Lots of good stuff today. Temps down to mid 80s - good for the bike. Saw the Mississippi river for the final time in this trip (Memphis, Arkansas, New Orleans, St Louis, Davenport) at Dubuque, Iowa. Entered into state number 18 on the trip. This time Wisconsin, the dairy state, famed for CHEESE!!! As well as Harley Davidsons and breweries a-plenty. Lots of lovely farm countryside to ride through on the way to state capital, Madison. Now until about two days...

Well who knew we would end up in Iowa? Left St Louis originally heading for middle Illinois. But Mark had other ideas. Having looked at the map he fancied adding another state to the agenda. So Iowa it was then. Weather much cooler (around 93) so fewer stops were needed. Rolled into Davenport mid afternoon. It's an odd place as it's part of what's known as the Quad Cities, 4 cities all joined together across the Mississippi River (2 in Iowa, 2 in Illinois)....

Yay! A day of being a proper tourist. Day out in St Louis. Made a fairly early start and after a bit of brekkie at the hotel headed for the metro. Now despite the metro station being quite visible from the hotel it turned out that it was actually a 20 minute walk under the freeway. Anyway got our tickets, boarded the train and headed for town. Got out at the Gateway Arch and walked along the Mississippi River to see this maaassive structure. Once inside the que...

Made an early-ish start from Miami and made a brief jaunt through Kansas and entered into Missouri. The first town we reached was Joplin, the town that had the awful tornado this year. It was a stunning place with a quaint downtown and lovely houses. There was some evidence of places being rebuilt. Rolled on through Carthage and hit the interstate. Originally planned to stay in Lebanon, however during one of our juice/gas stops Mark suggested powering on an extr...

A very short trip to Kansas to report. Route 66 only passes through a wee corner of Kansas for about 15 miles. It was very cute and pretty. No sign of Dorothy or Toto though. It did however give me the opportunity to say, as we left and entered Missouri, "I don't think we're in Kansas any more.". I know. Such wit!