Weary of 70, we mapped another route that ran south of the great highway. Out of Higginsville ( do you believe there's a place named that?) we found 50 to cross Missouri.
Drought has been a constant on our trip. Throughout California and Colorado, we have seen rivers and reservoirs at all time lows. Western Missouri was no exception. Fields sat stunted by heat. Corn was chopped for silage because it couldn't fruit.
The Home Town Cafe was our breakfast stop. Friendly farmers chatted us up about the growing conditions. There hasn't been rain in this region since May. Corn and soybean crops have failed. They are writing this season off as a loss. Mature trees were dropping their leaves. Hard times prevail wherever we travel. Not good political news, we Easterners never hear about the losses here. It's daunting.
Moving into eastern Missouri, it was obvious that rain had visited. Route 50 treated us to curves and hills through lush farmland. Even here where there has been rain this year, the underlying truth is that farmers live and work this land where tornados have left their mark and farming is a crapshoot.
Turning onto route 44, we began a trip back in time as vestiges of Old Route 66 began to appear. We ate lunch at Route 66 State Park along a piece of the Mother Road, ending at an old bridge that never was repaired. Finding Route 66 is like searching for dinosaur bones - pieces here and there that one has to mentally connect to envision the past.
St. Louis arched it's eyebrow at us as we passed it by into Illinois. Route 55 brought us to Litchfield, a real bonanza for seekers of the old Mother Road. We ate at Ariston, a family restaurant that has been on Old Route 66 since the highway was built. Amazing in its history as well as its food, we stepped back into a time when service and quality were given gladly.
Tonight, again, our homeland creates another historic lullaby for us. Trains whistle by lonely, while visions of cross country travelers in coupes and sedans, on this once famous road, move by like ghosts. Honored to be riding here, we join those that came before. We've all come to look for America...
wow this has been a wonderful trip thanks for taking me along.
ReplyDelete