USA Journey Autumn 2014 -October 8

Shortly after leaving Rapid City, SD on October 4^th we began seeing large billboards every few miles for  “Wall Drug” for 5 cent coffee, homemade old fashion donuts, souvenirs, cafe seating for over 500, 'travellers chapel', blocks of parking for big rigs and trucks, etc.  How could we resist? So this town of 800 people, has these old-west buildings that span 2 blocks and have every ‘ware’ you can think of. A fun stop in the middle of nowhere and the best donuts!

Next stop was for diesel and had free coffee and free deep fried gizzards with fill up; go figure!!!  So had to accept their offer; well only Linda ate the gizzards and not bad. The coating was just like the Colonel’s!

Travelling thru Nebraska, the "Corn Husker" state, the countryside was beautiful in the midst of the harvest. We drove past endless corn crops and trains hauling coal (coal fuels two-thirds of the electricity produced in Nebraska) Located in North Platte, Nebraska, is the world's largest rail yard (Bailey Yard's 2,850 acre, eight mile wide yard) where on average 140 separate trains carrying 14,000 rail cars roll through daily.

We came across our first tornado shelter at tonight’s campground amongst the cornfields; a foreign concept to us.

Enjoying one of many gin rummy games

Linda working on the blog

Onto Missouri and staying in Kansas City for 2 nights. The city is crazy as their Kansas City Royals, who have not been in the playoffs for 29 years, swept their series tonight. We played our first round of golf at Winterstone in Independence (for $20 pp including a cart!), on a beautiful and challenging course.  Then went to see Truman’s home and Library. After wandering downtown KC, we went to the ‘Flying Saucer Pub’ for a fun stop; should have been here last night as some KC Royal players were here and apparently picked up the $15,000 tab that the patrons ran up, in one hour post game.

October 7^th and a short days drive to St. Louis for 2 days.  We have a great location with walking trails along the Missouri River right behind our campground.






The Gateway Arch landmark (on the mighty, but muddy Mississippi) on the riverfront was a highlight here. You travel by “little” 5 person window-less tram cars, taking about 4 minutes to the top. Not for the claustrophobic at all; squished in like sardines!!!  But what a view from the top!  In one of the pictures you can see Busch stadium below where the Cardinals also played last night. We are amongst baseball crazy fans again.  We wandered the parks and cobblestone streets of the waterfront area of downtown.

Viewing windows at top of arch

Pods to travel to top of arch

Not a 'biffy',but the inside of the pod / tram car

October 8^th and departing Missouri for Nashville, crossing over the southwest parts of Illinois, across the massive Ohio River into the north area of Kentucky and then 2 hours later into Tennessee.  Travelled within 4 states in 5 hours; not something you can do in Canada.  Next blog: sights and sounds of Tennessee.