We passed through the area where the ice storm took place this past Sunday. Ice still hangs from the trees.

Auto-generated description: A brick building is surrounded by trees covered in ice under a clear blue sky.

We traveled about a one mile stretch over old Rt. 66 in MO, and the weight of the ice was seriously bending over many of the thick pines along the side of the road. We passed at least half a dozen overturned tractor-trailers still on the shoulders and medians of I-70 and I-44. In one location along I-70 in IL, there was a serious tractor-trailer accident involving at least three semis that was causing a 14-minute delay on the interstate. Google Maps routed us onto US 40 (the old National Road) and bypassed us past the crash scene, but we could still see it, as US 40 parallels I-70. Air temperature outside was around 25° for all of the trip. But the drive itself was smooth and even, despite the fact that I got too caught up ogling the Mississippi River and the St. Louis Arch and missed the turnoff for I-44. Bright sunshine was with us most of the day, and a few of the vistas gleaming with snow and ice were pretty awesome.

Thought for the day: what makes these aggressive lane-switching drivers think they have a right to drive as they do and put other people’s lives in danger? One guy today practically drove right off the right shoulder while trying to pass a truck, and another one tried to pass by using the extreme left shoulder!

AML Quote of the Day:

“If she’s going to talk basketball on ESPN then she shouldn’t have 3-inch fingernails painted yellow.”

UPDATE - We just had a free lasagna dinner at the Hampton Inn we’re staying at. We also had a free breakfast this morning at the Hampton Inn we stayed at last night. We skipped lunch. So $0.00 spent on food today!