MAKE A GRAND ADVENTURE OUT OF IT!

Cross Country to Redmond From The South

            Back before Dad passed on, I took my two week vacation from work every summer to take a trip with him to wherever the BMW MOA National rally was being held. We plotted a trip from the Saturday before, not planning to get back home until the Sunday after. We picked out things and places we wanted to see along the way, being sure to arrive at the rally on the Wednesday to sign up for volunteering. I always worked the beer tent and Dad's favorite was working the gates. We never once left till the party was over on Sunday, lingering over the packing like little kids who don't want to go home from Grandma's house. Then having plotted a different route to return to Tennessee, (Alabama for me), we got to see a great deal more interesting things along the way back. We camped every night except maybe four nights total, on all 11 of those summer trips. We were even camping when a tornado blew by out in Texas and I had all my gear on, helmet, my money belt - (ask me about that story), and piling my sleeping bag, mat, and clothes on top of me to keep the tent from beating me to death, while he slept peacefully in his tent because he had his hearing aids out and never knew it happened.

            So if you have an opportunity to take a whole couple of weeks and make a vacation/adventure out of it, Redmond is probably one of the best placed rally spots to plan that kind of trip for. Pick out your son, daughter, best buddy, wife, or whomever you want to have a grand adventure with and start your plotting now.

            Don Hamblin and I have come up with a few good suggestions here. We're starting out in Memphis, since he's near Kansas City and I'm south of B'ham, AL. that is  kind of a middle point. Don did a lot of the route planning and made suggestions of places, because he went to the last rally in Redmond.

 

What should you do in Memphis?  If you are an Elvis fan, there's always Graceland. For Blues fans the B.B. King museum is nearby, as is the W.C. Handy House museum. As for food, it's a law that you have to have BBQ in Memphis as far as I'm concerned. My experience has been, I never found a place that had bad BBQ in Memphis, especially near Beale Street. So peruse the choices of more attractions and dining at this link, and pick what suits your time to spend and your fancy.

http://www.memphistravel.com/attractions/default.aspx

 

The route through North Central Arkansas and Southeastern Missouri takes you through the Ozark Mountains.  Famous as the land of cartoon fame "Lil Abner" it's subtle beauty and wonderful roads can remind the rider of the Blue Ridge Parkway, but with reasonable speed limits! Mountain vistas and technical roads make this a viable alternative to interstate highway routes.  

Springfield, Missouri has the Air and Military Museum of the Ozarks, Crystal Cave, and Candy House Gourmet Chocolates. Ziggie's cafe was recommended to me as a good spot that gives you a lot for a good price.   For more places to see and eat, check out this link. http://springfieldmo.org/ttd_index.asp

            Kansas City - Around the west side you will pick up Kansas route 5 into Leavenworth and then Kansas Route 7 (The Amelia Earhart Pkwy) to US 36. All the Kansas City info comes from Don Hamblin since it's his stomping grounds. This route is along the Kaw River and through the famous "Flint Hills" where you will find 35 mph curves, switchbacks, lakes, rivers...much better than taking the I-70 toll road with all the trucks- Kansas is the state they say has 11 curves in 319 miles (The Anti-Dragon) but Don says this route will make you forget all that. You can have KC BBQ or Italian cuisine only equaled in Chicago or New York. Gates BBQ is a favored recommendation. http://www.gatesbbq.com/default.aspx as is Bryants   http://www.arthurbryantsbbq.com . When Jimmy Carter was President and passing through KC he had his aide call for 'delivery" to the hotel since he'd heard so much about Bryant's. They told him "we don't deliver and don't care who you are!" So the Secret Service was sent ahead (in one of the worst neighborhoods at the time) to "clear" the area, and then he came in for "brisket and ribs" and ate pretty much alone since most other patrons were scared off.  

            Don also recommends steaks at Stroud's. They started off as a chicken place but have the best filets in town. Make sure to get a t-shirt there that says "We choke our own Chicken" across the back.

            The Nelson Atkins museum of Art is a good place to check out. http://nelson-atkins.org and next to it is the KC Art Institute. http://www.myartcollege.com   Another interesting spot is Liberty Memorial WW1 museum which you can check out at http://www.visitkc.com/events/event-details/index.aspx?id=23756 .

