Another early morning, but that’s the way I like it and it’s time to hit the big road and get some miles. The sun is coming up, as is the smile on my face. It looks to be a beautiful morning and, hopefully, a great day. As the hours click by, the clouds build up and I just can’t seem to warm up. I don’t think it will rain, but it sure is cloudy.

Go figure, there’s a lot of corn in Iowa. It looks to be a good crop, which is better than the winter wheat crop in South Dakota. Before you think I’m a commodities trader keep in mind that when I like to get up one of the only things on TV is the farm report. Don’t ask me about the weather related problems with the state cattle herds.

Last year I was wondering, where I would get a leaky rear-end fixed. No, don’t even think what you are thinking. The GS was leaking out of its new rear-end. This year I’ve got no worries with the Suzuki. It’s eager to go.

This is a bad day to be crossing the Missouri River. West of Columbia a tractor-trailer ran into a pickup with a trailer and pushed it about ¼ mile down the freeway until it rolled over. Several other vehicles were involved and the road was completely closed. Traffic was backed up over 5 miles. Fortunately for me it was in the opposite direction from which I was traveling. Near St. Louis, once again by the same river, another accident with the subsequent backup occurred again.

As I came up on the accident, a fire truck dropped off a fire fighter in the opposite lane and he was hoofing it back, full speed and in full gear, to the site of the accident. These guys earn their money and that image defines their dedication.

Chesterfield, MO is where the real money is. One of the car dealerships carries both Bentleys and Maseratis. I’m getting a little tired and wonder if Bentley makes a pickup truck. I can afford the $4,000+ monthly payment, at least for a couple of months.

A sign states that I-64 is one lane over the Mississippi River and suggests that I-270 is an alternative. When I get to the I-270 exit the backup has to be worse than the other I-64 problem. Oh contraire,  I was very happy to have a radiator and fan on the bike and wasn’t worried about over-heating. The semi without the brake lights in front of me added to the magic of the moment. After finally making it over the river, I find myself in another traffic jam. Off to my right I see a slew of motels and make-up my mind to call it a night.