more on the MRT

April 5, 2011

Three nights in Cape Girardeau. The storm started with strong South winds. We had ridden to a point North or McClure IL on the first. It was about 20 miles north of Cape Girardeau. That's where the tire blew. Then the next day the winds started. Grace drove us out to the continuation point on the 2nd and it took over two hours to ride the twenty miles back to the hotel. After the ride and lunch we worked on taxes. In a way it pays for the trip.

The storm came in behind the winds. The next morning it was raining hard and still blowing. More tax work. The rain died down some and the winds shifted to the NW. About noon we had Grace drive us back across the bridge and we stated south.

We were going to ride down the MO side but, the Ferry we were to use to cross the Mississippi into Hickman is not operating. Maintenance issue. So, we headed toward Cairo IL. Cape Girardeau is a prosperous appearing place. By contrast Cairo has died. Still promotes having over 1,500 people living there but appearances makes one wonder how the survive. It is sad to see so many grand old houses and other buildings in such a sad state of repair. All along the river from Minneapolis there are signs that economical decline has left many of the towns and their citizens living in the past. The world moves on and many have tried to cling to the past.

Yesterday we rode 56 miles and stopped in Columbus KY. This is the town Jefferson wanted to make the capital of the US. It failed by one vote. And, Casey Jones got his first job with the railroads.

April 5, 2011

I dated this mornings blog incorrectly. It should have been April 5 as well. It is Tuesday our fifth day of riding. This morning we checked out of the holiday Inn Express in Cape Girarduea and drove to Columbus, KY to start riding. This could be called the dog day and the second wind day. We had been chased by one dog previous to today. At on place we had three dogs chase us for over three miles before they gave up. At another place a big boxer gave chase and then was joined by two smaller yapper biters. The boxer liked us and drove off the other dogs. Same thing happened with a big German Shepherd. All of this was along not very busy county roads with many different types of houses and mostly after we entered Tennessee. The three dogs that followed so far were in Kentucky. The economy varies along the route. But, it is mostly depressed. Some more than others. I think Cairo, IL was the poorest. Tonight we are in Dyresburg, TN. There economic condition is much, much better than some others. The waiter where we ate said that two factories had closed in the last two years. He did not know who in town would be the biggest employer today. But, if you wanted to shopping or out for a good meal in the area one would probably go to Jacksonville or Memphis. Jacksonville is 20 miles north. Memphis is an hour and a half south.

Congress members should be required to tour the US heartland before each session. Maybe they could see how badly the citizens are being treated. Just eliminate corporate taxes and watch the jobs come back into the US. The people out here are working hard and our government is taking their money and wasting it. And most of these folks don't even understand how they are being used. Where in the world is the media on this one? It makes me cry. How can we get this to be one country united and working together for a better tomorrow? Too many of us are greedy and selfish.