's SEAL Team squad

There's a wonderful bike trail in Missouri that follows along an old railroad line, called the Katy Trail.  It starts in St. Louis and ends 237 miles later across the Missouri River in Clinton, MO. We rode bits and pieces of it along our way. Gotta get exercise to keep that Roadtrek mid-roll under control.  

Katy Trail--Lewis and Clark were there too!

Giant Hibiscus

After spending an afternoon in St. Charles (charming STL suburb) on the Missouri River (did I mention how hot it is yet?), we caught up with more high school friends, Joe and Jan Dittmeier.  

On the Mississippi with Jan and Joe

Life has been generous for them, and we visited their incredible 450-acre farm north of St. Louis with cows, corn, ponds, hunting fields, and a stop on an Amish honey farm...yum!

Bob and Francine Case

Then we completed our "old" friend circle with two fun nights at Bob and Francine Case's historic 1910 house in south STL. Not only is Bob a born-and-raised STL native musician, but he's also well known as St. Louis' Mardi Gras King. He cooked up an Italian-mama-grande-size pot of marinara sauce complete with the "Cajun holy trinity" of veggies---onions, peppers & celery---all homegrown from his wealthy backyard garden. It doesn't get any better. 

Here's a cooking video with Bob:  Bob Case, Sauce and Song

We also enjoyed a day at the Japanese Festival at STL Botanical Gardens.  

Chihuly's Walla Walla onions in koi pond

St. Louis is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.  There are 250 of these artistically decorated cakes in historic places all over STL. Francine was actively documenting and marketing them----really cool idea!










One of our STL highlights over the six nights was the two huge storms that passed through with torrential, blinding downpours and tornado sirens! Ya gotta understand this was very exciting for two dried-up New Mexicans.

Our deepest gratitude to our five lifelong friends; it's like we were never separated by miles or time. We luv ya all!

Now we pass through the famous St. Louis arch---Gateway to the West--- except it's to the EAST for us, onward across the I's---Illinois and Indiana.....to Ohio!