July 30 - Hannibal, MO to Manhattan, KS - 340 miles

Riding across Missouri was quite scenic, in that smaller farms on rolling hills had various crops still green over rolling fields.  Some of the grain had been harvested, so the golden stubble contrasted with the green.  I have liked Missouri each time I've crossed the state.  Its smaller farms have trees bordering each field, and enough hills to make nice gentle curvy roads to ride.

Along the way the speedometer on my motorcycle kept getting stuck, usually at 70 mph, and it was a pain.  So, I stopped and got the GPS tracking going and used a window of that program to give me the correct speed.  It was a good substitute.  Then later in the day, the speedometer started working correctly again.  (That's IPIO for you - Innate Perversity of Inanimate Objects.)

I got lost coming into Kansas.  I apparently missed a turn of the highway I wanted, and rode merrily along on a nice meandering farm road for a while, until I decided this wasn't the correct route.  Then I spied a rural postman delivering mail, asked him for directions, and got back on my route.  If Norm had been along, I wouldn't have gotten lost.  Norm double checks me on when to turn, and pays a lot of attention to his ever-present map in its map holder on the motorcycle.  Then he corrects me if I am about to go wrong.  Ah well, alls well that ends well.

The day was hot and got hotter as I came into Kansas.  By the time I reached Manhattan, KS where my brother Del lives, it was 97^o F and probably 90% humidity.  I was just soaked with perspiration when I arrived.  But a cool shower and a cool drink revived me.

Del and I are having a good visit, and I'm staying in Manhattan for a couple of days to visit nephews, nieces and friends.

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