Taking the side roads through North City St. Louis.

I had two errands to run today, one far north and one in midtown. Looking the map, I decided to go north first as it would allow me to venture through neighborhoods I haven’t explored before. Specifically, I’d recently learned about College Hill being grazing grounds for Saint Louis University and the treasure hunter in me hoped to find relics of this time.

I’m pretty certain the university’s dairy cows grazed what is now O’Fallon Park. It was sunny and warm, so the park was poppin’. A stunning white bird flying over the pond caught my eye, and I realized there were nests filling trees on an island in the middle. A friend told me this was an egret rookery. I found an egg on the ground, not sure if it was from a duck, goose, or egret.

I allowed myself to be distracted by the neglected architecture around. Even the duplexes in the neighborhood got mansion-treatment. I couldn’t tell whether an old bowling alley was now a food pantry, or a quick mart, or both. It was an energizing detour, but I needed to keep moving.

Take the side roads.