After leaving the lodge and having breakfast at the Big Apple Family Restaurant in Princeton, I waffled over whether I should check out the pie shop in town. I decided no, although my inner foodie was screaming at me in betrayal.
I rolled the 40 minutes back to Starved Rock, in which I spent about twenty minutes determining what my plan was going to be.
It wasn’t simply paths and sights; I was here to do content creation and brought the DSLR, tripod, and laptop to make that happen. I became inspired recently from watching a Hank Green Youtube video in which he decided to take his monologue into the wilderness in a very simple way; setting up the camera, and relying on his cell phone microphone as one might a personal recorder to capture his thoughts.
It took me another 30-40 minutes to determine where I was going to start, determining what backdrop, where the sun was, how hard the wind was blowing and whether I could cut some of the wind from blowing into the cell phone mic. I repositioned myself multiple times, doing my best to keep away from passerbys while not taking up space intended for them. … It made me realize, once again, everything that goes into determining where to shoot something.
One big moment of disappointment; the top plate of my tripod was missing. Left at home. No way to fasten the camera to it. … Another 30 minutes swearing to myself, and looking around to MacGyver an alternative. It ended up being a similar-sized bit with the same kind of screw that held to the tripod by tightening the clasp. … What resulted was a $1000 camera being held up by pure pressure and crossed-fingers.
First video in a series. Today’s topic: Eclipse Lore.
Partially written, unpolished, lightly edited gonzo-style videography. Frankly, better than the hundreds of times I spent setting the equipment up and got discouraged, self-conscious, or stressed partway through. … At this point, being a perfectionist is a hindrance. The only way I know how to do it… is to do it.
Not that I wasn’t self-conscious. I remember speaking the bits about how the Mayans, Greeks, Romans, and Chinese were skilled at astronomical matters, and I had to stop when a group of people began to walk nearby,… not out of them stepping into the shot, but because I didn’t want to seem like some weirdo making a conspiracy video.
We’re doing hard science here!Hard science and… strange stories about what ancient people did during eclipses.I guess…
Watch the video here:Some Weird Eclipse Lore from Ancient Times
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In terms of the traditional state/national park visit for the sake of the sights, sounds, and hiking trails, I did exactly that. The difference is that I had a backpack with electronics, a camera bag with a heavy metal tripod, and other equipment in my hand. The extra weight made for slow and challenging steps, and extra careful foot placement in muddy areas.
But rest assured… I got the shots!
Me doing my best soyjack meme shot.
Starved Rock. Lovers Leap. Eagle Cliff. Wildcat Canyon. Pontiac Canyon. French Canyon.
(will put the fuller photography into this post once I get around to exporting.)
After 3-4 hours at the state park, tired and aching, I returned to the traveling caravan and departed towards St. Louis.
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Goddamn. Foodie sensibilities are kicking in.
It isn’t enough for me to roll through a McDonalds, or park at a Five Guys or Jersey Mikes to grab a bite. We’re on a road trip damnit! … Its about iconic places and cultural eats.
As it turns out, searching for an unconventional eat on Google Maps, not intending to find an iconic place, you might find yourself on a path through history. … My tires pulled off of the interstate, and graced the pavement of a particular road that I didn’t intend to be on, but was surprised and happy.
The famous Route 66. … The Illinois portion at least.
Long lost to the sands of history, buried underneath Trumans Federal-Aid Highway Act, the specter of suburban sprawl, and late-stage capitalism giving the middle finger to its younger self, the motorway has since seen some revival and repaving, but it still felt momentous to be driving it.
I decided there was no need to get back to the interstate, and instead roll down the historic road for about 30 miles. Ultimately, my destination was the Cozy Dog Drive-In, one of the old establishments from 1949.
I stopped in, had me a dog and fries, and observed the wide array of paraphernalia from younger days in the 20th century. Photos, road signs, old souvenirs, trinkets, jukebox, wall decor,… a vibe of an earlier alive.
Of course, I don’t really have room for junk, though my car was a newer model and hadn’t yet been christened with the coverings of bumper decals that were celebratory of my travels. A simple “Route 66” road sign decal would do. … And some postcards.
People dont sent postcards must nowadays. The internet made its utility obsolete, though in the wake of such, the sentiment of sending them has magnified. It has become an even more quaint way (amongst millennials with fixed mailing addresses at least) to tell friends and family that you care about them.
I called the visit my capstone for the evening!
I can roll into St. Louis and crash on the bed at the AirBnB in peace!
The moment I saw the archway, I remembered seven years ago.St. Louis left a bad impression last time. Sure, the City Museum and the graffiti art in the walls around the arch were solid experiences, but one fatally bad AirBnB can ruin a lot!
Crazy ladies sending you out with their daughter to pick up beer, constantly asking for money, and crashing in the kitchen while you slept in the living room getting eaten by bedbugs will do that.
Let’s roll the dice and see what STL has this time around.