2011 Mid Life Crisis Tour

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I was up and in the shower by 5:15 a.m., packed and availed myself of the free breakfast buffet.
I hit the road at 7:20 a.m., gassing at a Conoco convenience store on the way out of town.
Although the weather radar showed rain from Garden City to Dodge City and there was a red sky at dawn, I encountered only a few drops of rain and was glad to have the cloud deck to keep the rising sun out of my eyes.
I was in road zombie mode all day, stopping only to gas and use a restroom. I gassed at Kingman, Kans., Neodesho, Kans. and finally in Springfield, Mo. before I checked into the nearby HomeStay Inn. It was called the Eagles Lodge when I stayed here two years ago on the Wednesday after Labor Day.
I had the country fried steak at the nearby Shoney's.
Garmin said I could have made it home by 8 p.m., but I decided at Joplin that I didn't have another five hours in me.
I rode a somewhat more respectable 487 miles today.

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Photos

Red sky at morning, Sailor - take warning
Sunrise in Garden City, Kans.