Road Trip with Marvin & Scott
Sunday, October 3, 2010 was the scheduled day to take a "Road Trip". This one had a three purposes, all equally important.
My part of the trip started with Glinda and I getting up at 2:45 a. m. to milk the cows and get all the chores done so I could get cleaned up and be at Marvin's in Dawson, Mo by 6:00 a. m. Glinda & I were finished a few minutes after five. I was ready and on the road at 5:20 arriving in Dawson at 10 minutes before six. I was thinking how lucky I was since it appeared they were up already because the shop was open with lights on and I could see lights on in the house. Imagine my surprise when I tried the door and found it locked. I knocked a few times with no response so I went to the car and blasted the horn, then knocked some more before Marvin opened the door. He then informed me that they had stayed by the bonfire until three and he was not sure when Scott finally gave it up. Marvin started working on getting Scott up and going and we left Dawson at 6:51.
My part of the trip started with Glinda and I getting up at 2:45 a. m. to milk the cows and get all the chores done so I could get cleaned up and be at Marvin's in Dawson, Mo by 6:00 a. m. Glinda & I were finished a few minutes after five. I was ready and on the road at 5:20 arriving in Dawson at 10 minutes before six. I was thinking how lucky I was since it appeared they were up already because the shop was open with lights on and I could see lights on in the house. Imagine my surprise when I tried the door and found it locked. I knocked a few times with no response so I went to the car and blasted the horn, then knocked some more before Marvin opened the door. He then informed me that they had stayed by the bonfire until three and he was not sure when Scott finally gave it up. Marvin started working on getting Scott up and going and we left Dawson at 6:51.
We traveled north on route 95 until we reached highway 38 and then we turned east following it until we reached route 17. The first town we came to was Houston, Mo and we turned north onto Highway 63. We stayed on 63 passing through the towns of Licking, Edgar Springs, Rolla and Vichy before turning northeast again onto route 28.
It was while we were approaching Belle that we were spotted by a deputy and he wished to talk to us. He checked the truck out and radioed Marvin's license in and then came back and told us to have a nice day but to slow it down to something close to the limit. Marvin agreed and thanked the deputy profusely and we continued on our way. Route 28 continued through Bland, Canaan, and Owensville. Still rolling we turned north once more onto route 19 and traveled through Drake and Swiss before arriving at Hermann, Mo for our first pit stop.
As we left Hermann we crossed the Mighty Mo on Senator Kit Bond Bridge. This view is looking east as we crossed. It wasn't long before we turned east on a small unmarked-on-the-map-road. We changed roads a time or two and quickly arrived at Marvin's cabin in the woods on a hill. Great it is now close to 10:30 and we are making good time.
We tried starting the tractor several times but the effort was futile and finally we gave up and pulled it from the shed and headed it downhill and started winching it onto the trailer. This cost us quite a bit of time and it was 12:30 before we were rolling again.
The first part of the mission was complete and we are leaving Marvin's place and heading to Jonesburg to complete missions 2 & 3.
We had an appointment at "Frumpy Joe's Food and Drink" to complete the last two purposes there. The second purpose of the trip was to deliver Scott to "Frumpy Joe's" to meet his sister who was coming to pick him up and further his travels and the third purpose was one I had been looking forward to for a long time.
I met a fellow veteran online through the My VFW Networks Forum about 6 years ago. We had used veteran chatrooms and spoken on the telephone several times before learning that we both knew Marvin and Scott. I used this opportunity to travel close enough to meet him and his better half.
(left to right) Me, Monica and Deane. We recognized each other immediately and began talking. He gave me a pin for my VFW Cap. "Vietnam Veteran - US Navy" is what is on the pin. I very much appreciate the pin and will display it proudly on my hat and tell all just where it came from. Deane and Monica had drove to "Frumpy Joe's" just to meet me. That is humbling. Deane is a member of Wentzville VFW Post 5327 and Monica is involved with the Ladies Auxiliary attached to the post. We drank a couple of beers and had to head back to Dawson as it was already 1:30 in the afternoon and we were hours away from home and the evening chores.
Deane is proudly showing his 'new' mini-van to Scott. We said our goodbyes and hugged and promised to get together again real soon. Monica and Deane said they would try to come to Dawson for a weekend where we would have a longer period of time to enjoy ourselves. Scott is planning on returning around the Fourth of July 2011.
Marvin and I returned by ourselves and followed the same route in reverse, here we are again crossing the Mighty Mo and this is looking west up the river from Hermann.
I could see this from the bridge and thought it looked interesting. The photo below I had to take thorugh the windshield and it did not turn out as well.
I thought the architecture of each was interesting and that they deserved being mentioned here. Hermann is a very old town on the Missouri River and had lots of old interesting buildings as we traveled through.