            Let us point out that at this point, the next leg of the trip is Kansas Highway routes 5 and 7 to US-36 through small towns across the top of Kansas. It takes almost exactly the same amount of time as either I-70 and is much more interesting and less stressful. The best recommendation for lunch on Kansas 7 is K&M BBQ in Spring Hill. It is off the highway a block or two, but worth the effort.  Along US 36 the local ROMEO (Retired Old Motorcyclists Eating Out) Riders are quite taken with Pinky's in Courtland and with Tag's in Scandia. A long time favorite of theirs is Lori's in Seneca (she does close at 2:00 pm, so it's only breakfast and lunch like a lot of these places along this route).  If one is inclined to eat such stuff, she makes the best Peanut Butter Pie on the planet. It's hard to tell the difference between W. Kansas and E. Colorado. You'll be almost to Denver before the roads get much more interesting, so patience is a virtue. Once you get on US 36 it's a good idea to keep a close watch on your fuel which is an important note for "easterners" are used to gas every 25-30 miles. Even on interstates it's not unknown to find open gas stations 75 miles apart. You can also encounter winds in this part of the country. If there is a front near it will be steady, but sometimes strong. (I remember those !!!) And it will drive wind right around windshields and through riding suit zippers. Very high or very low humidity and heat or rain shouldn't come as a surprise in this part of the country.

I don't have a lot of suggestions for you until Denver. Wherever you decide to stop there are wonderful things even in the little bitty towns if you keep your eyes and ears open. Find a local diner, ask at a gas station where the best food in town is, or a good B & B, or campground if that's how you travel. This trip is a good opportunity to explore some of small town America and take advantage of the local's knowledge and hospitality.

            What can you do in Denver to refresh, relax, and spend a bit of time on this adventure? Here's a few suggestions given to me and all are in the greater Denver area. Casa Bonita - Mexican - live entertainment -In Lakewood on Colfax Ave., Red Rocks Grill - Breakfast -  in Morrison on Bear Creek Ave., Runway Grill - all meals - spetacular Mountain and front range views from 2nd story dining room - in Broomfield on Airport Way, Big Papa's - BBQ - Sweet potato casserole - In Littleton on W. Ken Caryl Ave., Beau Jo's pizza - pizza is sold by the pound - In Idaho Springs a bit west of Denver, Farmers Inn - great food, great prices, outstanding service - in LaSalle - NE of Denver,

            And if you like the slots, head to Central City or Black Hawk casinos. West on    I-70 out of Denver you will look for Central City Pkwy and exit there to head north. There are numerous reasonable lodging options in both places.

After heading out of Denver on I-70 you will pick up US 40 a bit west of there.

Should you want a couple of alternate scenic routes West and Northwest before you pick up Hwy 40, e-mail me and I can pass them on.

Visit this site if you plan to spend some time in Salt Lake City. http://www.visitsaltlake.com/visit   Folks from the east will be given a whole new definition of "mountains" if you've never been out this way. They are impressive to even the most jaded Easterner. Remember, keep a watch on your fuel. And if Boise interests you go to... http://www.boise.org

 

 

 

 

 

Trip plan follows------------

From Memphis, from I-40 take I-55 about 16.5 miles north, take exit #23B to US Hwy 63N -  Follow Hwy 63 to US Hwy 60(63) W. which will lead you into Springfield, MO -   In Springfield take a right on Missouri SR 13(7/71) N to Kansas City -  Take the ramp onto I-435W a short way and exit at #1B to SR-10 for 4.6 miles to SR-7 N - After 8 miles it becomes US 73(7) which you will take for approx. 70 miles - You will then pick up US-36 W all he way to Denver, CO - Nearing Denver you will want to pick up I-70 and tak it all the way through Denver and a bit beyond. At Exit #232 take US 40 W all the way to I-80 just east of Salt Lake City - Take I-80 for 20 miles to Exit # 168 onto I-84 - At Exit #96 take    UT 167 all the way through Boise and onto Baker city area in Oregon where you can then take scenic route #7 back down to Hwy 26 W to Prineville and then Hwy 126 to Redmond.   Now folks - I'm working with Microsoft Streets and Trips, and Google maps, and US state paper maps, all of which conflict a bit so do your own investigative work each day of the trip. Lots of US 40 will change names through the various towns but with a bit of homework and a good map (or GPS for you techies) you should be able to take these directions and make a darn good adventure out of it. I have saved the Streets and Trips version should you want it e-mailed but you have to have that software to open it. Ask me at   -  And there is a version on Google maps (with some anomalies) at tiny url  http://tiny.cc/7tgwy   Happy traveling and remember to Ride, Rally, Relax in Redmond......and don't forget your anonymous book.