4 State Parks by Motorbike- June 2009

Saturday June 27th-
Up and out the door by 6:30 am, while it is at least under 80 degrees! There was a tremendous halo around the sun. I was off to try and do 4 State Parks and also visit my brother at his work in DeSoto, MO.

Park #1 both in terms of arrival and quality.
Hawn State Park




Whether it is the parking lot or the trail, this is the most beautiful State Park in Missouri. I have hiked here many times. I still have a speed record here of doing the 11 miles of trail in 2 hours and 30 minutes. ( I think Christine did it in 2 hours and 15 minutes )

Park #2, I had never been to before. St.Joe State Park in Leadington.

Park #3, I have been too many times. St Francios State Park on the St.Francis River. Great river access and very shady. So far I am beating the heat.

Park #4 after visiting my brother in DeSoto, is Route 66 State Park. This park used to be the City of Times Beach, Missouri. This was the biggest Dioxin clean up in US history and a superfund site for more than a decade.

Now it is a beautiful park with hiking, rollerblading and bicycling trails.

A narrow one lane bridge takes you over the Meramac River into the Park.

246 miles in 4 hrs 34 minutes of driving time.

not a bad mornings ride.... I can't even imagine what the first day of my big Canadian adventure has in store for me, in August, 611 miles from Rapid City, SD to Helena, MT.

Mom in the Heart of Farm Land- June 2009

It was time again for Mom to hit the road with me. I have taken her to the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota. I have taken her up from toe to top of Minnesota and we have explored the North Shore of Minnesota and then down through Wisconsin. This year I needed to make a loop through the heartland with a stop at the far western side in Sioux Falls, SD. It was a Farm Land adventure.

We made Sioux Center, IA the first day and explored the Lewis and Clark Center

It is a very new (remodeled) center with some great displays

Lewis and Clark with their faithful dog. Seaman

The wildflowers around the center were beautiful

The Missouri River was flowing well. Imagining the time of Lewis and Clark

A 15 stars and strips flag flies outside the center

A Memorial to Private Floyd the only man to die on the expedition and buried on the hilltop overlooking the river and Sioux City, IA.

MOM!

The next day we made it through Sioux Center, IA (without much smell) and ended in Sioux Falls, SD. Falls Park in Downtown Sioux Falls, on the Big Sioux River, is the highlight of being in Souix Falls.

Mom four stories above the falls in the Tower!

We skirted around and ran behind a huge storm leaving Sioux Falls, as we headed for Waterloo and Cedar Rapids, IA. I had some meetings, mom had some starbucks and rea 2 whole novels this week and then we had a relaxing drive home.

No trip with my mom is complete without a restaurant list!

Red Robin- Sioux City, IA

Granite City Brewery, Sioux Falls, SD

Boccia, Sioux Falls, SD

Biaggis, Cedar Rapids, IA.