060115

Yesterday afternoon, after attending Burlington, IA ward, we got to head over to Carthage, IL and watch "Be Still".  the BYU Young Ambassadors did a 15 minute presentation in mostly speech but with some song about Joseph/Hyrum Smith's last day before they were martyred and the few days afterwards.  It was very well done and brought a few tears to these old eyeballs.  Afterwards, the Brass Band did a series of numbers about Joseph for us to enjoy.  Afterwards, Arlene and I talked to a couple of the Elders and found out they are on their way to leave for missions after the summer experience.  One already has his call.  The other is waiting for his to come in September or October.  They are really good and I don't see any reason Kevin couldn't participate with these young Elders and Sisters if he can get into the Y at some point.

BTW, it's barely been getting into the 60s for the last week.  Weird, huh?

Went over to visit Hannibal, Missouri today.  That is the hometown of Samuel Clemens or Mark Twain.  One of my favorite authors.  Lots of stuff to look at.

Some of the exhibits at the initial museum/life history of Mark Twain.

Huckleberry Finn home

One of the exhibits in the Mark Twain home

The infamous white picket fence that Mark Twain got others to paint as a "fun thing".

Arlene acting like a Riverboat Captain in the Mark Twain Museum.

This is kind of a piano/organ/calliope.  It's about 10 feet tall.  How'd you like to move this thing?

Ummmm...so much fine chocolate at the Stam Chocolatier!  Nummers  

There was this clock place down the street.  The guy was working on all kinds of grandfather clocks.  This is how he puts them racks to work on them.  Oh, and, did you know you could spend $5, 500 on a Howard Miller grandfather clock made in Michigan?  Nice clock, though...  No, not bringing one home.

244 steps up to the lighthouse (what do you need a lighthouse on a river for?).  'Course, once I got up there, I found out you can drive up there.  Arlene benefited from that little excursion.

A view of Hannibal, MO from the lighthouse.

The lighthouse in all it's glory.  Can't go in but the view is nice, what you can see through the trees that have grown up around it.

The Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn memorial.  No access to it, although there is a concrete walkway around it.  Kinda weird.

Last shot as we were leaving.  The bridge from Illinois across the Mississippi to Missouri.  We will be heading East across this, back to Nauvoo for the end of a nice day.  $2.39 for gas and a stop at Golden Corral for a fuel up.  Not much sushi back here but did find a Chinese buffet that has some passable sushi in Quincy.  At least it'll get us by once in a while till we can get back to Placerville.  BTW, I've had enough Mark Twain to last me a lifetime.  There is only so much a person can take....