St. Joseph, MO

Well, I have finally arrived at St. Joseph, MO on the banks of the Missouri River. It quite literally was the westward outpost of the civilized United States in the mid 1800's. Once one left here and headed west, it was really the "Wild West". Wagon trains formed here in the Gold Rush days as settlers could arrive by river boat. It is here that storekeepers sold everything anyone could afford and carry for the cross country wagon trains that would strike out across the great pararie to the Rocky mountains and on to the Sierra's and Gold in California. On April 3, 1860 the first Pony Express rider struck out from here to traverse the 2,000 miles to Sacramento California. A loan rider would race across the west in legs of varying lengths depending on the terrain. The Pony Express only lasted for about 18 months until the fall of 1861 as the transcontinental railroad was finished. Trains then became the means of transporting mail across the country. Rte 36, which I will drive tomorrow to Denver, is the straight line route these brave souls took. Initially, I had planned to drive some of this in the evening and the rest in the morning. When talking to locals as to where I might stay (camp or find a motel) they basically all said the same thing...... "there is not much between here and Denver. Some small towns... maybe a motel, but we are not sure... and any gas stations would be closed at night". A far cry from the 24 hour buzz one sees on I-70some 75 miles or so to the south. I decided to stay here in Ellwood, KS on the west bank of the river in a small "inexpensive" motel. Nothing ran when I opened the room and the air conditioning is freezing. YES I love it after sleeping on a concrete picnic table last night.
Dinner was at the Brick House Bar and Grill. Brandy (pictured in the attached photo) recommended either the Philly Cheese Steak or Nacho's. Go figure!!
The Philly cheese steak has found its way out here. I chose the Nacho's and they were great. I asked Brandy what Ellwood was famous for and the only thing she could think of was being flooded in 1993. I am sure you remember the severe flooding this area experienced that lasted almost two months that summer. The bar and whole town where I was eating were under 10 feet of water. She said she thinks they found a body months later in the motel where I am staying! It was under a bed. NO I have not checked under mine... something might run and I will be itchy all night. Besides, I simply don't need to know!!

I am anxious to strike out tomorrow. Hopefully it won't be raining, but if it is.. hey, "the mail must go through". They say I will have rolling hills for the first 80miles or so and then things get REAL FLAT with nothing but wide open spaces all the way to Denver. Something over 500 miles. In eastern terms, it is hard to fathom. I have always said that anyone that only flies across this country or flies to destinations and says they have seen America is only fooling themselves. You have to get out and drive it to really appraciate how vast the west is. Can you imagine those thousands of people that walked it, rode horses or pushed and pulled covered wagons. Simply amazing to me!