Retired and Trippin

Here it is, that time between Thanksgiving and Christmas when I should be dieting and preparing to pig out on the Christmas feast (or feasts).  Instead I’m in a feeding frenzy. Last night Chris and I went out to eat with friends and neighbors, Joyce and Tom.  We went to the Cheesecake Factory on the Plaza and, though Chris and I split an entree, that piece of cheesecake (cheesecake layered with red velvet cake) almost did me in. This morning, at 7:00, I met some friends at the Big Biscuit in Shawnee for breakfast. After resting for awhile I rode to Gary’s house in DeScroto where 7 of us met for a ride to Wellsville for lunch at Smokey’s BBQ. I really enjoyed my burnt end dinner.   If I had to do it over again, however, I would have had their baked beans instead of fries.  They really looked good. Since it was a beautiful day (sunny and 60+) we took a little ride to let the meal settle; south to Hwy 68, west to Pomona, north to Hwy 56, east to 2200 (or somet

We left our motel in Ozark, MO shortly after 9:00 and headed north to Pomme De Terre State Park.  It was cloudy and 35 degrees. Our plan was to walk the Cedar Ridge Trail on the north side of the lake but we arrived two days too late. Access to that part of the park was closed from December through February.  Instead we drove to the boat ramp area, parked the car and walked the park roads in that area. We thought about having a picnic but the water level was too high.  Not to mention the fact that it was brrrr-titty cold. Before leaving the park I checked the map and planned a route of back roads to Hwy 13 near Lowry City.  I was pleasantly surprised when I realized the route would take us through Iconium, MO.  I recently heard about Iconium from two different people.  It has a general store that also sells food and they are famous for their peach floats. And so we stopped at Scott’s General Store (also known as Scott’s Iconium Store). Chris bought some greeting cards and a 12-pa

One of my Facebook friends posted a link recently that identified 5 ghost towns in Missouri ( http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/missouri/ghost-towns-mo/ ).  Chris and I departed at 10:00 this morning on a car trip with a goal of visiting three of them. In Carthage, MO we stopped at the Pancake Hut Family Dining restaurant for lunch.  I had an excellent Texan Burger while Chris enjoyed her chicken strips.  We also rode around the beautiful Jasper County Courthouse on the square in Carthage.  I should have taken a picture. Our first “ghost town” was Avilla, which the article described as a “living ghost town.”  The sign said there are 125 residents so it really is living.  I’m not sure how this qualifies as a ghost town.  There were some old buildings so I took a few pictures.  This bank turned post office was built in 1915. The next ghost town was Jollification, MO.  It is now the site of Jolly Mill Park.  The mill, which was once part of the town, is located on Capps Creek.  It also