Southern Missouri Ride

Our good friends, Mel & Trisha, had been gone for most of a week to the deep south visiting plantations, doing swamp tours, and touring civil war battlegrounds.  Chris and I were finally able to join them as they were on their way home.

Day 1; Friday; June 28, 2013

We left home at 9:00 am under blue clear skies with a temperature of 75.  BUENO weather!  Branson was our destination for the day and we took the most direct route.  We had lunch at one of our most favorite restaurants near Boliver, MOlunch in Bolivar, MO; 6/28/13and then booked it on to Branson.

As we pulled into the parking lot of the Lynina Inn (http://www.lyninainn.com/) at 1:40 we found Mel & Trisha unloading their beast.  We’d ridden 225 miles with a high temp of 89.  Mel & Trisha rode in from Hot Springs, AR.  We all took a refreshing dip in the motel pool and then went out for a murder mystery dinner theater at Ozark Murder Mysteries.  There were funny parts to the play but I would not recommend it for future viewing.  After the dinner theater Mel led us on about a 30 mile ride around Branson which culminated in a stop at a DQ . . . . a really good day.

Day 2; Saturday; June 29, 2013

Mel & Trisha were on their way to Springfield for a family reunion so Chris and I decided to take a short ride around southern, Missouri.  We took off down Hwy 13 and then 2 miles west on Hwy 86, where we stopped at Dogwood Canyon (http://www.dogwoodcanyon.org/).6/29/13We paid almost $13 each for the privilege of walking 3.2 miles to the southern end of the park . . . . . and then turn around and walk 3.2 miles back.  Chris and I are athletes!  Most of Dogwood Canyon is in Missouri but the walk took us into Arkansas so we walked in two states.

The “Glory Hole” is what most consider the highlight of the park.  It consists of a pool of water with a cave at the far side and a rock overhang from which a waterfall flowed into the pool.  As we were taking in the sight I was pretty sure I heard the sound of a motor coming from deep in the cave.  A park employee walked by so I asked him what was causing the noise.  He told us it was the spirits of dead Osage Indians beating on their drums.  (He must have been asked this before.)  Then he came clean and told us it was a noisy water pump that was pumping water from the pool below to the waterfall above.  So much for a natural waterfall.

chapel at Dogwood Canyon; 6/29/13Dogwood Canyon was a pretty area but after the story of the Glory Hole we wondered how many of the other natural falls were really natural.  Also . . . . I can say with certainty that 6.4 miles is too far to walk!  Should you decide to visit the park yourself, know that other tour options are available (tram, bicycle, and Segway).  You can also do some trout fishing in the park.

Our next stop was Holiday Island, AR.  From there we rode across the one lane golden gate bridge to Beaver, AR.  I took my cute little beaver into Beaver, Arkansas!Beaver, AR; 6/29/13

After Beaver we took a pretty ride to Roaring River State Park.  There we enjoyed a very late lunch at the lodge.  With satisfied bellies we rode Hwys 248, 176 and 13 to Springfield, MO arriving at 5:15.

That morning we made reservations at the Lamplighter Inn (south) because that is where Mel & Trisha were staying and having their family reunion.  After checking in we found out that we were in a room right next to Mel & Trisha’s . . . . . . . . . .amazing!

Next door to the Lamplighter Inn was a hoochie-koochie joint.  I think Mel snuck out of the motel that night with a pocket full of one dollar bills.next door to our motel; 6/29/13

Chris and I found a DQ for our evening treat and then relaxed in our room.  Today we rode 160 miles and got a lot of exercise (did I say we walked 6.4 miles????).  Our high temperature was 88 down in Arkansas but that was a very brief temperature.  Most of the day was in the 70’s and low 80’s.  Another great day.

Day 3; Sunday; June 30, 2013

We departed Springfield at 8:40.  It was cloudy and a cool 65.Trisha & Mel in Springfield, MO; 6/30/13

Melvin did a masterful job of route planning.  Missouri back roads took us through Walnut Grove, Eudora, Bona and Stockton to El Dorado Springs where we stopped for a break.  Out next stop was in Butler, MO for gas.

We rode through Virginia and Amsterdam in Missouri and past the La Cygne power plant in Kansas.  The last stop of the day was at the La Mesa Mexican Restaurant in Louisburg, KS.  We had a tasty lunch before riding on home.

We rode 220 miles today with a high temperature of 79.  A third beautiful day.  Life is GOOD.

For more pictures from this ride click on the following link: https://plus.google.com/photos/104542123131082631220/albums/5895421867325583169?authkey=CPrRyIrCgrSwswE

Comments

Marsha Toler said…
Wow, sounds like a really nice trip. Thanks for sharing!

Marsha
July 1, 2013 at 8:44 AM
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