Retired and Trippin

After saying our goodbyes to John and thanking him for his hospitality, our travels started at 9:45 AM. It was cloudy and 70 degrees, though it felt cooler than prior mornings because the sun wasn't out. Our route today was 5 north, 135 north through Stover, M north and west, V west through Bahner and 65 north into Sedalia (home of the Missouri State Fair), where we stopped for lunch at Colton's Steak House & Grill. From Sedalia it was 50 west, I-470 west, I-435 west, 69 north and I-35 north. Our route covered about 160 miles and our high temperature was 80. The sun broke through before we arrived home. To see the few photos taken today click on the following link:  Day 3 Pics

We departed at about 8:30 and rode a short distance down Highway 5 to have breakfast at a restaurant in Greenview, MO. I think the name of the restaurant was Stewarts. It was a good breakfast. At about 9:40 we were riding south on Hwy 5 again. Our route today was 5 south, 7 south, 17 south, 32 east, 19 south, 160 west, 63 north, 60 west and 5 north back to the Lake of the Ozarks. I hope I got all that right. We stopped for gas (and butt breaks) twice. It was a beautiful 385 mile day with sun and a high temperature of 80 degrees. All photos were taken from the moving Poonie. To see all the photos taken today click on this link:  Day 2 Pics

The Spring Ride was a no-go this year due to COVID19. Today, Gary, Bill and I attempted to make up for that by taking a ride to the Ozarks area of Missouri. We may dip down into Arkansas too. We met up at the Quik Trip at 151 Street and 69 Hwy in Overland Park at 9:00 AM. The weather was excellent; sunny and 68 degrees. We departed at 9:05 and rode south on Metcalf. At 247th Street we turned east, rode into Missouri. At Cleveland we turned south a short distance to Hwy 2, which took us east to Freeman. From Freeman we rode back roads to Archie, where enjoyed a late breakfast. We were back on the road at 11:00 AM. From Archie, county road B took us east and then Gary started ad-libbing on our route. We took a circuitous route (we actually went through Blairstown) on back roads until we intersected with Hwy 7 at Creighton located north and west of Clinton. Hwy 7 took us into Clinton where we picked up Hwy 52 east. This route took us through Calhoun, Windsor and Cole Camp. We sto

Chris and I have been to the headwaters of the Mississippi River. We've been to the headwaters of the Missouri River. We've been to the area of the headwaters of the Arkansas River. The Kansas River runs near our home and we see it often but I had no idea where it started. Back in 2016 we went to Kaw Point Park, where the Kansas River runs into the Missouri River, so we know where the Kansas River ends. The other day I finally researched it and found that the Kansas River starts on the east side of Junction City where the Republican River and the Smoky Hill River meet. Time for a road trip! Chris and I left home today at 9:40. It was a very cool day for mid-May, 45 degrees and cloudy. Our route to Junction City was back roads all the way - almost. From Bonner Springs we drove 32 and 40 west, to near Lawrence and then 24 west to Manhattan. Then it was 18 west and and I-70 west (briefly) to Junction City. In Manhattan we drove by the campus of Kansas State University and