Day One of the Ride

I’m spending the night at the Honeysuckle Inn in tiny Mountain View, MO. I’m writing this from the little sports bar next door. Not sure why it’s called a sports bar since there are no TV’s and no sports memorabilia. It’s also the only place to get something to eat. Kind of this town’s version of Weavers. Folks are really nice.

I covered a lot of ground today – 505 miles and would have done more but I stopped twice to consult my maps. I’m a paper map guy even though my BMW comes with the most hi-tech GPS on earth. I just like to see the route before me and then ride it with some degree of confidence I know where I’m going. I had intended to camp tonight but the campground I chose is 70 miles behind me so good was my progress today.

I covered familiar ground until I rode past the Oaks Mall in Paducah. After that it was new ground. Cairo, Illinois is an old, old river town that Susan and I are going to visit the next time we are down to visit her mother. There are many old buildings from the riverboat trade days there including a U.S. Customs house.

The initial miles through southeast Missouri were flat farmland but not the farmland of our youth. It’s all massive, impersonal agribusiness. No Mom and Pop farms anymore. Kind of sad really.

I rode and am still riding U.S. 60. I had expected it to be a winding twisty 2 laner. NO. It seems 60 is the major artery to suck tourists in to Branson and the Ozarks. Its all 4 lane and really nice.  Just understand there’s nothing there but forest and little towns and I mean little towns.

My BMW did well today.  I am able to ride it standing up which relieves my backside. I stood up off and on all day and was glad for the pegs under my body as opposed to the Harleys with the pegs way out in front of the rider.

Did I mention there are bugs out here? Yes, lots of them. Glad I am wearing a full face helmet and have a windscreen.

I ride to Coffeyville, Kansas tomorrow to visit the site of the Dalton gang’s demise. It was their last bank robbery. The townspeople rose up and fought back killing almost all of the gang. Some of the towns people were killed in the shootout. I’ll visit the museum and the Chamber of Commerce which is located in the bank the Daltons tried to rob. Then it’s on to western Kansas. I’ll let you know where I am tomorrow night.

All is well and God is so very, very good.