Southern Missouri - the highlights of Route 66
We are back on the Mother Road. After a lovely visit to the Kansas City area, today we returned south and got back on the path.
Geology Nerd
Peggy has been enjoying the road cuts along the southern Missouri highways. What she thought was limestone turns out to be dolomite, which is similar enough but with a different mineral composition. It’s thought that the dolomite was originally created as limestone, then calcium was replaced by magnesium, turning the rock to dolomite over time.
ReTired
We had an unexpected stop in Joplin, Missouri. When Collin and Shaun were working on the wheel bearings, they noticed the uneven wear on our trailer tires. So, we called ahead and made an appointment to get new shoes on Curby. Discount Tires was very helpful and had us back on the road in just over an hour. It was an unexpected detour and expense, but much better than having a blowout on the highway.
Back on Track
We saw the sites of Joplin, then found our way back to Route 66 and headed east once again. We stayed on Route 66 as much as possible, making our way through lovely little towns along the route.
You See Some Strange Stuff on the Road
Today we saw the strangest thing. A 5th wheel trailer had a rack on the back, with two generators that were actually plugged into the RV! I guess that’s one way to run the fridge while traveling?
Boots Court Motel
In Carthage, we stopped to gawk at the Boots Court Motel. The building was designed in Streamline Moderne architecture in 1939. And its glory has not faded. With smooth stucco and black glass, it is a glorious throwback to one of or favorite eras.
Hey!
Or, Hay! We saw a lot of hayfields and large green expanses today.
Springfield
We stopped for the night in Springfield Missouri, at a KOA campground. We had to relocate after being settled for a short time, because of electrical issues, but they were super nice and helpful, and found a solution even though they are very full.
A Full Day
Even though we didn’t make a lot of Route 66 miles, it was a long day and we are glad to be settled for the evening.
Continuing
We will be making more stops, and less daily mileage, from here to the end of the line. We look forward to doing some exploring in Missouri and Illinois as we continue on the final quarter of the Mother Road from Santa Monica, California to Chicago, Illinois
