When I left at 9:25, I went across the street to take a couple of photos of the church. I pulled out of the lot at 9:31 and headed to the hotel. I arrived there at 9:37 (10451) and ran in for a quick pit stop. I was back on the road at 9:50.
Once again, there was no welcome sign for Missouri. I was not traveling the turnpike today, so no tolls. Hurrah! I 49 was mostly flat for a long time with some agriculture and some towns. At 12:28 (10627), I got off at exit 50 in Carthage, thinking I should have lunch. I'd been seeing signs for a barbecue place, but I was ticked off to find it was closed on Sundays. The signs should have said that. So, I went to the McDonald's, which was attached to a service station. I used the restroom first, but when I came out there was a line at least 10 deep at the counter. That was a no go. Not happy that I'd gotten out in the pouring rain, I got back in the car and headed off at 12:39.
As I drove, I ate the almond butter bar I'd brought. Soon, I was off the highway and then driving into the town of Diamond, Missouri, population 902.At 12:56 (10640), I was at George Washington Carver National Monument.
I ate the banana I'd brought from the hotel and heard thunder. I'd seen lightning just once on the drive.
As I got out of the car, a couple coming out of the visitor's center encouraged me to hurry in to the film that had just started and the woman said the place was great. The movie was quite good. It included a lot of information that was also displayed in the center. The man was so incredibly good, gentle and patient. I was amazed at the poor way he was treated when testifying before a Congressional committee. He had a deep Christian faith that seemed to sustain him. I picked up a booklet of peanut recipes that he'd had published. The monument is rather remote, so it was nice to see other people had made the effort to visit.
Art by George Washington Carver:
At 2:20, I went outside to walk some of the trail. It was no longer raining, but I needed the umbrella for the dripping in the woods. These were woods in which he'd collected specimens as a child. I went to the middle of the bridge over the stream before climbing back up the path. I got some good shots of the statue of him as a child.
When I headed off at 2:45, it was 75 degrees. The car would soon need gas and I needed a Coke. So, at 3:05 (10657), I pulled into the Phillips 66 in Carthage off exit 53. I'd driven 233 miles on this tank and was really surprised when it took 7.601 gallons @1.899. Gas was cheaper in Missouri than Kansas. I then drove up the street to the McDonald's, which I reached at 3:09. I ordered medium fries for $1.89 plus tax and a medium Coke for $1.69 plus tax. The clerk said that a large was cheaper, but I said it wasn't a good idea, when I have 187 miles to drive. I was back on the road at 3:20.
Those fries really tasted great! I was very sorry, when they were gone. As I'd feared, the Coke got me. At 4:28 (10736), I made a pit stop at Conoco at Exit 131. The stop only took 6 minutes.
While it didn't rain anymore, I did hit traffic at 5. Twenty minutes later, I crossed into Kansas (10792) and it was 79 degrees.
Thirty-miles later and I was at the hotel at 6:01. My key wouldn't work, but, luckily, my husband was there. No room keys were working and they had to let each person in. I changed shoes and got ready to head to barbecued hamburgers at the ClarinetFest host's house. We left at 6:22 and it only took 15 minutes to get there (10835).
The food was terrific, especially the mixed berries. It was a good evening of conversation and stories.
We were the last to leave, partially because my husband is host next year. We left at 10:20 and were at the hotel at 10:35 (10835).
Now, we have to pack for home!
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