Off to Missouri

As Docia and I were exiting Orem/Provo, the mountains were blanketed by white fluffy clouds, which gave an Olympic atmosphere about them, being so tall that they touched the sky!

We had come into the valley this way, but dusk had already descended to the point when pictures were not an option at that time. We were amazed how beautiful the Provo Canyon was, so spectacular with it's winding narrow roads, yellow flowered sage brush in full bloom, trees in their red, orange and yellow Fall splendor, and the mountains seeming to jut right out of the road at every turn!

Sand and shale peaks covered with dry yellow grass, and yellow flowering sage brush surround several water reserves, which help quench the dryness caused by the harsh, desert heat.

Trains still traverse the transcontinental rails from East to West. It was fun to follow them as they crisscrossed the highway on their way East!

In the distance there are some of the many windmills along the tops of the windy mountain ridges of Wyoming, which makes for excellent electricity production.

Harsh, desolate, desert conditions prevail along those mountain tops creating strong winds, which sometimes felt like they wanted to blow us right off the road!!! :~ o

The scene before us here seemed like we were descending into a vast mountain cathedral with such a grand bounty of beautiful and breathtaking views!

Like these mountain pillars standing as sentinels guarding the lonely traveler along the way. My camera did not do their splendor justice!

Later, we came across several areas where chimneys jutted out of the sandy desert mountains warning of the harsh weather conditions in this area.

These mountains are so high that they are void of even yellow grass or yellow and green sage brush. The white clouds in the azure sky all made this view feel surreal!!!

We saw this same butte on the way out, but from this angle it was a completely different view, quite resplendent standing majestic all alone on the vast prairie!!!

There were 3 crosses standing on the top of it to remind the passers-bye of the Atonement of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!

Kolleen was wonderful to take us to visit the Liberty Jail in Liberty, Missouri. The guide explained many things which I had not learned before. such as how Oliver Cowdrey convinced the jailers to allow him to go free because he was sick. The others were just as sick, but they stuck it out together for their faith in the Restored Gospel. Each came away from that experience closer to the Lord and stronger in their determination of the defense of it. Their food (scant and poor quality as it was) was lowered down through the hole in the floor above within the same uncleaned bucket which was used for their body waste. This bucket was sometimes not emptied for days at a time.

The jailers were also locked into this frozen prison, but they were allowed to return to warm homes, after their shifts were ended. The loose rocks in the attic and between the outer walls and the inner walls were placed there to prevent escape in case the prisoners attempted to break through the walls.



Then Kolleen took us to the Harry S. Truman Museum. He, his wife, their daughter and son-in-law are all buried in the beautifully kept courtyard.

This is his wife's parent's home which they lived in except when in

Washington DC.

This is the Community of Christ's Temple (previously known as The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) in Independence, Missouri. In my mind quite ugly, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It reminds me of the Ramiumptum trying to reach it's way to heaven. It stands across the street from the lot dedicated by Joseph Smith to build a temple.

This is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints visitor center on the East side of the Temple Lot. Kolleen and Docia greatly enjoyed the presentation on families and why we feel temple work is so important.

A corner stone marks the place where the temple was to be built and where it will be built in the future when the Lord deems it to be so.

This plaque is on the North side of the Temple Lot and explains the whole story.

The next day we spent many wonderful hours exploring a quaint little town named Weston, Missouri! It has many quaint antique stores and old fashioned eating establishments. It was difficult to refrain from spending the rest of my money in this adorable little town! After we ate a late lunch, Kolleen took us to see a State Park which overlooks the Missouri River, where Lewis and Clark rested while on their way exploring the "new land".

There was a couple who had come to view the river, so we asked if they would take our picture, which they happily obliged us. They Kolleen offered to take their picture as well which they consented to.

That even Bobby took us to a Seafood restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri called McCormick and Schmick's. That sure was a fare number of steps we had to climb to reach the restaurant!! But the view was fabulous and the food even better!!! Thank you Bob!!!

McCormick and Schmick's Seafood Restaurant was inside this turret on the second floor.

After eating, Bob took us on a tour of this area of Old Kansas City. He said that the city is called the City of Fountains and it sure was!! The sun was beginning to set but we got a few good pictures! The buildings were also decorated with ceramic tiles which also added to the beauty of this area of the city!

Bob insisted that we needed our picture in front of this war horse stature. It was of expert workmanship, as were all statures in the fountains.

This fountain is in a well kept city park with about 16 statues around a center where water is flowing from and to.

The next day, Docia went on our way and stopped in German Town Columbus, Ohio to visit her brother. He offered to take us to lunch, so while we waited for him to get ready we wandered around town. This part of Columbus has been historically preserved and is very quaint with it's small European gardens surrounding the red brick homes which match the brick sidewalks and very narrow roads between the houses. This house borders the central park and there fore the road was paved being a main thoroughfare. One side of the park the houses were small and on the other side the homes were quite large and more elegant, but still brick.

Here is an example of the brick sidewalks.

Here is an example of the larger homes on the opposite side of the park.



We had lunch at the original Max and Erma's Restaurant, before taking off on the final leg of our journey. This restaurant has become a chain, but the nearest one to us in in Buffalo, NY... sigh.

Thank you Bub for taking us there!!!!

Hope it is not 30yrs again before we meet!!!

We just could not make it one more mile before stopping at a rest stop, before getting home.

This was a new, clean and beautifully located rest stop on the edge of the Chautaugua Lake.
It was great to be home and sleep in one place for more than a couple of nights.
We must be getting old or something! LOL!!