FROM READERS: Highlights from my big summer trip

John Hall frequently photographs his mid-Missouri surroundings, and he has been sharing his images with the Missourian for several years.

Probably a round trip from Columbia to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 50 hours, couldn't carry the title of big trip. But, the big camera made the trip and an attempt was made to snap a few photos taken along the way with the vehicle going 70 mph except through Illinois. With road vibration and tinted windows, most cameras have a tough time coping.

It's tough to pick out the highlight of the trip other than seeing my youngest grandson for the first time since he went off to Purdue University for the summer. I suspect most of you have seen Interstate-70 sometime since Dwight David Eisenhower authorized it.  

The photos attached are a few things that come under the heading of "big" on the trip.

This story is part of a section of the Missourian called From Readers, which is dedicated to your voices and your stories. We hope you'll consider sharing. Here's how. Supervising editor is Joy Mayer.

The Big Foot at Hazelwood, Mo: Those aren't the largest tires I ever saw by a long shot since I lived in Topeka, Kansas where Firestone made many earth moving vehicle tires that dwarfed those. These kind of tires were used on the building of the Alaska pipeline back in the day when such things were legal.  I'm talking about extracting oil.   ¦  JOHN HALL/MISSOURIAN READER

The Big cross at Effingham, Illinois:  It's not the biggest cross I had ever seen since I had seen it many times in the past.   ¦  JOHN HALL/MISSOURIAN READER

The big whiff: This is Lance Berkman pinch-hitting for the first time since getting off the disabled list.  Any kind of contact with the ball would have brought in a run that would have won the game. But, he struck out.   ¦  JOHN HALL/MISSOURIAN READER

Big tussle for first base: It appeared that four guys wanted the first base bag and none of them were willing to give it up. This was at Cincinnati on Saturday July 14.   ¦  JOHN HALL/MISSOURIAN READER

The Big bust:  This place used to bill itself as an Elvis museum.  But, times have changed and Elvis has given way to the Baptists.   ¦  JOHN HALL/MISSOURIAN READER