North Carolina - Day 1; July 9, 2009

Chris and I left home at 6:00 AM. It was 72 degrees, great riding weather. We left the KC area on Hwy 50 east in Missouri. Our first stop was around 100 miles down the road in Sedalia, MO. We continued east on 50 past Jefferson City to Hwy 63 south and around 100 miles later we had a butt break in Vienna, MO. While on the road I heard some fantastic song lyrics; "God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy." It is probably an old song but it was the first time I heard it. It is so true.

We continued south on 63 to Hwy 68 south and Hwy 8 east. Near Meramec Spring Park the odometer on my motorcycle rolled over 70,000 miles! Good Goldwing. After a stop for gas in Steelville we stopped in Potosi, MO for lunch at the Dos Primos Mexican Restaurant. It was larrapin good.

At Park Hills we rode south on Hwy 67 to Hwy 72 south and east to Cape Girardeau. It became obvious past Fredericktown, MO on Hwy 72 that a serious storm (tornado?) blew through the area sometime earlier. Roofs were damaged and vast areas of wooded land had numerous uprooted and damaged trees.

We stopped at 2:30 PM after a total of 380 miles. It was 95 degrees and very humid. We spent the night at a Super 8 Motel in Cape Girardeau, MO.

While there I noticed a dirty orange Goldwing with an aluminum tank on the back seat. The license plates indicated it was from the state of New York. I met the owner, Gary Johnson. A serious Iron Butt rider. He had the aluminum tank for extra gas to reduce the number of stops for fuel. The bike had other modifications for distance riding such as no lock on the lid that provides access to the fuel tank. That way he doesn't have to take the time to unlock it. He claims to have ridden 100,000 miles in a single year. He was an interesting fellow.For all pictures taken today click on the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/goldwinger.shawnee/NorthCarolinaRideDay17909?feat=directlink