RIVERBOAT TRIP
Labor Day weekend, 2007.
Myself, Glenda, Steve and Effie Freeman, Danny and Gina Potts (from Kansas City), Dick and Jackie Curtis (from Sugar Creek, Mo) left Kansas City about 9am on Saturday Sept. 1st. We took a bunch of side roads and rode to Hannibal Missouri on the Missouri/Illinois line, also on the Mississippi River. We stopped at a couple little towns and had lunch or just drinks along the way. It was interesting to see some of the locks used for letting boats traverse the river. One little café had a deck that was right on the edge of the river so you could watch the river traffic.
When we got into Hannibal, we found our motel, we all showered and hung out a bit, and then we headed for the river boat. It is a huge river boat that has dinner prepared, and a jazz band playing. While we ate and walked the decks, we were cruising on the Mississippi. After we got off the boat, we rode back to our motel, and sat outside having a few cold ones and solved all the worlds’ problems.
On Sunday, we rolled out of bed, cleaned up and we were ready to go again. Our destination was Mountain Home Arkansas. This was a long trip over some very curvy and hilly roads. We didn’t get into Mountain Home until 8:30 or so that night, and we had some great views and riding along the way! By the time we found our Days Inn, we were hot, tired and hungry, so we unloaded our bikes and headed to a local pizza place that had a buffet. After eating it was time for the shower and bed.
Monday morning, Glenda and I woke up to find everyone up and ready to go, so we hurried and got packed up and away we went. We were headed west on the way home. We took a bunch of scenic route roads back to Kansas City and then home. We had one scary moment. Gina who was riding a Honda 750 Shadow didn’t slow down enough for a sharp corner. She realized she couldn’t make the corner so she went straight ahead off the road into a cut field, maintaining control of her bike. Just before she got it stopped, she lost control and the bike went down. There was a house right there and they called the medics and police. She was a bit dazed for a while, but luckily she didn’t suffer any major injuries. She had a scrape mark on her chin and scrapes on the back of one arm from the hay stubble. Probably the worse part was that the field must have had poison ivy because she was covered with it when she got home. Myself and Dick had poison ivy as well. Her bike suffered a bent crash bar and foot peg, but they were easily repairable. As she didn’t feel good she rode back to KC with Danny. They left the bike in the farmer’s barn and went and got it the following weekend. She is now back riding ready to go again!! We got home without any further incidents.
We would recommend a ride to Hannibal to ride the river boat. It cost 75 dollars for both of us. But call in advance to reserve first…!
Robin and Glenda