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The Back Way December 1998 | ||
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| Main Menu | By Cathy Sullens | January 1999 |
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While driving North on Missouri's Highway 87, we saw the signs for Burgers Smokehouse. A satisfied customer met us going in. He pointed us in the direction of the Museum. Inside were beautiful displays, sights and; sounds. As we rounded the last display the smell of smoked meat attacked us. We were in the main section where they were serving sandwiches, had a gift shop and theater. We enjoyed a fantastic smoked turkey and hickory smoked ham sandwich, pickle, chips and hot coffee. On the way on up to California, Missouri on North Hwy 87. Here it is December 18th, the sky is filled with beautiful snow clouds, Christmas season is in the air. The winding highway offers fantastic views of the local terrain. Hardwoods: oaks, hickory cover the hills, plowed and disked fields offer up a new wheat crop. Monitou Creek helps keep everything lush and growing. The cedars offer green in December. The lone tractor stops after a job well done. The two lane country road calms the spirit while the vast landscape soothes the soul. Went through Jamestown, population 157 and Prairie Home, population 215. Off on Hwy J, fresh disked corn fields are black and fertile, waiting on the next crop. Spotted horses dot the landscape as the sun peeks through the clouds and the air gets colder. Taking U Hwy North to Boonville. Crossed Big Clarks Fork Creek, watching the windmill spin by an old homesite. The disked black dirt as far as the eye can see. The lone farmer crossing the field waves to us as we drive by. Grinity Lutheran Church and graveyard dominates the hillside on the left. Crossed Little Clarks Fork Creek, beautiful bluffs and vast bottom lands. The sky is clearing out around noon. Blue sky in many shades of blue, a few wispy clouds remain. Crossed Petite Saline Creek while running along I-70. Gusty winds are blowing dust over everything and everyone at the Bobbers Truck Stop. As we pulled up to Hy-Way 5 Antique Mall. This is the most organized store and Joe and Stephanie know their stuff! 12/19/98 On our way to Clinton, Missouri. Traveled down Hwy 54 West to Hwy 7 North in Greenview. Went through Climax Springs and on up to Mike and Nancy's Corner Store at the junction of Hwy 7/65. Cloudy day out, looks like snow, oak trees are bare and majestic and big cedars line the roadway. Crossing the bridges at Lake of the Ozarks and Truman Lake. The lakes are full to the rim. Bet the fishing is good. Much colder out today as soon wintertime will be here. Traveled through the towns of Racket and Tightwad. Funny names, but wonderful stores of all kinds and retreats for the travel weary, well worth the drive. Clouds are bunching together as we near Clinton. The new blacktop on Hwy 7 is really doing well. The Great Plains stretch out on both sides of us as far as the eye can see. Grazing cattle dot the hillsides with the big sycamore trees dominate the creek banks. A lone hawk sits on the telephone wire patiently watching for his meal. Clinton, population 8703 is a booming community. Turned onto North Hwy 7/13, traffic fills up with holiday shoppers going to Wagon Wheel Antiques and Country Cupboard. Big industries along the road are Tracker Boats and Herrman Lumber. 12/20/98 Woke up to a frozen world. Played Santa delivering gifts to good people. Off the beaten trail down Hwy 54 to Linn Creek to get petrol and then down A Highway. Sprinkles of rain, snow, sleet? Roads so far are ok, traffic has thinned out as it is nasty out. Cold, wet, 30 degrees. Keeps getting foggier as we head to Richland. Wipers keeping time to a Stevie Ray Vaughn song. Unusually bright orange grasses fill the fields and all the ponds are full. The weather is ideal for a large snowstorm. Crossing Traus Branch-looks dry, trees are all broken up and dead. Ice storm, spray, tornado? Cows in all colors dot the fields as we crossed Garmen and Sellars Creeks. See the emu's and the big sign for Fleas R Us. We have arrived. 12/31/98 Made our way out and about. Got the car down to the bank! YES! Crossed Brushy Fork on Hwy 54, all is frozen. Taking Hwy 17 down to Owens Antiques and Used Furniture. Jr. showed us around and stoked the woodstove. City of Iberia-Ol Peddlers Antiques is open. Met dealer, Juanita and Susan's oldest son, Nathan. Talked about web pages, digital cameras and took pictures and got update information for web pages. 16 degrees outside, blue skies, wispy clouds, Hilltop gas is $.79 a gallon. Fantastic! Seeing turkey barns, ponds that are frozen on top and covered with snow as we drive by. Two lane road curving through rich bottom lands and tree filled bluffs. All the houses look snug and warm with the wood smoke coming out the chimneys. Dog Creek winds through the countryside. Many big barns and silos around. As we crossed the Osage River, we noticed that there are islands in the River at the Hwy 52/17 junction as the river is low. Turned West on Hwy 52 through Tuscumbia, Missouri and headed home. |
| Main Menu | The Back Way | January 1999 |
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