Exploring the Mississippi River area of Southern Illnois.

On the road early - 7:30 a.m.    First stop was Chester the home of Popeye and all the characters that go along with him.  Popeye was created by E.C. Segar.  As a youth he worked at the local Opéra House and showed an early talent for illustrating.  He took a mail order cartooning course.  He created "Thimble Theatre" which was a comic strip that featured cartoon characters posing as "actors" in daily skits.  Eventually the strip centered on the Oyl family (Papa Cole Oyl, mom Nana Oyl, daughter Olive Oyl, and son, Caster Oyl).  Popeye took center stage following his debut in 1929.  Most of the cartoon characters were inspired by Chester residents.  Chester is home to Popeye & Friends Character Trail which are granite statues of the characters placed around town.

Bluto (also known as Blutus) was Popeye nemeses and also hoped to gain the love of Olive Oyl. 

Popeye the Sailor Man

All day yesterday and now today we find that Lewis and Clark passed this way as they prepared for the big 1803 trip west.  We are used to seeing Lew and Clark info as we travel west but were surprised that their story touched Illinois.

Olive Oyl, adopted child Swee'pea and Jeep.

Wimpy - the hamburger loving friend of Popeye.
"I will gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today."

Mural of the four main characters.

Mural of Mr. Segar and the Thimble Theatre characters.

Carol, Betty and I.

Nana Oyl.  

Popeye's dad, Poopdeck Pappy

Harold Ham Gravy was a former beau of Olive

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Mark and Carol volunteers to go first on Snake Road.

Stone cliff at the entrance of "Snake Road."  Betty was the only one of the four of us who saw a snake.

Rules for walking on "Snake Road.":

Betty and I at the Bald Knob Cross.

Sisters

It was another great day of sight-seeing, good conversation, good fellowship, and family time.  We had a picnic lunch at Bald Knob.  There was a beautiful view to enjoy as we ate.  Betty and Mark had taxi service for grandkids and cross-country meets to attend so we relaxed back at our camp the rest of the evening.