Boy, is Illinois Flat. And Boring.

Seriously, so boring. The prairie, it is depressing. Nothing is quite as bleak as mile after mile of barren fields laying fallow. I couldn't be bothered to take a photo. Also not great - Springfield, IL. I totally get why the Governor hates being there, and why he has the Staties chopper him down when he needs to go there. Here's a picture of the state house; you now have no need to ever go to the Illinois Capitol:




I was so happy to see Missouri with its hills and trees and rocky mountainsides. Even had some purple mountain majesty at sun set. I've been to St. Louis before, so I didn't stop. I took a quick shot of the arch, love a national monument.

Another monument I tried to see today, Abraham Lincoln's tomb. I love a monument, and all things presidential (Sarah Vowell and I would seriously be BFFs). Word to the wise, signs that point you to "Abraham Lincoln Burial Site" on I55 are **not** the right ones to follow. I think Joliet pulls that prank to get people to the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. Not cool, Joliet, not cool.

While driving to the cemetery (which was actually quite lovely), I drove through a MobileExxon refinery which abutted a military zone. Never before have I seen government and the oil industry so literally adjoined. And that, ladies and gents, is the comment that gets me on some government watch list. What up, Mukasey?

I have to say the highlight of the day was when I arrived at the hotel in middle of nowhere Missouri, and the desk clerk told me I couldn't rent a room because I needed to be 21. Ha!! She'd be wise to get those eyes checked.

Time for bed, much driving to do tomorrow before I reach Amy's.