From the Ozarks to the Great Plains

Rolling Through The Ozarks on Old 66

Day four and back on the bikes. By now everyone has a good feel for riding a Harley, and after a few minor adjustments (clutch, brakes, etc.…) and we’re back on the road. Today we go through the Ozark mountains, through the countryside surrounded by the heavily forested hills. As we drive we’re teased occasionally by the smell of BBQ restaurants smoking their delicious pulled-pork and succulent ribs. The smell is guaranteed to make you hungry for a big plate for lunch. This is also the area we begin to see less agriculture and more ranching. The aroma of cattle and green pastures greets us around the bend and the cows, hearing the deep, throaty rumble of our bikes bolt and run when we pass by.
Today is the day we pass through a small corner of Kansas. When I say small, I mean it, we’re only in Kansas for less than 20 miles. But significant nonetheless. We leave Missouri just after Joplin and enter Kansas via Riverton. After only a few miles we stop again to see the only Marsh bridge left on the entire route, a white concrete arch beautifully contrasting the lush greenery around us. We stop for a brief history of the area and some photos of the arch and then a quick five mile ride on the bikes to our stop for lunch. We always stop at the Little Brick Inn, a very nice cafe (cafe on the route) and bed & breakfast, with a unique history behind it. The café and bed & breakfast is located in a former bank, once robbed by Jesse James. After lunch we take a few minutes to roam around the small town, and then it’s back on the bikes. We continue for another short ride, leaving Kansas behind us for Oklahoma. Less than two hours of riding later we’re in Tulsa for dinner at a 50’s themed diner and to the hotel for the night.