Anytime I travel with my husband I can expect to have a good time as long as he is able to tag along, if I break away and do something alone I usually hear about it. This trip was on a whim, one night while sharing a bottle of wine with Jack, I suggested we take a vacation, and make part of the trip on Amtrak, by the night we had a plan and reservations would take place the following week.
I had two Air B&B's booked and the following Monday I purchased the train tickets, Missouri River Run, we would fly into St Louis and catch a train to Herman Missouri, stay three nights, then catch the train to Kansas City Missouri and stay three nights, then fly home to Denver. When I had told Jack the accommodations were booked he realized the trip was a go and purchase the plane tickets.
The St Louis Amtrak station has been newly remodeled since we have made this trip, so at the time of our travel, the week of our thirtieth wedding anniversary we took the lift from the St Louis airport to the St Louis bus station. Our train arrived within a couple hours, before leaving St Louis I had a quick lunch at the Kentucky fried chicken, there in the station. Good train ride along the Missouri River, for about four hours. We had plenty of room and Jack got us something to drink, and listened to an audio book or music for most of the train ride, his first time traveling by train. Sit back and enjoy the scenery, that is how I do it. Took a few pictures and sat back and relaxed. We were up and ready to jump off when they made the stop in Herman, a conductor placed a small step on the ground, helped with luggage and, as the train stopped, I would guess for all of five minutes, we were helped off and soon standing near the station, across the street from a park overlooking the Missouri river, and park benches in a foot of water.
Flying into St Louis, much of the land was in standing water, heavy rains had hit that spring and much of the valley was flooded, well, Herman Missouri had seen some of that rain, and the standing water was in much of the low lands near streets and parks close to the river. The Fourth of July events took place, some were moved to other locations, but the parade and fire works were there in town and we made it to both.
Jack had made plans to meet family in Herman so we drove with them to most of the winery's and saw a lot of the country, when we were walking the town was accommodating, although town closed at 9 pm so everything had to be done during daylight. The first night we found one restaurant open and had a very nice dinner, an older building with wooden beams, wooden floors, great wine and white linens. When I brought up a similar experience we had in Pagosa Springs many years ago, Jack did not remember our dinner in the cabin, with a horse drawn sleigh ride in the snow, how does anyone not remember something like that, I think he needs something for his memory. Well, that night was nice, the Air B&B was nice, a home right in town, walking distance from the train. There were mosquitoes and chiggers and we both got bit, I learned in the next few hours that jeans and a long sleeved shirt or jacket would pay off.
It was unfortunate that the day we left Herman on a train, the three hour train ride would be interrupted by flooding and washed out tracks, our trip to Kansas City Missouri ended on a gray hound bus. We transferred and the wait allowed for Jack to get out and walk through a small town somewhere on the way, as some of us waited on the train for the busses to arrive. Soon we were in Kansas City and the train station, as nice as the pictures kept us entertained for sometime, we then took a lift to the old mansion near the city where we would be staying for the next three nights. Within walking distance from most of the sites we wanted to see, we each got in about 10,000 steps daily.
Of the many sites in the City of Fountains a few come to mind, the Shakespeare in the Park and art museum, the WWI tower and museum, the walks to the Pizza Place, and the movie out that summer about the Beatles and the Union Station and shopping center near by. The tour bus took us all over, the shopping district, the down town and the last night we met up with Jack's Aunt Shirley and her husband and son, they were traveling and were on their way back to Oklahoma and were able to meet up for dinner at a great barbeque restaurant near the city. With great hospitality were learned that our host at the house were newly weds, they met while biking and have started this Air B&B business as a way to finance expenses and keep this newly renovated mansion up and paid for. The house was beautiful and Jack and I each had a room on the second floor with a bathroom across the hall. Quiet, clean and very comfortable, a 10 for sure.
We packed it up and returned to Denver, at the airport we caught a train to Union Station where we caught a bus to home with a short ride by a lift driver. Jack has come to appreciate the security of getting around a city without having to rent a car. Lift also has scooters in the city, paid through the same App that car trips are booked and paid.
It's two years later, we need to return to Herman, I enjoyed the visit and the winery's are very nice, It's just that Jack is returning for the pouring of a bottle of whiskey at Copper Mule distillery. He purchased the 18 bottle that will be poured June 5th at a festival. Other locations will have live music and drinks. Jack would have gone alone, but I agreed to meet up with him Friday after he had a chance to visit his family for a couple days.
After a two hour flight from Denver to St Louis I met up with Jack at the passenger pick up at the airport. He rented a red Toyota Camery, brand new car with black leather interior. We make it to Herman and met or host Nancy, who happened to be a geo collector since the age of five, the garden terrace had hundreds maybe thousands of them all throughout. Her husband was there to meet us as well. They have run their bed and breakfast "The cottage " for 25 years. Like Barbara in Raton they are thinking they have been in the business long enough and would like to live closer to the grandchildren.
After settling in, we visited and then went to a desert restaurant and ordered a light bite to eat and wine, Jack had a red and I had a Prosecco. Starting the next morning with breakfast on the host, we then got a start touring.
First stop Adam Puckta, where I got a wine slushy, and purchased some wine to be shipped home. There waslive music,we stayed for an hour, people watching, lots of vrides and there girl friends, others in hats, dresses and shorts just having a good time listening to the music.
Next we drove to Copper Mule, where they have built a new tasting and event center which is going to have food and a smoking room, the distillery poured Jack's whiskey from barrel 6 bottle 18, he received it and got a signature from JD, the man behi.d the idea. I spoke to him, he was kind and seemed to be enjoying enjoying himself. We shopped, soaked up the view and the Blue grass music in the outdoors.
The rolling hills of Missouri are full of dark wooded forrests. The graceful hills allowing for a wonderfully view. The humidity does low altitude allows for easy breathing.
We didn't stay for the barbeque, we were told about a restaurant in town called Dos Slosh, we drove to there and had a late lunch. Next stop would be Stone Hill Winery. More live music and a wine slushy, Jack did some shopping and I was close to falling asleep so we took off and went to Oak Glenn, this is where it had to pick up or I was going to drop. I got a crisp cool Moscato and we picked a table overlooking the Missouri River, more breadth taking view of rolling hills and forests.
The music was good,another pop rock live, playing popular tunes. The crowd was really into it and people were dancing, More bride to be parties and couples of all ages. Now it was picking up. Finished one drink and we out of there, now back to town to Hermanhoff. The last song played just as we got settled, one more drink for me, a German white, which Jack purchased to bring home. Six o'clock approached and I asked for Subway,then we made it back to the cottage to change and get rested up.
I changed, ate and Jack thought it would be nice to get out and walk around. We found our way over to the hotel where we had visited the night before but didn't stay, due to crowds. We found a table aand stayed for a couple songs, no drinks, we then made our way back to the cottage, just before dark we made our way to the retrace where the fireflies were just showing up, we had a glass of the blackberry wine we picked out at Addam Puckta, one to many for me. We went in after a call to afield and I showered and went to bed.
