DAY 34

Sundermeier RV Park, St. Charles, MO:   We've been home 34 days so far. And still no permits, so no work can begin on our foundation, family room, and deck. 34 days! The county never seems satisfied with the documentation that has been provided. We're getting antsy, being cooped up, what with the cold weather and all. So, we go out to lunch or dinner, have a couple of drinks; go see a movie and fill up with movie snacks...more drinks. I'm convinced I'm going to be a fat alcoholic by the time this is over. And, oh yes, the threat of more violent storms this week.  But, we're good. We can still make it to Tony's for dinner and drinks.

The Calm Before the Storm

Sundermeier RV Park, St. Charles, MO:  A beautiful morning, but storms threaten tonight, tomorrow, and tomorrow night. So, we took advantage of this brief respite in the weather and went for a pretty long walk on the trails along the river. Before our nature excursion, however, I spent some time on the computer, talked with the general manager, project manager, and insurance agent. Still no permits for the rebuild. Pot roast for dinner tonight. 78 today!

Trails along the river.

Rail bridge over the Missouri. Originally built in 1881.

This tree is not in good shape.

Lots of beaver activity.

They have been busy.

S N O W!!!

Sundermeier RV Park, St. Charles, MO:  It actually snowed this morning. And they're calling for flurries tonight and tomorrow morning as well. Hopefully that will be the last of it??? We met with the general manager of the outfit that is doing the reconstruction of our foundation, deck, and family room. Very discouraging since they are still waiting on the permits from St. Louis County. We've been home almost a month now. But they did go in there last week and cleaned up some of the mess in the family room and packed up a lot of the stuff to take to their warehouse where they will clean them up and assess whether to keep or not. In the meantime, we're fine in the fifth wheel, albeit stuck inside during the colder days. Warmer weather will be very welcome. I think the high today will be 45. Time to go see a movie perhaps?

Big chunks of concrete on the floor.

One of the boarded up windows.

They righted the entertainment center.

The pile of stuff in front of the concrete chunks is our drapes. Or, I should say, was our drapes.

Chase Park Plaza

Sundermeier RV Park, St. Charles, MO:  Met with some friends yesterday at the elegant Chase Park Plaza Hotel in downtown St. Louis. Went to see Cinderella at the movie theater there. Amy and I loved the movie--a delightful mix of reality and whimsy. I think even Dave and Mike enjoyed it--although they'd never admit it. After the movie we had a light dinner at Cafe Eau in the hotel. A very pleasant afternoon, and it was great to get out of the "homeless shelter" for a while. Pretty chilly yesterday, but today is supposed to get up to 70 or so.

The beautiful, elegant Chase Park Plaza Hotel

Not a very good picture of one of the coffered ceilings.

Private elevator up to the private residences in the hotel.

Katy Trail

Sundermeier RV Park, St. Charles, MO:  What a beautiful day today! We got the bikes out and took off on the Katy Trail heading for St. Charles and lunch. A lot of people out and about--and why not? It was a beautiful, warm and sunny day. A stiff breeze right in our face as we headed out. A little bit of a slog, but we needed the exercise. Stopped for lunch at the Trailhead Brewing Co. and then headed back. Sat outside reading for a while. Too nice to go in. And the rest of the week will be in the 50s (ugh!). Mid-80s today.

Mike checking out something along the trail.

Sculpture of Lewis and Clark in a little park along the trail. They and the Corps of Discovery left from St. Louis (actually Wood River) on their incredible journey in 1804. Returned in 1806.

TRAINS, PLANES, AND AUTOMOBILES

Sundermeier RV Park, St. Charles, MO:  This park, which will be our home for the next couple of months, is kind of in the middle of a little industrial area. And we're situated just off I370 on the Missouri River. So, we have the traffic on I370, and there is a train trestle right next to I370 with quite a lot of train traffic, and we're on the approach to the St. Louis airport. I can tell when a train is approaching when stuff in the fifth-wheel starts to vibrate. But, it's also right on the Katy Trail State Park, which is a biking and hiking trail which goes clear across the state. And we're within walking distance of some of our favorite restaurants in Old Town St. Charles. So, all is good. Went for a walk this morning down the trail and off on a little nature trail which meandered through the woods next to the Missouri River. A beautiful, sunny day and I could hear the next generation of frogs chirping away. 

Bridge on I370 over the Missouri. Train trestle on the right.

Snapped this picture from our door.

Truck traffic on I370.

Another train!

Katy Trail

The little nature trail.

Sundermeier RV Park, St. Charles, MO:  Really cold again today.  But the sun is out, so I figured, let’s suck it up and go do the grocery shopping and check out our home. It was very painful out there in the cold—oh yeah, and the wind, let’s not forget the painful wind chill. But we did it and then stopped for a couple of drinks and some appetizers. One more night of bone chilling cold and then it lets up a little so we can turn the water faucet off, which we’ve had running non-stop so the water hose won’t freeze. 25 today.

Look at this crap!

I finished this hat just in time to wear it this morning.

OMG!  It's cold!