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Traveling east and south east from Burlington, IA on the big roads we started to encounter some trouble. Outside the car, birds were struggling to make any headway flying against the wind, clouds grew darker, and scattered showers belted the remaining cars on the road.
Inside the car Lish was praying, Ben had wet himself, and I stared blankly into the teeth of inclement weather that would undoubtedly send me to the asylum -- all while Chris calmly took a nap on Kate's shoulder. What a trooper that Wilson.
And that was all BEFORE the tornado warning from the National Weather Service, which put us just a couple miles from the leading edge of the scrap-your-belongings-and-get-in-the-basement region. Concerned and shaken we however remained resilient, focusing not on survival, but the paramount issue -- hunger.
Arriving in Springfield, we found shelter inside Betsy & Bernie's Pizza, dining on salads, garlic bread, and some excellent sourdough-crust pizza. There was much rejoicing.
Our next stop, amid continued but scattered showers, was the Route 66 drive-in theater showing Clash of the Titans. Arriving at the entrance, a large puddle was set in our path by the Gods, but after enduring a driving rain and a wicked detour to end all detours Ben was not to be denied this time. He stepped from the car and walked on water, effectively taming the rapids so the car could safely pass.
For the movie, the rain slowed just enough to see some over-the-top special effects, rushed story lines, and poor quality development. The star of the show, The Cracken, was murdered before his prime and really before we got a chance to see his inner struggle or understand his motives for destruction.
Finalizing a day that seemed like three, we passed our last few waking hours playing Sheepshead to determine who would be sleeping on the floor. Ben said his motivational tapes soothed him to sleep while lying on the wet-dog carpet.
In the morning, we visited another titan known as Abraham Lincoln, laid to rest in a beautiful cemetery on the south side of Springfield. An otherwise somber venue was quite lively, littered with boy scouts of all ages. Thanks Lincoln, and thank you Illinois for giving us a few curve balls.
Onward.
Ben walks on water...
Twister, the Sequel
Lincoln Gravesite
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