We hadn't eaten all day and it was just past 2:00 p.m. when we decided to gas up with fuel and get a burger at the first spot we saw. While we were still in Hermann, Mo we spotted a combo Hardee's with gas pumps. I went in and ordered a Hardee's Thickbuger and an order of fries for each of us. We then found out the pumps were out of order and had to continue on to find fuel but we did eat as we traveled. I found the fries to be very good but I was disappointed in the "Thickburger".
We arrived in Owensville, Mo and fueled up and as Marvin went in to pay I looked up and spotted VFW Post 6133 and snapped a couple of photos. It looked good with the memorial and cannon sitting in front.
The rest of our journey was uneventful and we arrived at Dawson around 5 in the afternoon. We tried to unload the tractor while I was there to help but it was late and we were tired. Marvin sent me on home and I got home just in time to feed the calves because Glinda started milking before I got there and was cleaning up.
I brought Glinda some souvenirs, two rocks from Marvin's place and a t-shirt from Frumpy Joe's.
Good trip but was worn out and we crashed at 9. I love a Road Trip but they sure are hard on me in my advanced years.
It was while we were approaching Belle that we were spotted by a deputy and he wished to talk to us. He checked the truck out and radioed Marvin's license in and then came back and told us to have a nice day but to slow it down to something close to the limit. Marvin agreed and thanked the deputy profusely and we continued on our way. Route 28 continued through Bland, Canaan, and Owensville. Still rolling we turned north once more onto route 19 and traveled through Drake and Swiss before arriving at Hermann, Mo for our first pit stop.
As we left Hermann we crossed the Mighty Mo on Senator Kit Bond Bridge. This view is looking east as we crossed. It wasn't long before we turned east on a small unmarked-on-the-map-road. We changed roads a time or two and quickly arrived at Marvin's cabin in the woods on a hill. Great it is now close to 10:30 and we are making good time.
We tried starting the tractor several times but the effort was futile and finally we gave up and pulled it from the shed and headed it downhill and started winching it onto the trailer. This cost us quite a bit of time and it was 12:30 before we were rolling again.
The first part of the mission was complete and we are leaving Marvin's place and heading to Jonesburg to complete missions 2 & 3.
We had an appointment at "Frumpy Joe's Food and Drink" to complete the last two purposes there. The second purpose of the trip was to deliver Scott to "Frumpy Joe's" to meet his sister who was coming to pick him up and further his travels and the third purpose was one I had been looking forward to for a long time.
I met a fellow veteran online through the My VFW Networks Forum about 6 years ago. We had used veteran chatrooms and spoken on the telephone several times before learning that we both knew Marvin and Scott. I used this opportunity to travel close enough to meet him and his better half.
(left to right) Me, Monica and Deane. We recognized each other immediately and began talking. He gave me a pin for my VFW Cap. "Vietnam Veteran - US Navy" is what is on the pin. I very much appreciate the pin and will display it proudly on my hat and tell all just where it came from. Deane and Monica had drove to "Frumpy Joe's" just to meet me. That is humbling. Deane is a member of Wentzville VFW Post 5327 and Monica is involved with the Ladies Auxiliary attached to the post. We drank a couple of beers and had to head back to Dawson as it was already 1:30 in the afternoon and we were hours away from home and the evening chores.
Deane is proudly showing his 'new' mini-van to Scott. We said our goodbyes and hugged and promised to get together again real soon. Monica and Deane said they would try to come to Dawson for a weekend where we would have a longer period of time to enjoy ourselves. Scott is planning on returning around the Fourth of July 2011.
Marvin and I returned by ourselves and followed the same route in reverse, here we are again crossing the Mighty Mo and this is looking west up the river from Hermann.
I could see this from the bridge and thought it looked interesting. The photo below I had to take thorugh the windshield and it did not turn out as well.
I thought the architecture of each was interesting and that they deserved being mentioned here. Hermann is a very old town on the Missouri River and had lots of old interesting buildings as we traveled through.
We hadn't eaten all day and it was just past 2:00 p.m. when we decided to gas up with fuel and get a burger at the first spot we saw. While we were still in Hermann, Mo we spotted a combo Hardee's with gas pumps. I went in and ordered a Hardee's Thickbuger and an order of fries for each of us. We then found out the pumps were out of order and had to continue on to find fuel but we did eat as we traveled. I found the fries to be very good but I was disappointed in the "Thickburger".
We arrived in Owensville, Mo and fueled up and as Marvin went in to pay I looked up and spotted VFW Post 6133 and snapped a couple of photos. It looked good with the memorial and cannon sitting in front.
The rest of our journey was uneventful and we arrived at Dawson around 5 in the afternoon. We tried to unload the tractor while I was there to help but it was late and we were tired. Marvin sent me on home and I got home just in time to feed the calves because Glinda started milking before I got there and was cleaning up.
I brought Glinda some souvenirs, two rocks from Marvin's place and a t-shirt from Frumpy Joe's.
Good trip but was worn out and we crashed at 9. I love a Road Trip but they sure are hard on me in my advanced years.
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