Crossing the Mississippi

Well I have already screwed up.. I meant to post a picture of the Iron Butt Hotel with my last post and selected the wrong picture. ARGH! LEARNING as I go! I could not figure out how to replace the picture once it was in the draft.

The picture previously shown was crossing the Mississippi on I-270 just north of Saint Louis. Riding this morning was nice and cool, but as I came west the clouds continued to build. I skirted several thunderstorms before stopping for lunch and doing these postings. SO!!!! here is the picture of the Iron Butt Hotel I stayed at last night!

Thunderstorms in KS are nothing to fool with, so I decided to wait a bit before suiting up and heading out. The only thing worse than riding in the heat is to have to ride in a rain suit in the heat! I am planning to divert north at Kansas City and then ride the old Pony Express route across western KS.
This is Rte 36 and from all reports is two lanes in remote land. Maybe tonight will be my second night at the Iron Butt?? I am hoping I will be able to connect with my childhood dreams of being a pony express rider. Actually, the pony express only lasted for about 18 months, as the transcontinental railroad was finished in the early 1860"s and made mail by horse and rider obsolete. They must have been some tough hombres and the horses in shape.. as this is one big state with not a lot except wheat and corn in it. HI HO it is off on the steed I go! :-)