We started heading West on I80 and stayed for a night at the Walmart in Grove City, Pa. After checking with the staff, we parked our rig and Cindy walked next door to get our dinner - TACO Bell! Yummy! Later we went into Walmart and purchased some supplies and as the temps had dropped nicely after sunset, we enjoyed a restful night sleep.
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| CJ's favorite position while parked! |
In the morning, with a clean windshield (a good thing for a pleasant drive) we headed back out to the highway and Ohio. The original plan was to stay over a the Walmart in Richmond, Indiana. We would be arriving there mid afternoon on a hot, sunny day and would have to run the generator to have AC (RVs get pretty toasty in the sun without AC). As we traveled, Cindy did some more research and with the I76 drive going smoothly, we settled on proceeding past Indianapolis to
Lieber State Rec Area. We were very pleased with our choice. Only a few miles off exit 37 on I70, this is a very nice natural area with electric and a shower house, along with hiking, boating and some historical attractions. Not a lot of sites for larger rigs, but there are some. This would be a great place for families to camp. Nature Center programs, playground and lots of paths for biking.
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| nice and secluded at Lieber Rec Area |
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| a nice walk to the Nature Center at Lieber Rec Area |
We departed Lieber Rec Area after a leisurely morning, complete with a long walk, sitting outside while reading and enjoying a second cup of coffee. By noon, we were packed up, slides pulled and tanks dumped. Heading back out to I70 West and Hannibal, Missouri, hometown of
Samuel Langhorne Clemens aka Mark Twain! We had two nights booked at Mark Twain Cave Campground and that would allow our time to tour the historic portion of town and Mark Twain's Cave. We checked in after filling the RV with gas at Pilot just outside Hannibal ($2.15/gal!!!!!). Our site was small, but we weren't there for the surroundings. We want to see the sites, grab some utilities and kick back for two days.
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| Burr Oak at Mark Twain Cave |
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| crossing the Mississippi above St Louis |
This campground is just South of Hannibal on Rt 79. Saturday morning (after doing a load of laundry at 7AM) an walking CJ, Cindy and I headed into town There are numerous points of interest relating to Sam Clemens. We started at the Mark Twain Museum - a great place complete with a River Boat Pilot House, video clips form movies made of Mark Twain's stories, and many personal artifacts - watches, hats, suits, etc.
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| inside Mark Twain Museum Hannibal - replica Riverboat Pilot house - Sam Clemens knew these well |
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| LEGO Mark Twain |
Our admission combo also gained us admission to Sam's boyhood home, his fathers Justice of the Peace office, Becky Thatcher's house (just across the street) and the home of the real Huckleberry Finn - Tom Blankenship.
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| Becky Thatcher's House across the street from Sam Clemens's |
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| Huck Finn's / Tom Blankenship's home |
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| just a block from the Mississippi - Sam Clemens boyhood home |
We continued our walk through the historic section and made our way over to the Mississippi River and the replica riverboat "Mark Twain" (Sam Clemens piloted several of the real ones while in his early 20's in the years just prior to the Civil War). Daily rides are available as is a dinner cruise. Hannibal is also the hometown of
Molly Brown - of Titanic fame.
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| "Mark Twain" - take a cruise on the Mississippi! |
It was now early afternoon and time to return to the RV to walk CJ and grab some lunch at the annual Rib and Wings Fest fundraiser for the local free clinic. This was taking place on the grounds, just next to the campground. The $15 admission fee gained you entrance and there were about a dozen tents offering ribs, wings and potatoes. We sampled several vendors and Cindy preferred the last tent in the line ad did I. this was a nicely attended local event and we were very glad we went. A nice way to see America!
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| Rib and Wing Festival Hannibal MO - yummy! |
After an hours break back at the RV, we walked back over to take the tour of the
Mark Twain Cave. A National Natural Landmark. This is the same cave Mark Twin wrote about in several of his novels and the one the young Sam Clemens often played in as a boy. Way cool (literally).
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| inside Mark Twain's Cave |
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| no more names after National Landmark in 1972! |
The next day we were once again packed up and out on the road. This time heading West on US 36, an almost straight shot from Indianapolis to Denver and close to an Interstate road in size and speed without any traffic. You get to cruise for long periods but still get to see the towns that make up this country. By late afternoon, we were at our overnight stop, the FREE RV camping in the Marysville, Kansas City Park. Complete with 50 amp hookups. Did I mention it was free?? A beautiful, well maintained park complete with 9 hole disc golf, a large playground, swimming pool, a giant water slide, tennis courts and Black Squirrels. Marysville has quite a tradition going back over 100 years with the black furry critters and there are numerous giant, brightly painted fiberglass squirrels around town.
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| one of several FREE RV site in Marysville Park - you can stay 5 nights! |
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| one of several fiberglass Squirrels located around Marysville - like Boyertown Bears for those familiar |
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| Black Squirrel - a big deal in Marysville for over 100 years! |
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| Cindy and "Black Squirrel" |
Squirrels and free camping aside, our main reason for this particular town was to visit the Pony Express Station. Located just a block or so away from the park stands an original
Pony Express Station built specifically for them in the late 1850's. It is a nice museum with many local artifacts and some original Pony Express items as well. - stop by if you are in the area.
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| original location and building 1850's Pony Express Station |
After a Pizza Hut dinner (it was my birthday) and some grocery shopping at Walmart, we settled in for the night. I took advantage of internet connectivity and streamed the last episode of Marvel's Agents of Shield season 6! Then sack time to rest for the next day.
We had been moving due West for several days and another 300 mile day stood before us. Again heading on US36, After several hours, we passed the geographic center of the continental US! Located near Lebanon, Kansas. There is a marker, but no easy RV parking, so we passed on by. In time we turned due North towards McCook, Nebraska (home of Valmet, makers of Valley Irrigation sprinkler systems - think Kreider Farms Manheim area folks, and parent company of one of my former employers Valcom/Inacom).
Here we turned West on US6 and drove to the small town of Enders. Our destination- Enders Reservoir Rec Area and again 50 amp hookups. It was still hot and sunny and AC would be greatly appreciated. this is a nice stay and being off season, there were only a couple of campers. As the sun set and the temps dropped, we took CJ for a walk and to see the lake. The next morning as we were pulling out and stopping to dump our tanks, I noticed water in the grey compartment, not a lot, but we'll have to keep and eye on it. The tank was quite full and it either sloshed out, or perhaps my jarring pullover at a rest stop worked a fitting loose. As we drove the short distance to rejoin US 6, we saw the rest of the campground, with views of the lake! Next time.
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| these Sunflowers are seen through out Kansas and Nebraska |
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| Cloud formation late in the day at Enders Res Rec Area |
We rejoined US6 and continued westward for the remainder of the day to our next stay
More later
take care - CJ
