Skip to main content

Day Two/Three - Hannibal


I've discovered that I'm not very good at blogging at night - the past 2 nights I've either been out late or not feeling well.  So, blogging with coffee is probably going to be my thing.


Thursday, I spent the day exploring Hannibal.  I found a park bench to watch the river go by.  The barges are massive!  I've since read that a 15-barge tow is equivalent to 870 semi trucks.  Very interesting watching them get that under a bridge. The Mississippi seems very calm and not that wide right now I think they've had a bit of a drought.

I made the walk up to the Hannibal Lighthouse 250 steps or something. Unfortunately the trees have grown up so much you really couldn't see the river but interesting view of the town.

Java Jive was the coffee house for today.  Big, airy, super comfy.  I'll be back here for sure.
Lunch at the Mark Twain Brewing Co.  Black bean burger and a blonde ale.  I'm so ready for a nap.    
I drove out to Riverview park for an amazing view of the river and then on to another small park near where I'm staying to stare at trees.




I knew that this adventure was going to make slow down and find a new pace.   I think I'm actually a little bored today...Ugh

 Friday I traveled to Quincy Illinois to take in the sights.  I started at the visitors center and was surprised to find that it was a Moorish castle.

 
 I then went down to Lock to watch one of those massive barges go through.  The lock was only big enough to move 9 barges at once.  So, they put 9 into the system and disconnected them from the boat/ship.  Wait the hour and a half that it takes to get the barges to the other side and then they moved the remaining 6 barges and the boat.  I asked a gentleman if they were generating electricity at the dam by the lock and he said no, not enough drop. Not sure if that is normal or just now with the drought.


Stopped by the Stone Arch bridge in Quincy - it's on 8th street over Curtis Creek. Then down to the river to see a more modern bridge.


I ended by day back at Hannibal touring a farm of a couple I've met.  They have it all; goats, chickens, ducks, a huge garden and more.  They are the parents of my Airbnb host and are also Airbnb hosts.  They seem to really enjoy meeting all the people who stop by their farm.

Back to town for what ends up being an early night.  I felt very unwell and ended up being sick in the night - but all is well today.  I think I ate something that didn't agree.  Being vegan on the road is always such a challenge!!

No real plans for today - I'm going to the farmers market and then see where the day takes me.  I've been walking so much and my calves are killing me!  I think that trip up to the lighthouse did me in...I still need to go up to Lover's Leap but it's even more stairs...Nope!

That's it for now - so far I'm enjoying my stay in Hannibal and I'm finding the bed and breakfast environment very enjoyable  My host here is amazing and I hope I am just as lucky in the future.

Gypsy Jackie

Comments

  1. So glad that you're enjoying this first part of your grand adventure!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 23 last day in South Padre

So sad to say goodbye to the beach.  But I'll be back some day.  It's less than 15 hours from home...that's totally doable.  Here's a link to where we stayed. link   This was a perfect place for a late September vacation.  Very few of the condos appeared to be occupied.  We had the hot tub all to ourselves last night! Today we rented chaise lounge chairs and an umbrella and just enjoyed the beach all day long.  We had an amazing dinner at Pier 19 where we were able to see dolphins out the window.   Now were getting things ready so we can get up at 4 am and start driving home.  

Day 24 - Home - Trip Summary

MILES: 7,780 STATES : 15 Missouri Kansas  Colorado  Wyoming  Montana  Idaho Washington  Oregon  California Nevada  Utah Arizona  New Mexico Texas Oklahoma  TRIP PHASES: 4 To the west coast Pacific Coast Highway  National Parks Beach Vacation FLAT TIRES:  1 ECO SYSTEMS:  20 Prairies Foot Hills Mountains Geysers  Sulphur Springs Lakes Continental Divide Rain Forests Ocean Beach - Pacific Ocean  Redwood Forests Vineyards  Almond groves Yosemite El Capitan  OK, not an eco system, but unlike anything else! Sequoia Forest Desert Death Valley (see El Capitan note) Canyons...some of them even grand Gulf of Mexico  Beach - Gulf of Mexico  NATIONAL PARKS/FORESTS: 15 Yellowstone National Park Olympic National Park Hoh Rain Forest Redwood National Forest Yosemite National Park Stanislaus National Forest Sierra National Forest  Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Inyo National Forest Death Valley National Park Zion National

Day 18 Grand Canyon and the end of Phase 3

Today we went to Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest National Parks.  We are officially done with Phase 3 of our trip - the National Park Phase.  And frankly...we're both relieved.  The National Parks, while beautiful and awe inspiring...were also kind of a bummer.  They were crowded, had limited parking and generally felt like a tourist attraction.  Mindy went to several of these when her boys were young...35+ and 20+ years ago.  Hearing how the parks have changed over the years was kind of a downer.  That being said, I'm so glad I went and was able to this countryside, it is truly unique and majestic. Now that we're done with Phase 3, we both feeling a little energized!  We're ready to get up early tomorrow and begin Phase 4...which we've decided to keep secret.  If I told you what we're doing, you'd think we're nuts.  Better to keep quiet than to confirm that thought! First view of a canyon on the prairie   First overlook into Gra