So here's the story: Jon plays the bass - the double bass or stand up bass - it's beautiful, "his large instrument" (that's another story). It developed a buzz, and had to be sent back to its maker, literally, for repair. Jon's son Nathan delivered it, last summer I think. The maker lives in Woodstock NY with his bowmaker wife, and let's face it - the guy lives in Woodstock and makes bass instruments by hand. This is not a Type A personality. So a good year later, after some pressure by Jon because school is starting up here soon, the bass is ready to be picked up, or that's the rumor, at least.
Jon is unwilling, for lots of good reasons, to ship it, so he has to go pick it up. I'm Jon's girlfriend, and although I don't have a written job description, if I did, 'accompany said boyfriend on long road trips of a practical and necessary nature to provide moral support' would probably be on the list. So here we are.
We left this afternoon, glad to be leaving Kansas City during its like 10th day of 100 degree temperatures, although most of where we'll be over the next week has the same dismal forecast. Uneventful drive to St Louis, about 4 hours - a stop at Sophia's in Columbia (we Urbanspooned it. Favorable reviews, and open on Sundays). We enjoyed - a friendly waitress, good service, nice space, pleasant food reasonably priced, and these funny Thomas Hart Benton-esque murals all over, only with the farmers taken out and college students painted in. (Columbia being the home of MU, the University of Missouri - Columbia Campus. Big honking school. Go Tigers, Go Mizzou. Whatev.)
Another 90 minutes in the car - just chatting, as the only mechanism for playing the ipods was packed in a suitcase, and it was, after all, only 4 hours, although I know that 4 hours without music would push H right over the edge. But we're grownups. I was weaned on 8 tracks. And Jon wasn't getting the player out, and it was in his suitcase. So we chatted, I survived, he survived me surviving, and off I-70 at exit 129 to St Charles.
A Priceline hotel. Priceline has never really let me down, and this is working fine - the Country something - Inn and Suites maybe. St. Charles is pretty. What Weston MO wants to / used to be. A big Lewis and Clark statue in the Katy Trail State Park (what is up, though, with the ridiculously overscaled dog..). We walked down to the river, and of course I left my camera in the hotel (which is almost my trademark. I never have business cards when I meet somebody, and I never have my camera when I am surrounded by photo ops). So the photos are lifted off a stock site, but they will have to do. Very pretty town, pretty riverfront. So far (256 miles far), so good. Only 1061 miles to go. And then we turn around and come home.
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