Route 66 State Park in Eureka, Missouri

What beautiful weather for March!  Murphy and I hiked our way through the Route 66 State Park; here are some shots from the day:

 Murphy wasn't happy with me at first - we were trying some "Adventure Dog Boots" for the rougher trails.  He looked like a duck.

 Wetlands and ponds dot the park.  The town of Times Beach, Missouri once occupied this land - the town of over 2,000 was completely evacuated in 1983 due to dioxin contamination in the streets and soil.  Illnesses, miscarriages, and animal deaths were associated to dioxin exposure.  This event made national headlines and is possibly the largest civilian exposure to dioxin in the United States.  The fact that life has returned to this land is not just a miracle but also a testament to those involved in the clean up, such as the Environmental Protection Agency.  The Times Beach site was removed from the EPA's Superfund list in 2001.

 Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Bridge over the Meramec River.

 Close up of bridge joints on the old Route 66 Bridge over the Meramec River.

 Another view of the old Route 66 Bridge over the Meramec River.  This bridge once carried traffic along the Mother Road - Chicago to Los Angeles.

 Hello friend!

 Goodbye friend!

 And gone...

 I must have been interrupting something important.