Ken and I, after leaving Kansas City late, take a nice drive in the country in Betsy, towards Plattsburg, Missouri.
I didn't get what they meant by "president for a day," but then I read the history...
Ken and I walked west after touring downtown to look at some of the houses in Plattsburg.
We arrived at the west side of town where the main road into town forks at a real estate office, which has always been a memorable landmark for me...
I also noticed a nice mid-century modern animal clinic
I love mid-century post and beam construction...
and even the more post-modern variants of that style...
as we found later in a dental clinic. Also, on the same road, we found a large log on display at a lumber yard...
and, of course, more gorgeous "painted lady" victorian homes...
We also found a collection of old luxury automobiles, oh, and a Rambler from the 60's..
American Motors Rambler
Imperial
A Packard and a Lincoln limo
all displayed with an antique fuel pump with gas at 14 cents a gallon.
Then back to more sights...
Including this patriotic display, that I can only describe as an american flag sputnik...
We went to get a coke at a place called JJ's Bar. They only had poopsie though, but the place was very friendly, and we even met the Mayor of Plattsburg.
PS
I have been going to Lawrence, Kansas since spring 1990, when I read about the great music scene there in the local alternative weeklys and the local music paper. Familiarization with bands like the Sin City Disciples and Kill Whitey let me know that something exciting was in Lawrence. My first roadtrip there was to go see Day on the Hill 1990, which had Sin City Disciples headlining.
Sin City Disciples at the Bottleneck, Lawrence Kansas, August1991
Kill Whitey at the Americn Rights Festival outside Lawrence Kansas, September 1991 performing "Conversation"
Ken, Suyen and I left for Lawrence from Kansas City. Ken and I to do some daytripping, Suyen to do shopping at her favorite store -- the Gap. She doesn't share our enthusiasm for local businesses.
Driving Downtown Kansas City
Much has changed in Lawrence. in 1990, downtown was primarily local businesses. It even had a Woolworths downtown, if I remember right -- not that Woolworths is local, but it was always a fixture of downtown areas everywhere. I remember sometime in the early 90's, that part of downtown, (where McDonalds, then McDonalds captive mexican chain is now ) was completely torn out and modernized. About two years ago, I was in the antique mall downtown, and found a book commissioned by some study group that decided that downtown Lawrence was incredibly old fashioned and out of step with the modern times and needed to be torn down and replaced with a mall. I believe the study was released in 1980. About 1990, the Riverfront mall was opening up much to the protest of many local citizens. Downtown Lawrence is still surviving, Riverfront Mall is dead.
Driving in Lawrence Kansas
boB Cutler on www.Battlecam.com
Driving on KU and in Lawrence, Kansas with boB Cutler
Driving in Lawrence Kansas with boB Cutler Here in My Car
We chose Clinton, Missouri as our next daytrip destination. Actually, we had intended to go here two weeks ago, but other things got in the way. Ken and I left later than we wanted to, but with temperatures hovering around 105, we wouldn't have been able to do much in the hot sun anyway. We passed through Belton after several wrong turns on our way south and east of the metro.
Livestream through Belton
Belton Part 2
Approaching Clinton Missouri always brings to mind a terrible tragedy that happened downtown here several years ago.
Coming into Clinton
I mention several times having come here and working here...
Clinton Missouri has the largest town square in the state of Missouri.
Ken and I "wound the clock" several times before tiring out from the heat...
When we finally did tire out after not much time in the heat and humidity, we checked into 1/2 Pints Frozen Custard for a cone and some much needed water. Poor Tima was stressing as well in this heat. It is not easy being a little black dog close to the ground in the high temps. Her ears were pointing straight back like the way a horses ears would do when the horse is pissed. Though Tima could not come into the a/c, she did get a cup of frozen custard and a nice cup of water.
Across the street from 1/2 Pints, is the KATY depot. The Missouri Kansas Texas Railroad cut through Clinton, and parts of it are still here. The Katy trailhead starts here where the railroad ends. We wondered if trains still operate here. The Missouri and Northern Arkansas is a successor line. The railway ends here in Clinton, and the trail begins here.
Downtown DeSoto
Ken and I mused that many people probably have never heard of a DeSoto.
We found this time capsule here, and wondered about it's existence. Well, a video by the owner explains everyting...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNmQspSW5rE
We walked around a bit after being refreshed in the custard place. We stopped in at Ben Franklins Coffee, where I got an iced mocha, and Ken got a coke.
Looking for the Leaky Roof
The Katy was not the only railroad in town. In 1995, while working on a story for the tv station I worked for in college, I came upon an interlocking tower in a back yard. A man there explained to me that it controlled the crossing of the "Leaky Roof" railroad, otherwise known as the Kansas City Clinton and Springfield Railfroad. We were unsuccessful in finding the tower.
We did find a great animated sign...
Found an animated sign
We left Clinton heading north on 13 Highway towards Warrensburg. We stopped by Safari Motel to get some snapshots of the googie there.
Departing Clinton
