What day Is This?

Already we have lost track of time.Yesterday we gained an hour but today I don't know where it went! It was mainly a travel day, leaving Foristell, MO, and heading west. Missouri was surprisingly hilly and I 70 cut right across some beautiful countryside up and down and up and down.
Encountered some heavy downpours while yours truly was driving, but at least it wasn't dark!

After 3 hours, we stopped in Independence Mo (suburb of Kansas City) and toured Harry Truman's home. We could only see the downstairs, but what we saw was frozen in time. Even to the coat, hat and cane by the back door as if waiting for Harry to go for a walk. We decided not to do his library,etc. - it was so hot (97)and opted instead to hit the road. We had "hoofed' it to and from the visitors' center and were ready for air conditioning.

It was nearly another 6 hours to Gothenburg Nebraska. The drive was a picture postcard of what "Major Tom" called the breadbasket of America. However we saw no wheat - only corn and soybeans. Mile after mile...corn and soybeans. There was a pretty good wind all day (knocked down the fuel economy) which made all that corn and soybean wave in the breeze.
Farther into Nebraska cattle herds started appearing, mixing in amid the corn and soybeans.

The sky had been quite threatening making us aware of the danger of tornadoes and we're not used to seeing so far to the horizon -so it's an eerie feeling to be so 'exposed". Speed limit went to 75 and that was a lot of fun...heh, heh, heh
Tomorrow we head for the" Hills". And perhaps pictures - we're working on it!

Day 2 - Springfield, IL

After a free breakfast we drove Rt 36 to Springfield, IL, a straight shot to the Land O'Lincoln. The ride through this area was just what Big Tom had been imagining - fields of ready to harvest corn and soybeans and huge equipment at work. America's heartland broken up by a two lane highway. Along the way were some interesting homes desperately in need of TLC and at each one an old car that needed it even more. Also seen were wells pumping in the middle of the soybeans, moving up and down, like birds dipping their beaks in a puddle. Gas or oil, I don't know.

We took a guided tour of Abraham Lincoln's home (the only home he ever owned). Tours are free - the tickets are stamped for a specific time, but we didn't have to wait.. Not crowded at all.
It was amazing to me how small scaled the furniture was - no wonder people thought him gangly looking. Note to family...there was a fake Mary Lincoln white almond cake (made of Crisco, no doubt) displayed in the dining room. Now I am going to try it!
We then walked about 6 or 7 blocks to the new Lincoln Museum which is wonderful. Several theaters presenting films in addition to life size depictions of a log cabin and the White House. Most moving was the dimly lit room with Lincoln's coffin on a raised platform just as if we could have been passing by it in 1865. Of course there were galleries of memorabilia too.

We visited Lincoln's tomb before heading out of town. Quite impressive. The four statues at the corners were made of melted down Civil War cannons.The sun chose that moment to appear as the earlier part of the day had been cloudy with a brief shower that only made the heat wet.
Managed to get to East St.Louis in time to get pictures of the Memorial arch (across the Mississippi) before the sunset. WOW! We could see the arch looming ahead for quite a distance.
The Gateway Geyser that we were hoping to photograph with the arch in the background was not turned on , so that was disappointing. We did find an outlook tower that we climbed to get a better view. Hightailed it through St.Louis and on to Foristell, MO, where we are holed up at a Best Western along Interstate 70 and are outnumbered by trucks 10 to 1.

Day 1

Well, we've come as far in one day as pioneers would have travelled in a month! 609 miles - but don't expect us to keep that pace. We left after church and zoomed across I 80 until we picnicked (tablecloth and all) at the last rest stop before the border. Ohio was uneventful except for the speeding motorcyclist with the state police in hot pursuit - they may still be chasing him since we never saw any of them again.
Once we left Pennsylvania we went over two hills - one in Ohio and one in Indiana. I think we're approaching the flat lands. There were some beautiful farms and fields along the highway as we approached Indianapolis. Must make note of the gorgeous sunset - like a red rubber ball slipping below the horizon. Too bad our camera had slipped behind the driver's seat or we'd have had our first great picture. Tomorrow's another day!

Preparations are Advancing!

The gathering has begun - all those little things that you scurry around to put in the suitcase (or car) at the last minute. Well, not this time! Everything from the binoculars to the Imodium is being set aside in a place of prominence so as to not be forgotten - not that there aren't stores where we're going, but I've always said (as in the case for the Imodium) "When you have a cold, you can drag yourself to the drugstore, but if you need Imodium - you're up the creek!"

(Pronounced crick in PA).

Found out after the car was checked out that new tires are needed before we leave - they have apparently been wearing unevenly. Good Grief -we'll be in the hole ($$$) before we leave. But
we'll be covering thousands of miles so any help in making it a smoother ride will be beneficial.

Getting Ready

Plans are underway for a cross country road trip beginning August 29th.

Keep up or be left behind.