Two days spent chilling, drinking and eating in St Louis, as well as seeing the new Avengers movie. As my daughter, Emma, hasn't seen it yet, I will refrain from comment. But as soon as she has - watch this space! Also met the new baby in the family - Ella, a four-month old chocolate chihuahua, who is ridiculously sweet. But has made herself sick by eating sour cherries off the tree in the front yard.Saturday night we went to Dressel's Pub on Euclid in Central West End, where James and Kolten have their apartment. Good food, personal service (James knows Mark, one of the servers), great cocktails and a bread and butter pudding with whiskey cream.
On Sunday, I joined the Ethical Society of St Louis congregation where James is the Outreach Leader. They were holding their coming-of-age ceremony for teens, where each graduate has the opportunity to speak about themselves and their aspirations for the future. The Ethical Society's building is architecturally notable. Here it is with James' car. Sunday night was Avengers night.Monday we had brunch at Cafe Osage on Olive. So hipster it hurts. They serve roasted sprouts as a main dish. And rocket with everything - which is admittedly a little passé, as London has moved on. Pleased to say that Beets, however, feature strongly, proving that we do indeed share a common culture. Kolten will tell you what I suggest they do with them.
Monday afternoon I headed out west. There are two routes out of STL on 66, older and more recent. One runs through Maplewood as Manchester Road. It is a favourite shopping spot as it has an excellent second-hand bookshop, The Book House, and Penzey's Spices, which sells every seasoning for food you could possibly need - and many you will never use. I have a cupboard full. There is a stretch of original frontage, including a theatre and bowling alley. Revisiting this meant I could take the alternative route out of STL via Chippewa.
Missouri is a state of rolling hills and wooded valleys and a pleasure to drive through away from the thunder of the trucks on 44. It also has a number of well-preserved 66 sites, although a few mentioned in my EZ Guide, which is only four years old, have since gone out of business, such as the Jesse James Museum in Sullivan.
Cuba seems to have retained sufficient critical mass of old artifacts, and created new ones, to thrive. It is known as the "Town of Murals" as every available wall seems to have been adorned by local artists. 
The Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba is still going strong.
The 1926 bridge is at "Devil's Elbow". Curves like this were particularly dangerous and acquired these frightful names. Another in Oklahoma is called "Deadman's Bend". Accidents on 66 were common as the volume of traffic grew and drivers tended to keep driving for hours without a break.
The approach to Rolla is notable for some spectacularly inappropriate advertising hoardings. The shop, which is further on in St Robert, has a splendidly garish neon sign, a benefit of driving towards dark. On the same site are a collection of random artifacts, one of which I thought was a dandelion, but on reflection, realised it is representative of a firework.
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