Having spent three days on the Mighty Mississip, I am beginning to see just how mighty it is. In Dubuque, we experienced a river that seemed to meander at a manageable pace. We saw a riverfront plaza with steps leading right into the water, and walked down the steps to reach out our hands to touch the water. It was idyllic and calming.

The river here in St. Louis is an entirely different beast, meeting up with several major tributaries -- the Illinois, the Missouri, and the Ohio -- each confluence adding interesting twists and a whole lotta volume. Looking down at the Mississippi from atop the Gateway Arch, we saw a wider, deeper, muddier, and much faster-moving river. A river carrying large bundles of debris as it churned past tree-covered islands, oil refineries, riverboat casinos, and farmland. A river that didn't look very inviting at all.