The River Boat

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Nearly everyone slept in until after eight that morning… highly unusual.

Then Mom and Grandma were soon on their way in anticipation of a good time in Columbia for the parade and tailgate party. Although they had no tickets for the game… a thing they would likely later regret, according to Dad, who predicted that MIZZOU would win.

Joe had picked up a pile of cleaning supplies to scrub out the bath.

And Rose was busy perusing Montezuma’s tribute books in her newly reorganized library/arboretum.

Come after eleven, it was time to leave for the day’s activities. Carrie had a pair of unused tickets for the Arch riverboat, which she had passed on to Puck.

So… first it was off to the library to pick up a pack of books about insects and butterflies for Linnea and The Scarlet Letter Cliff Notes for Francis.

The river front. Surprisingly, the river was in flood stage, despite the great lack of rain.

First stop was a run up the steps to the Arch, Puck’s first up close and personal encounter. He slapped his chubby palms on the sleek silver sides as the wind blew them across the park.

Below, the riverboat was docking, and all aboard.

An hour tour of the muddy river, in a paddlewheel boat partially filled with foreigners. Puck sat in a little nook on the top deck and watched the watery world pass below him.

After a time of following the path of Lewis and Clark, they adjourned to the first deck where Linnea purchased a bucket of buttered popcorn, which Puck helped ravenously consume.

The trip was a success.

Puck later summarized… “Lila’s not afraid of the water, ’cause there’s no sharks in it.”

A drop in at Trader Joe’s for pita, goat cheese, and some other needed items, and back again after four o’clock to drop Puck in the bath for a fast bubble bath, and then a quick supper with the family before returning home.