St Louis/Serenity Winery

Picture was taken across bridge we walked to games and Arch.

St Louis was on my list to see a couple of Cardinal games on our way out West.   We stayed across the mighty Mississippi River at DraftKings at Queen Casino in East St Louis (bad part of town).  Of course we had to gamble.....didn't win!

Couple of pictures below of stadium and Ball Park Village.   City did a great job of mixing up the restaurants and bars in the village next to the stadium.   

Panoramic of Busch Stadium from our seats.  

First game against Toronto Blue Jays, Goldschmidt hit a 10th inning walk off grand slam!  Unfortunately, the second night we lost 4-3 against in division rival Milwaukee Brewers BUT I did get to see Wainwright, Pujols, and Molina start the game together.   They have been part of several World Series wins.   Wouldn't be surprised if they all three retire after this year.

When in St Louis, you have to go to the famed Gateway to the West Arch.   It was built to commemorate the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and St Louis' role in rapid westward expansion.  Inside the Arch is history of the city, westward expansion. and the expedition of Lewis and Clark in 1804.   My main takeaway is the connection of railroads from East to West after the Civil War.  Once done, expansion was exponential.   I look at this like the inception of the internet and all that has been achieved since.   

I know this sounds silly but I consider Kami and I explorers of the modern age.   As we travel across the country, we meet good people and see the history and sacrifice that made America what it is today.   With all that's going on, it's comforting to see what the country originally was about and could be again if we can just look at how beautiful our country and people are......enough of that!

Couple of pictures below of the Arch.  Going to the top, you sit in a pod.   It can seat 5 (very close together).   The Arch takes it's shape from an upside jewelry chain being held at both ends.   The engineering of the pods going to the top take both elevator and Ferris wheel principles to devise this unique one and only concept in the world.   The pod actually rotates a full 155 degrees during the trip to the top which is 630 feet high.  Kami didn't like the trip up!

Top of Arch, small rectangular windows to look out.

City from Arch, Busch Stadium to the left.

Serenity Winery is another Harvest Host location we stayed overnight on our way to Weston Bend State Park 30 miles North of Kansas City.   Serenity describes this winery in Fulton, MO.   It's in the middle of nowhere but in a beautiful setting.  Did a flight of 4 different wines and bought a bottle and drank while we played Gin Rummy.  Owners have pictures of the Milky Way on their wall that fellow Harvest Hosts' took.  Set my alarm and took a picture at 3:06 am.  It's faint but you can barely make it out (it was very dark that night with clear skies).   May need to squint to see 😆.

Nice little charcuterie along with Pimento Cheese Tort Tracy gave us while in Louisville.....delicious.

Trailer between the fern hedges.

Coffee next morning from trailer site.   Beautiful setting.

Panoramic between trailer and Serenity Winery.  

You can barely make out the Milky Way.   I have been told as we go further West, the Milky Way will be more prevalent in the night time sky.  

  

On our way to Weston Bend State Park on the Missouri River which separates Missouri from Kansas and the river Lewis & Clark paddled up stream to document the West.