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Day 8 - July 6
Riverside, IA to Memphis, TN
Miles traveled: 599
Local Music:
40 IRREPRESSIBLE BANDS FROM COLUMBIA, MISSOURI, USA vol 1&2, A kinda of Whitman's Sampler of the Missouri music scene. Some good, some bad.
Riverside, Iowa bills itself as the future birthplace of Capt. James Kirk. The writers of Star Trek never said where Kirk was born, but in Star Trek IV (the one with the whales) he says "I'm from Iowa, I only work in outer space."
The good folks of Riverside decided that it was going to happen in the backyard of an antiques shop on Hwy 218, and put up a marker. They also hold an annual Trek festival to celebrate, this was about 2 weeks ago. What they don't do apparently is print postcards stating it or hang on to leftover festival souvenirs to sell to passing road-trippers.
I'm afraid I just can't support the position that this is where Kirk will be born without a liottle more proof. These people have got to realize that if they're going to make claims like this, they've got to be prepared to back them up with postcards!
Yep, it's the Elvis is Alive Museum. Owner and curator Bill Beeny (he's the one on the right) is all too happy to tell you about how Elvis faked his death after getting dozens of death threats when his cover as a secret agent was blown. He'll tell you all about how he (Bill) was able to secure safe reliable samples of tissue from Elvis's liver biopsy and from the autopsy of the corpse they they government tried to pass of as his. And how the DNA from these samples proved IRREFUTABLY that Elvis is still alive and in the witness protection program. Just take my advice and don't bring up anything controversial, like flouridation.
The St. Louis Gateway Arch.
This is simply unbelievable when you see it up close. You know it stays up, you might even know enough about physics or architecture to say how it stays up, but your eyes keep telling you it's impossible.
I wanted to take the ride up to the top, but there was a two hour wait, so I skipped it.
As seen on the Food Network.
Excellent frozen custard. I got a fudge, raspberry, and macadamia nut "concrete". Definitely worth the drive. :)
Next Stop Memphis
