Homeward Bound

Very dark and very windy and very very scarey.  We are in Kansas and if that is where the ruby slippers take you, no thanks.  We pulled off to a road side rest; they have the current weather broadcast over loud speakers.  Most people have pulled of the road and the signs say you can spend the night.  We are looking for low lying ditches and praying.

LOTS of H20, lightening and wind.  It doesn't seem that anyone else is much concerned, we will stay the night.

Big Beautiful Colorado!!!  We made it through the night and just over the border into Colorado we had blue skies and 50 degree weather at Vail Summit. 

It is so beautiful but we know that Colorado is close enough for a 2 week trip and we did see the Rockies on our last trip, we want to get closer to home. 

 Utah has al the National Parks and to think about the desert being scenic at home doesn't click but when you see it up close live in person it is wonderous. (is that a workd?)

Meet Kevin, for 3 years + years he devotes his summers to riding across America spreading the word.  In case you can't see it he has a lighted cross on his trailer.  It was about 110 degrees today and no shade for miles.

 
He did accept our offer of a sandwich and some ice cream.  His blog is Bike4God.com if you want to
know more.
 
John just finished another portion of his Louie Lamor book on tape and tells me this is where all the bad guys hung out just waiting to get ya.  I could leave you here.....

Utah is that much closer to home.

A wonderful ending to an adventure.  We are thankful for the opportunity and for our safety.  Thanks for all who came along and especially those who prayed for us.  We felt God's hand and knew that he was with us.  See ya around San Diego soon.  Love, Peace and Joy this day and always,  John and Shannon

Library Hopping

Independence Missouri, the hometown of Harry S. Truman.  We did have time for 3 games of backgammon and a walk before they opened.

I can see the similarity.  He could have used your help in 1945!   Truman surely took care of business and by the looks of things never slept his first year in office.  We spent 3 hours here, very interesting and great documentary films.
Truman's Oval Office, all the presidential libraries have replica's and the furnishings used while in office and their dishes.  Perks of being president.

Harry and Bess, their daughter and her husband are layed to rest here at the library.  Harry lived 20 years after he left office, he worked here on the grounds and established a teaching research center.

Honey, stop the car...too late and too fast, this one got away, doesn't look like they had good stuff?

Abilene Kansas, the childhood home of Dwight D Eisenhower.  The home has all the original furnishings and he lived here 20 years prior to going to West Point.  His Dad worked at the local creamery and then for the electric company.  He had 5 brothers. 

We still like "Ike"

Actually this is all I saw, John toured the inside and I did the home and then we compared notes, we are never going to get out of Kansas if we don't get going. 

More Baseball and St Louis

Right across from where we bought our ponchos and John bought, you guessed it, Tums.

They are removing the tarp, game delayed until 8 pm.

Finally, your name in lights!

Well not quite the Amheiser Busch plant but they do all the bottling for the 60 different flavors here.

This is better than beer any day!

On tap too.  John couldn't resist buying a hat.

St Louis is famous for their music, here is the Blueberry Hill Cafe.

See you do need good works, you can even buy them at a store.

John's friend Chuck, Berry.

The Silver Arch

Going to town, time to get cleaned up for St. Louis MO

There she is overcast and all.

No Becky Thatcher or Tom Sawyer cruise on Mississippi, the dock is under water.

Going up the Arch is like riding a huge enclosed ferris wheel.

The old courthouse from the top.

We parked the motorhome and rode our bikes.  We left at 9 and got back after the game at 10, a very long day...I thought we were on vacation.

Budweiser factory tour.  They didn't always bottle beer, during proabition it was a soda pop plant.

Descisions Descisions!

Beck's is on the line.

They did give us some samples, I wanted Miller Lite, apparently that is another brewery.

The Cards are playing...ok I am game.

The Hilton had patio seating and of course all the locals get the pics under the arch.

On top of the Hilton at the 360 restaurant you have amazing views of the stadium.  Yes it rains where ever we go, but we still have our fun.  This wasn't anything like the Red Sox game, barely a drizzle and our seats were covered.  Cards lost 1-7 against the Arizona Diamond Backs.

Well do ya think we remembered to bring our ponchos to the game, of course not.  Now we have clear to add to our blue and yellow ponchos.  The stadium was really cool and it was about 80 degrees so a lot of fun just walking around.

Vrooom Vrooom, Start your Engines!

The Motor Speedway, Indianapolis Indiana

The bogada viewing tower. We went up to the top floor to the owners lounge, not that impressive, the views were great.  They hold 6 big races every year.

The tour bus and driver who took us around the 2 1/2 mile track in 23 seconds, not.

Getting the feel for the Indy 500 winner's press conference.

The Greatest "Spectacle" in Racing. 

All the cars since the first race in 1904 except for war years when there was no race.

Even these cars went 60 MPH, more my speed, well I have been known to go a little faster.

Recognize the driver?