Our pants are on fire- we are belting across America. It must be the pull of home. We are not tired, we are enjoying it and don’t really want to stop. And of course we want to make the most of the good weather
And we reach a milestone. We cross the mighty Ohio river then 5 minutes later the mighty Mississippi. During that 5 minutes between the rivers we were in Illinois. The Ohio crossing
The mighty Mississippi
Now we are in Missouri
Then we ride along the levee on the other side. Never saw a Chevy on the Levee though.
And then it is through the cotton fields. The cotton is just being harvested and there are cotton fluffs a’blowin across the road
We stay at a town called Poplar Bluff
Next day the weather forecast looks a bit dodgy
Fortunatly we only have about 30 minutes of light rain
It is pumpkin time in America
This little number below is called a “Hubbard Warted Squash “. Truly ! Not to be confused with a “Watered Squashed Hubbard “! Is’nt beautiful? Warts and all you might say
Noting that the Hubbard name has worldwide recognition we ride on in a happy frame of mind
Missouri is a conservative state. It has a Mennonite community. However times are changing
Then if you prefer Opioids then you pop into this shop - very conveniently located behind the local McDonalds
From Missouri we flick into Kansas after staying over in Joplin, Missouri. Joplin is on the old Route 66 as it used to wind from Chicago
to LA
At Joplin we watch the Democrat election debate on TV. 10 candidates vying for the nomination and the chance to roll President Trump. It was a fascinating window not just into American politics but also the American psyche. No where else in the world would you get 10 people appealing to the nation to allow them to become President of a nation. But at the moment in America there is a feeling that democracy is being redefined and not in a healthy way. The most powerful statement from the debate in my opinion was the one that said that the possible impeachment is not just about Trump but it is about the future shape of American politics for generations to come. Interesting times indeed in America and we were lucky to see through the window of the debate
Back to the road
Kansas is cattle country - big time. There is quite a silo mentality here - there are feed silos everywhere
There is a big meat works just out of the town we are staying in. It processes 6,000 steers a day and produces a total of 1,000,000 lbs of hamburger patties a day. And it is not the only plant on town
We go to a steak restaurant for dinner. I think that if you asked for a vegetarian meal in this town they would call up the sheriff, run you out of town and leave you naked on the roadside. I have a steak thanks. !
We are now only 6 days riding from LA. It is getting close. Two more blogs?
Comments
Home is calling and you are full of energy to leave this place behind, rightfully so. Home is home and what an epic accomplishment to have circumnavigated our globe on the red head! It truly is wildly amazingly fantastic! What is the odometer reading on the redhead ? Safe journey home! Jenny and Scott