Blogs from Missouri, United States, North America

THE BASICS We woke on Tuesday to a light dusting of snow and very cold temperatures, but set out to continue our journey. We drove as far as Garden City, Kansas. Next day, we started toward Wichita but discovered the wind from the north as we were driving east-west was frightening. So we followed advice at a Dodge City visitors center and headed on a northeastward diagonal to I-70 to Salina. Our next day's short drive was to Abilene, where we toured the Eisenhower boyhood home and museum. Friday, on to Paxico, where we stayed two nights. We spent some time at Fort Riley but our main interest was to drive through the Flint Hills south of Paxico, to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, the largest remaining undeveloped stretch of prairieland. After a brief side trip ... read more

Day 2 of our journey, and we started by celebrating our 43rd Anniversary. We started out this morning at 9:00 am after enjoying a full breakfast in the Patio Room of the Hotel. Our first Anniversary gift was a parking ticket from the town of Huntington. We entered Kentucky at 9:15 am and started to look for blue grass, haven't seen any yet. We are heading to Lexington, Ky to visit the Mary Todd Lincoln house. These are some of the interesting facts about Mary Todd Lincoln. Mary was an aristcrate, she lived in a 14 room house, formally educated for 10 years and came from very large blended family. She spoke French fluently. Abe Lincoln, although he had little formal education, he was a lawyer, and lived in a one room house. His family had ... read more

April 5, 13 This past weekend my 86-year-old mother, my siblings, my nieces, nephews, husband and I, all visited Hermann Missouri for the first time. None of us are from Missouri. We had a wonderful time at your restaurants, wineries and shops. Frankly, you have done a great job creating a wonderful hometown atmosphere in Hermann Missouri. Thank you. My purpose in writing you is to inform you, however, of one of your merchants. Since none of us had been to Hermann before, and had chosen your City largely based on the website, we called your Chamber and were recommended the Laughing Boar. In January we contracted with them and sent in $750 deposit. Since it wasn’t large enough for all of us, some of my siblings stayed next door at the Captain’s Neighbor and contracted ... read more

We spent the last few days in Branson, MO, celebrating our son, Jeffrey's, 29th Birthday! Most of you know Jeffrey is our only child and was born with special needs and .... that he is the light of our lives! Jeff loves music and dancing so we decided on a trip to Branson and took him to four shows. He was recognized at all of the shows when they announced his Birthday. Since he inherited his love of the spotlight from his Mother, he loved all of the attention. The 70's Show starring Barry Williams, better known as Greg Brady from the Brady Bunch, was the first show we saw. Not the greatest technically, but very entertaining and, as a huge Brady Bunch fan, Jeff loved it. The second show definitely lived up to it's name, ... read more

Here we are again, reflecting over the next month to come. I'm not known for my ability to plan ahead, let's say that i'm more of a come what may, go with the flow kinda guy. So decking myself out with the right equiptment hasn't been easy. With the Sahara and the Middle East in mind I know it's crucial to dress light, yet in Morocco, you have the Atlas Mountains, where frigid weather takes one's mind off the 120 f. of the Sahara below. Maybe Spain will be in the midst of a cold front in March? Or it might be more wise to pack a cotton sheet and make my own thawb? This is where I need to give praise to my girlfriend. A woman who's experience in the field could rival most people ... read more

Let's see... Oh. This week I sold my car and bought a one way ticket to Casablanca, Morocco and a solid backpack from Dynamic Earth in Springfield, MO. Ah, the homely Altra 65, a lightweight trekking pack which Arc'teryx made slightly too small to fit my flatscreen tv... Oh, wait! I sold my tv to buy a tent! I've been downsizing for the past few months. Rather bartering to accomidate the transition from sedentary comfort to my march through the interstitial space 5,000 miles away. I've also been playing the scavenger. Collecting gear, knowledge, and contacts wherever they may be found. My itinerary to date: Morocco, Marutania, Spain, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Greece, and Turkey. So the field school i've joined opens its classes April 6th, that gives me an entire month to backpack through Morocco, ... read more

yesterday we drove north of the city towards clark and visited the amish territory. neat little small holidings,white board houses, red dutch style barns, tiny churches and graveyads,horses and traps, children playing in the schoolyard, wearing traditional clothes...a humbling experience. the afternoon was spent on campus, visiting the several galleries and museums and later we experienced shakespeares famous pizza with mark and emily followed by a good icecream from the parlour across the road. almost an italian night out! today, saturday, we plan to go to jefferson city, the state capital with mark once he has finished his morning training and had his breakfasts ( plural )! some snow flurries as they are called here... photo on facebook... read more

What agreat way to start our adventure on New Year's Day morning...bright sunshine at Heathrow and an unrequested upgrade in World Traveller Plus with British Airways. An excellent flight to Chicago, 3 hours transfer in a not too thrilling airport and then a tiny weeny plane ( I couldn't stand up straight! ) to Kansas City where it was -12c. We rented our compact car from Alhamo ( you choose your own from the rental car park, so weird! )and then did the 2 and a half hour drive in the dark to Columbia without a hitch. Our Motel is fine, huge room and giant bathroom but all a bit tired looking. Off to see MArk now so am expecting some emotional father/son moments... Love to all and keep watching. F and A p.s. so far ... read more