Pony Express and the Wild, Wild, West

Wednesday, October 13 - Kansas City, MO to Wakeeney, KS

We awaken to a beautiful day, after a very windy and somewhat cooler night in the tent. Today, we head north to St. Joseph, MO - the largest jumping off point for pioneers heading West - the last bastion of civilization before heading into Indian country and the unknown. St. Jo is also the starting point of the famous Pony Express - the original livery and roadhouse now houses the Pony Express Museum, our destination this morning. The Pony Express was the nations first "high speed" carrier of mail from St. Joseph, MO to Sacramento, CA. It only operated for 18 months (1860-1862) before the telegraph and railroad  put it out of business, but it became an iconic part of the American West mystique in no time.
We arrive in St. Jo and park behind the museum. This part of St. Joseph was the center of town in the 1860's, but today is the industrial section. However, the old hotel and many homes from the Pony Express era still stand, including Jesse Jame's house where he was shot and killed while hanging a picture in his parlor (living room).
We toured the Pony Express museum, which was educational and just fantastic, then strolled around the area sightseeing. Pony Express riders left the livery in St. Jo on the Pony Express Trail heading west 100 miles to the first roadhouse in Marysville, KS to quickly freshen up, eat a bit, and change horses. The best part? KS hwy 136 from the museum IS the Pony Express Trail!! We drove the exact route to Marysville that the Pony Express riders did 150 years ago! Being an Old West enthusiast, this really got me pumped.



Roo & The Beagles

 

Pony Express Livery-St.Joseph, MO

Marysville, KS is another gem of a town we came upon. A beautiful, old, "walking" town, with a coffee shop appropriately named The Pony Espresso Cafe. Nice. We stopped at the Pony Express roadhouse - still standing - to take photos, then drove south to pick up I-70 again. The Kansas prairie is beautiful and stunning, contrary to what we had heard. Back on I-70, we motor on to our KOA campground for the night in Wakeeney, KS. Tomorrow is another run day, and yet another surprise awaits us. 

Pony Express Roadhouse-Marysville, KS

Superman? In Illinois?

 

 


  Tuesday, October 12 - Paducah, KY to Kansas City, MO
 

Up early. Today is a run day. One of the things I am doing in Moab is running a half marathon. Ruth was supposed to as well, but is not. More on that later. We will be stopping in state parks along the route so I can train and Ruth can run The Beagles.





Bob and The Beagles-Fort Massac S.P.



We pack up and bid Paducah goodbye as we drive over the Ohio River into Illinois. Fort Massac State Park is just over the river on the opposite bank in Metropolis. This is where I go for a run, and Duncan and Gretchen take Ruth for a walk. A beautiful park, right on the banks of the Ohio, a just as beautiful river. We'd never seen the Ohio River before. It is huge, and majestic. A 40 minute run, quick shower, then cooking breakfast on the banks of this great river. We pack up, then roll into the town of Metropolis, IL, home of guess who? Yes sir. Superman! Specifically the world's largest statue of the man of steel. Right in the middle of the town square. Very cool.




Able to leap tall buildings......

Back on the highway, we motor on to St. Louis, MO to visit the Gateway Arch National Monument. Pictures do not do it justice. This thing is fantatstic! Right on the banks of The Mighty Mississippi River. Made our spines tingle. So this is it-crossing over the Mississippi, we are no longer in the East. A fantastic feeling, crossing this great river and heading West as so many others have done before us. Into the heart of Missouri we drive, in awe of everything around us and knowing that our adventure is just beginning. Destination: Kansas City, MO for the night, and our real Western Odyssey begins in the morning.



Look Ma! It's a bird, it's a plane It's.........



Gateway Arch-St. Louis

















The Adventure Begins!

The Prairie Schooner

Monday, October 11, 2010 - Simpsonville, SC to Paducah, KY                                                                                         Finally, the day has come after months of planning. We're so excited, and can't believe this is actually coming to fruition. Even The Beagles, Duncan and Gretchen, know something big is about to happen. We rented a Chrysler Town & Country van that we appropriately dubbed the Prairie Schooner. This vehicle was perfect for this trip. Ruth and myself, The Beagles, beagle gear, camping gear, non-camping gear, food, all fit with comfortable room to spare. And this thing rode like a dream.
The plan is to drive 5 days to Moab, Utah, along the I-70 corridor, tent and cabin  camping each night. Getting off the interstate as much as possible to travel the secondary highways is a must. We will motel it in Moab, for 5 days, then camp on our return trip along the I-40 corridor.                                                   We left Simpsonville early, as we have a long day on the road, the longest travel day of our trip. No sightseeing today. We can see SC, NC, TN and KY anytime on the motorbike.
Beautiful going over the Appalachians. Weather was perfect. We arrived at the Paducah KOA around 4:00 PM. Nicely wooded campground, surprisingly quiet so close to the Interstate. We had a Kamping Kabin for tonight. Unpack, eat outdoors, get ready for tomorrow. The adventure begins.