Today could, by no stretch of the imagination, be called a work day! Usually on these trips the group schedules a fun/regroup day half-way through, rather than at the beginning like this. However, sleeping in a bit today, navigating around St. Louis in the 90- and 100-degree weather, and getting a feel for the city in general actually was a great way to get our bearings and start the week.
We started out at Grant's Farm, the place where Ulysses S. Grant met his wife, and eventually ended up living. It was later sold to the Busch family, and now is the home of a bunch of the Budweiser horses and other animals. It was great fun to wander around, get a tram tour, and see all of the carriages, ribbons and trophies that are on display on the grounds. The animals were far more unique that we expected as well, with everything from tricksy burros, to black swans from New Zealand, to Pere David's deer, the rarest breed of deer in the world.
After wrapping up there, we went to see "the Arch". There's a museum of westward expansion under the arch, along with the cramped ride to the top and spectacular view! It was great to learn about the construction of the monument, and a bit about the good, the bad, and the ugly of the acquisition of the land west of the Mississippi.
After a stop at Wally-world to get the remainder of the stuff for the kids' games this week, the day wrapped up with a hot and tired group ready to hang out 'back at the ranch', take quick showers, watch the rest of the comedy video from last night, eat whatever, and head to bed. Mike did take some time to hand out the books we'll be reading this week, Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To by Anthony Destefano, and introduce them. They promise to be intriguing reading as a parallel to the activity of the week. We'll keep you posted!
(photos for day 2)
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