I don't know if it's because I have not had pizza in a long time, or if the Joplin KOA serves the best pizza ever, but we had a great dinner!
Today was very full and satisfying for me. There was a bit of breeze in the air, but it still made it to 90 degrees. I hear rumors that it will cool off on Wednesday and I look forward to it.
While leaving Lebanon this morning, I stopped at the local Waffle House, my daughter's favorite breakfast place. Sitting at the counter provides quite a show on a Sunday morning. It's like watching a ballet.
Today was very full and satisfying for me. There was a bit of breeze in the air, but it still made it to 90 degrees. I hear rumors that it will cool off on Wednesday and I look forward to it.
While leaving Lebanon this morning, I stopped at the local Waffle House, my daughter's favorite breakfast place. Sitting at the counter provides quite a show on a Sunday morning. It's like watching a ballet.
Then we found the coolest rest stop on I-44 West Bound. It's called the Route 66 Welcome Center and each of the picnic table areas is set up as a site along the route. The bathrooms even matched the decor of mid-century Route 66. As we were leaving, a lady walking her dogs waved to us as if she recognized us. I wondered if she has been a follower of this blog.
Then we located the best city along the route yet, in my opinion. Springfield, MO looks like a great place to spend more time. Bungie was disappointed that the Springfield Visitor Center is not open on Sundays.
We passed the Gillioz Theater and confused this lady who couldn't figure out why I was taking her picture.
Central Park Square looked very inviting as we drove by looking for the Birthplace of Route 66 Roadside Park.
I especially liked these mosaic signs along the retaining wall across from the park. It looks like the the mosaics are made of broken dishes or pottery. Another story I will have to wonder about.
Springfield is home to the Route 66 Car Museum, also closed on Sundays.
And I really advise enlarging this picture to check out the establishment's name. That was a big joke when I was a youngster.
This mural of classic cars caught my eye in Springfield.
Driving down the old Route 66 is so much better than interstates.
As I got to Gay Parita, I found a young Asian man standing in the middle of the road taking pictures of the Sinclair Station. Luckily, there isn't much traffic along the old route in this part of the state. But this Sinclair Station looks quite interesting. It was a loving restoration of the 1930's station.
I found several old bridges, and there was a motorcycle rider standing on the second one. I was wondering if his name was Billie Joe and what he was throwing off the bridge...
There are many buildings made of stones in this part of the country. I wondered about the men and women who dug up those stones and built walls of them so long ago. I really got off the beaten path when a detour took me to the Hangar Cafe way outside of Miller, MO.
This appears to be a restaurant at a small airport and skydiving school. The red car caught my interest, and again I wonder what the story is. How did a Jaguar from Florida end up in the place in the middle of nowhere? I was also struck by these silo's. How do you suppose their name is pronounced?
Of course, I managed to find myself with no choice but this gravel road to get back to Route 66. Really I am a bit surprised that it has not happened before now.
It felt like I had reentered civilization when I saw this odd FoxFire Farm display in Carthage.
And the Boots Court Motel. It looks like it would be a fun place to stay.
The Jasper County Courthouse is breathtaking. According to my sources it is made of local Carthage marble. I think it looks like it belongs in Disneyland or World.
On the way out of Carthage, you pass the 66 Drive-In Theatre.
I really wasn't so sure that I could fit through this underpass, but I had to laugh when I passed a large RV headed in the opposite direction after I made it through.
Carterville has this sign at Comets Park on Route 66. They also had a lot of carnival rides and stuff near the park but not set up. I don't know if that is part of the display or I missed the carnival yesterday.
Webb City has the Lego Movie showing at the Route 66 Movie Theater.
This mural found in Webb City has the St. Louis skyline in the background and maybe their courthouse in the foreground.
I have found this mural in Joplin, but there is a Route 66 Mural Park that I am hoping to see tomorrow. And then we go to Kansas, the shortest stretch through a state on this trip.
Again, a fun and full day. It feels like a have lots of others sharing my journey. Thanks for joining me, happy trails!
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