Day 7 Aug 6

Strafford to Joplin MO

Mileage 96

The big news is I made zero mistakes navigating the route and arrived without any problems.   The route was all Old route 66 and the road makers were clear so it was easy except in the towns and there I was extra careful about.  

Towns passed through:

Strafford

Springfield

Hilton 

Paris Springs

Spencer

Phelps (did not even slow the traffic for)

Avilla (again not even a slow down from the road speed of 65)

Carthage

Carterville

Webb City

Joplin

Springfield is pretty and seems to be growing lots of nice parks and pretty buildings. We would have stoped at the museum but it was not opened so took pictures instead.  On the far side of Springfeild looks more run down but still some nice old motels, car deanships, gas stations and historic homes.  The traffic was light so we cruised at 15-20 and enjoyed the sights.

Just outside of Springfield there was a Ghost town of Plano.  So not all the towns on the route managed to survive.  

We did skip an optional tour in the country off Historic 66 and stayed on Hwy 96 which is 2 lanes with a speed limit of 65 and it had a fair bit of traffic. The first few miles were hectic as there was no shoulder so we hustled  along at top speed 2 to 3 miles and then pull over and let cars pass.  Then at a country line they started a nice broad should and we cruised right along at 25-30 and the cars would wipe on past.  When a truck pass the cycles at speed your hat has to on tight and better hold on as it is like some slaps you in the back.  Made it safety through and no one even beeped once so all is good. The old road was still running beside the Hwy in places so we would hop off on it and back on.  These had interesting homes and sites as well.

Once in Jopin we stopped and bought new shoes.  Turns out putting the bikes up on the kick stand results in holes being punched through the soles off Running shoes.  Then your feet start to hurt and it becomes very hard to stand the bikes up.  The reluctance to stand the bikes resulted in my bike fallen over at one of the historic gas stations.  It is much easier with work boots which is what I bought. Dianne just bought a new set of runners as I put her bike up for her.

It was relief today when Dianne stopped for Ice Cream at least I can suspect it her I am riding with not some one that replaced her.  

Springfield Pictures

Plano Picture

Steel Truss Brigde

School house in Phelps (Note one room school and it was still in operation in 1952)

Old Fire truck in Springfield

Picture of Buzzard house with see at Lunch sign in Springfield

Gas Station Note Fallen bike

Webb Factory (zinc refinery). I just like old factories.

Drive Inn 

One room School House

Sights seen on the Way

• 2 fields with 5 donkeys
• 3 fields of pygmy goats
• 12 fields with cattle
• 1 field with horses
• 3 statues of horses
• 1 giant BBQ guy (note these giants originally held mufflers)
• 2 old trucks
• 5 police cars in one spot and additional two cruising
• 8 armadillos that were slow
• 1 possum (note no raccoons today)
• 1 guy peeing beside road
• 10 old hotels
• 15 churches
• 5 old gas stations
• 2 old steel truss bridges
• 16 stone homes
• 2 bicycles
• 2 motorcycles both waved
• 2 petro tank farms
• 11 bug hit me one in the face
• 3 noticeable pieces of trace
• 2 beer cans 2 soda cans
• 1 mattress and box spring beside the road