6-17-17  back to St. Louis:  and Happy Birthday, Faith!!!

We thought about going to Knoxville on our way and celebrating Faith's birthday with them, but when we asked them what they had planned, they mentioned taking off work and going on hikes all weekend.  So we figured we'd see them in July when we come out to pet sit.  Plus they've been having visitors from St. Louis just about every weekend for a month and more to come, so figured they may be visited out.
So, we headed up to Chattanooga and on to I-24 and across Tennessee.  Love the mountains in Eastern Tennessee.

 and all the midwest farms. 

Corn looks to be doing well.

 lots of corn and lots of old barns along the way.

Turned to be another beautiful day for a ride---10 hour one at that!

 got to see a lot of old barns in that time.

 some trip I expect to just see a pile of rubble where this barn once stood.

 someone traveling with their home.  I don't get the whole "tiny house" revolution! 

 We did stop for dinner in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and David, Jane and 2 of their foster kids joined us at Bandana's Bar b q.  Always nice visiting with my brother and sister-in-law!  And we got to continue our ride witnessing a beautiful sunset!

 love that late afternoon light.

 more of the sunset.

 almost done.

 even makes the power lines interesting.

We've driven this route so many times in the last year that it doesn't really seem so bad anymore.  Especially when the days are as pretty as this one.