Mark Twain's Cave and Thai Food

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Today was a driving day. Over the river and through the woods to Illinois we go. First stop? The world-famous Fast Eddie's. Fast Eddie's is a restaurant/bar in the tiny town of Alton, Illinois - right off the Mississippi River. It has been in business since 1921 when Anheuser Busch himself opened it up. The ownership changed hands until a man named Eddie Sholar bought it in 1981. The place exploded in popularity and he hasn't changed the prices on the food on the menu since he took over. The place sell over 4,000 half-barrels of beer a year and thousands of cases of beer as well. You have to get there before it opens and stand in line or you may not get a table. By the time we got there, we were pretty far back in the line, but we got a table and grubbed! Here is an example of the prices:

Two bratwurst
Two 1/2 pound cheeseburgers
Two baskets of fries
Two giant pork kabobs
Two giant steak kabobs

All this for $14!! (I didn't eat all this, by the way!)

After sitting and eating for a couple hours, we headed on a road trip through the countryside and towards Hannibal, Illinois. (Frank was driving, and I think all four of the rest of us fell asleep in a food coma at one point or another during the drive). Hannibal is where Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain (and author of the famous "Adventures of Tom Sawyer") grew up. We got there just in time to catch the last tour of the Mark Twain Cave. If you had read Tom Sawyer, you would know about the cave and Injun Joe. Twain spent several of his childhood years there and did a lot of exploring, and he based his books on his own experiences. The cave was pretty cool (there are miles and miles of tunnels) and stays an even 52 degrees year round. In fact, some crazy doctor kep his daughter preserved down there for two years after she died back in the 1800's.

After the cave, we drove back to O'Fallon to kick back a little, then headed out for some Thai food. Man, was that good! Also, it was amusing as all of the girls who work there have crushed on Paul. He practically had to beat them off with a stick! All in all, it was another good day full of laughs and things to see.

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Photos

Fast Eddie's
This was the line to get in at opening time.

Inside Fast Eddie's
Once you got in, this was the line to place your order.

Food prices
Check out how cheap everything is.

The cooking line
Where the magic happens.

Entrance to the Mark Twain Cave
Spooky.....well, not really.

Inside the cave
There are many, many side passages that open up just like these.

The crew
Matt, Frank and Thom inside the Mark Twain Cave. Matt isn't happy because his Theraflu wore off an hour earlier.

One of the exits
We didn't leave this way, but many people did back in the day.

Food hats
What cave tour isn't complete without burger, hot dog and pizza hats in the gift shop? Here I am with Paul, Matt and Thom.

View of the Mississippi River
From Lover's Leap, near the Mark Twain Cave. Legend has it that a couple Indian kids from opposite side of the tracks jumped off this cliff when their fathers forbid their love. Because joint suicide always seems a better alternative than....say...just running off together.

Thai dessert
We called it "Frog Eggs", and no, it wasn't nasty. It actually was very good. Warm tapiocca with coconut cream sauce in it. Mmmm. Tasty!