Portage to Portage Paddling Project
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Where to from here?
  • Equipment List
  • Who's Following Jake?
  • Trip Log and Location
  • Where I'm going
  • Calendar
  • Links
  • Photos
  • Extras
  • Best of the Blog

Day 6 (open water at last)

12/11/2009

2 Comments

 
Today we woke in East Moline and said fare well to the Pregreckes, loaded up the truck, and headed south on our run to St. Louis.

Picture
Me, Keeke, and Gary
As we drove we slowly watched the snow amounts change from half a foot to a dusting then finally to nothing at all. Every time we crossed a bridge we looked down studying how much ice was on the water below. It really wasn’t until we reached the outskirts of St Louis that we found the completely open water we came for.

Picture
Of course what is a visit to St. Louis without a ride to the top of the famous Gateway Arch. So we ran directly to the Westward Expansion Museum and caught a bumpy elevator/tram ride to the top of the arch. I had been here once before seven years ago when I was moving to California. Then I took in the view of the surrounding city in broad daylight. This time we were running late, and because we had to wait for the maintenance crew to fix a problem with the elevator system, we ended up in the observation area well after dark. After seeing the view at both times I definitely recommend going up after sunset. The view with the city lights was incredible. After grabbing a couple pictures we rode back down and headed out to what should be my last motel room for quite a while.

Picture
Me and my parents in one of the arch elevator cars
Picture
At the top of the arch
Picture
The view from the top
My water bags are filled, gear is packed, and I’m ready to get some rest before waking early to head up to Grafton IL where the Illinois River meets the Mississippi. There I will finally get back on the water to resume this trip.

2 Comments
Portage dug
12/13/2009 12:35:28 pm

Jake you will have to convince my parents that at least one of them takes the ride to the top of that Arch, the next time the venture north again.

Reply
mold damage Miami fl link
3/19/2017 11:17:42 pm

I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Best of the Blog
    Freezing temps, theives, pepper spray, manatees,  gators, & tornados.
    Get up to date by reading blog highlights from the trip so far.

    Picture
    Photo by Michael Franklin

    Author

    Jake Stachovak
    The Portage to Portage Paddling Project guy
    .

    SPONSORS

    Aqua Adventures
     
    Seda Kayak

    Kokatat

    Werner

    North Face

    Snap Dragon

    Nigel Foster Designs

    Seal Line

    MSR

    .

    Need help with the lingo?  Click here to go to the Portage to Portage blog vocabulary site.

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    May 2012
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.