Road Trip! Flea Markets and Motorcycles…

                Last Saturday, a friend and I made the trip across the mighty Mississippi River to Grafton, Illinois to their monthly flea market.   While the flea market was fun, the road trip was worth the day.

                First, we got lost.  I love getting lost.  My friend was driving, and didn’t seem so excited about it, but I enjoyed the side trip.  We ended up driving through a working class area in northern St. Louis (I believe she referred to the area as North County).  As with so many neighborhoods around here, there were a number of abandoned houses, their charm marred by broken windows.

                We crossed the river at Alton and followed it up to Grafton.  Limestone bluffs towered above the road on our right while the river flowed south on our left.  While I don’t think that this fall is going to produce brilliant fall foliage, most years the trees lining the road must be spectacular. 

                Grafton’s flea market is in an old warehouse called the Loading Dock on the waterfront.  The warehouse was packed with vendors selling everything from old tools and glassware to yard art made from flatware.  I really wanted a butterfly made from spoons, but I talked myself out it.  If the artist is there next time I go, I am definitely getting myself a butterfly. 

                My favorite was a guy who was creating wire wrapped jewelry while you waited.  I picked out a beautiful stone bead of I don’t know what and watched while he created a pendant just for me.  It was so odd; he didn’t know I am a butterfly person, but by the time he had finished wrapping the bead, there was a butterfly twisted into the wire.

                After we were done at the flea market, we went wandering around town.  The streets were filled with motorcycles, all kinds of motorcycles.  Most of them were cruisers, but there were some sport bikes and dual sports.  While we were in Grafton’s Artisan Village, a shop that featured crafts by local artists, we learned that they were there for a charity ride sponsored by a local company.  The longer we walked around, the more motorcycles seemed to converge on town. 

                On the far end of Grafton from the flea market is Iron Decor N More, a metal work shop.  He may not make his yard art out of spoons, but his wind sculptures are fabulous.  And, after spending some time walking around town, it was apparent that they are also an integral part of local decor.  They can be found on restaurants, in front of shops, and adorning houses all around town. 

                Regular readers of this blog know of some of the things my mom and I have done or want to do together here in St. Louis, but Grafton is something I am looking forward to sharing with my dad.  I’m pretty sure Mom is going to have a good time too!

The Flea Market at the Loading Dock: http://www.graftonloadingdock.com/flea_market.html

Grafton's Artisan's Village: http://enjoygrafton.com/grafton/place.cfm?pid=1008&src=attractions

Iron Decor N More: http://www.irondecornmore.com/cart/?CFID=111164555&CFTOKEN=62715205