West 2009
  
 

Day 19

September 14

 
  This will be a longer day of almost 650 miles but it will put me back at the Holler to sleep in my own bed. I'm a bit like a mule that smells his feed and I'm ready to be at the barn. We both are up early and hit the road at 4:30 AM - way before the sun peeks its head above the horizon.  
   
  Normally I don't like to be out and about in the darkness. But since most of the miles are on the slab and we need to beat the Kansas City rush hour, we strike out while others are still sleeping. We slip through the city without a hitch as most folks haven't even started on their first cup of coffee yet.  
 
 
  And the sun greets us with the beautiful hues of scarlet, crimson and yellow as a reward for our early start.  
 
 
  As it rises, the beautiful colors turn to a sober gray but it appears that Dave's cloud has follow him back to Scotland. And for that we are thankful!  
 
 
  It's funny how when you've traveled a particular route, that your brain remembers certain things. At about the right spot, I remember a Bob Evans in Columbia, Missouri that will work for breakfast. Once again, it's one of those 'safe' places where the food, service and price is pretty predictable and I have eaten at this one before.  
 
 
 

When we're traveling like this, we usually don't stop for lunch so this will be our last 'official' meal before we hit Nashville. With some good grub under our belt, we get back to the slab slaying.

  
 
 
  This section is just river after river as we work our way around Saint Louis.  
 
 
  I always wondered exactly how they construct those water towers and today I get see it in action as we make our way south.  
 
 
  As we drop off I64 to I57, we pass Rend Lake, billed as 'Southern Illinois Playground'.  
 
 
  And when we make our way through Metropolis, we are greeted by Superman on the water tower. I guess if the Kryptonite doesn't get him, he'll protect the city for a long time.  
 
 
  And yet another river to cross as we make our way back home.  
 
 
  And I sure am glad when I see this sign after 18 days on the road. I reckon I've been a little bit of everywhere and I just as soon be in Tennessee as anywhere!  
 
 
 

We make a final gas stop in Clarksville that will take us home. I tell Andy -

"Buddy, I'm going to head on out and beat a path for the house before rush hour, There's a bunch of construction out my way and it'll be a mess."

I give him a big hug and I'm off like a rocket. It's been a good run and I am thankful when I pull into my garage. I take a check on my rear tire and I am really surprised that I don't see threads showing. It is way past the wearbars and getting right down to looking like a drag slick.

  
 
 
 

Tonight as I pillow my head in my own bed, I find it hard to believe that I have traveled over 8,000 miles in 19 days. Once again, I've seen sights that most folks only get to look at in pictures in a magazine or on the television. And to do it with two of my best friends has been a special honor that I will not forget. Indeed, it was the 'Trip of a Lifetime'.

THE END