The Drive: Part 2

While driving through Nebraska and Missouri we saw lots and lots and lots of corn fields. We stopped in Mound City in hopes of seeing the remains of the temple mounds built by the Mound Indians. We were a little disappointed that upon further investigation there were no mounds in our near Mound City. It should be renamed "No Mound City." Jason, who had driven the rental truck for the entire time, loved the lack of mounds. The truck got "great" gas mileage through this part of the trip (a whopping 9 miles to the gallon). Cami's car got up to 35 miles to the gallon at one time. Eat that truck!
Our plan was to stop in St Louis and see the arch. Our plans quickly changed when we realized there was no where to park a massive truck on the narrow streets of St Louis. We tried to turn around because of a closed road and almost jack-knifed the truck. We promptly drove out of St Louis. The pictures we got from the car were good enough. That night we stayed just over the border into Illinois.
On the third day we drove through Illinois, Kentucky, and stopped in Beckley, West Virginia. While in West Virginia, we went on the Cass Scenic Railroad. An old logging coal train that is only used for tourism now. We also stopped at the National Radio Astrology Observatory The observatory had a really neat section of the visitor's center with all kinds of simulations and fun activities.
In Beckley, we went to Tamarack an arts gallery and gift shop. There was some of the most amazing glass blown, wood carved, and weaved art we'd ever seen. That night Tom discovered fireflies at a nearby cemetary. We got some pretty good video clips of them.
We made it to Richmond on the 4th of July and had to stay in a hotel a few miles from our apartment because the apartment management offices were closed for the holiday. We went with Tom and Jason to the movies and saw Superman Returns.