From Louisville, our objective for Day 2 was to put some miles behind us and reach a destination that would be completely new for us - Independence and Kansas City, Missouri. After our hearty breakfast we drove across southern Indiana and Illinois. Not much to see there, but the scenery was pleasant enough on a sunny morning and gave Phil an opportunity to do some road birding. Best birds of the morning - Brewer's Blackbird and about a dozen Great Egrets in a marsh just east of St. Louis. We encountered a bird mystery, though - why not a single crow between Louisville and Independence during 7+ hours of driving? West Nile virus?
Just after lunch we drove over the Mississippi River into Missouri and by the St. Louis Gateway Arch. This is a new state for Phil, and Mary's only visit was a train stop 45 years ago on the way to Mexico. By the time we reached our motel in Independence, the temperature had reached the mid-90s, and we were pretty tired. However, we were not too tired for those Kansas City specialties - steak and BBQ. We discovered that Smokehouse BBQ, one of the three local BBQ meccas was just around the corner, so off we went.
Mary at Smokehouse BBQ
We certainly were not disappointed. Mary's K.C. strip steak was outstanding, tender, tasty and cooked to perfection, and the baby back ribs were top notch as well. When in Rome . . . Don't bother ordering the fish.
Kansas City Steak - Yum!
The ladies below were doing BBQ and caused us to think of David's mom down in Clearwater. Dolores - the "Kansas City Kittens" say hello.
Our plan for tomorrow is some local museum touring in the morning before heading off to central Kansas and some prairie wetland birding.
I spoke in K.C. twice last year and absolutely LOVED the people AND the BBQ! Glad you had a happy travel day. Godspeed as you journey on! xox
ReplyDeleteThought of you this morning—a flock of goldfinches buzzed right down the middle of our street, then became interested in my balcony garden and flickered about the tree outside for several minutes checking to see if there might be any tasty morsels. Boo finally noticed them and then they, wisely, moved on.
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