SvobodaKC: America Cannot Be Found On the Interstate

A Day Trip With an Unexpected Kick

Our goal was to make it to Joplin for a little daytrip during our mini-vacation. Rain, however, conspired to make the outing a soggy disaster. It is early spring after a warm winter, and springlike weather has arrived early with a vengeance.

Phone radar of the rain we drove into. For awhile it looked like it might clear.

I was in Branson last week for work. Branson had seen an early season tornado as part of an outbreak. I got some dashcam video of our drive along the damage path on the main street into Branson.

http://svobodastorm.blogspot.com/2012/02/severe-weather-possible-for-end-of.html

Rainy Joplin on a Sunday when everything is closed.

As we entered town, it looked like the weather might clear, but, another wave came in and thoroughly soaked everything.

The one place we found open was an antique store on the north side of town.

After the antique store, we decided to see what we could see on the way back. It was a long way to go just for a drive. I took route 66 out of downtown. As I did, the weather finally started to clear. We drove on to Baxter Springs, Kansas, where we checked out the gift shop, which appeared to be closed. We were about to leave when a nice lady inside came out and told us she'd open the place for us. Turns out she is a volunteer and she was very happy to share with us information on everything we could see and do in the area. She loves Tima as well. The little gas station that has been restored into the information/visitors center is full of every imaginable souvenir.