Natural bridge makes great day trip

Dear Readers,This will be a column that will share information about trips you and your family can take to interesting spots around Southeast Missouri and beyond. Most of them will be trips that can be made in one day. Most are free, the only cost being the gas to get you there. They are great spots for picnics and family outings.

I have been a professional magician for 55 years, and in that time I have done magic for more than 150 of Missouri's public schools, hundreds of nursing homes, car dealerships and many other businesses. As a result I have been all over the state: I have done magic in Maryville, which is in the far northwest corner, Neosho, which is the far southwest corner, Cooter, which is in the far southeast corner and Hannibal, which is in the far northeast corner of the state.

In my travels I have learned much about our state. Walt Disney lived as a child in Marceline, George Washington Carver lived in Neosho, J. C. Penney opened his first store in Hamilton, Steve McQueen lived outside of Slater, one of the world's greatest clowns, Emit Kelly, lived in Houston (which, by the way, is in Texas county) and, of course, Mark Twain lived in Hannibal.

And now, after all that information about Missouri, our first column is about the natural bridge in Illinois.

This trip can be made easily in one day. When you get there you can picnic, so take a lunch along. Around the natural bridge you will find many rock outcroppings and some that look almost like caves. It is roughly 30 miles from Cape Girardeau.

A fascinating site, this stone arch or "natural bridge," as they are often referred to, was formed by the forces of erosion over millions of years. This natural bridge and other rock outcrops in the area consist of sandstone, which is a fairly soft bedrock. Water erosion had the most powerful effect here, whereby it gradually washed away softer, less resistant sandstone leaving a natural rock bridge, spanning 90 feet.

Driving directions:From Cape Girardeau, go across the Mississippi River bridge four miles to Highway 146 north. Follow the highway for about 12 miles, then turn right at Ware. Turn north on Highway 127, which is a few miles before you get to Anna, Ill. A few miles up the road, you turn left on the Pomona Road, then west. About a mile down the road, you will see a large building on your right, which an country store. Head straight about three miles and then turn left and proceed to the park where the natural bridge is located.

The people who own the store gather all sorts of herbs and sell them, but they also have ice cream cones. It's well worth a stop.

It is neat to take someone to the bridge, blindfold them or have them cover their eyes and then lead them to a spot straight up a trail where you turn slightly to your right and you can see the natural bridge. At that point, take off the blindfold or have them uncover their eyes, and there is the bridge.

Send your comments, questions or suggestions to Bill Coomer in care of the Southeast Missourian; P.O. Box 699; Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-0699 or by e-mail to bcoomer@semissourian.com.