Day 5 - Part 2 - Lots of Missouri, some Kansas and 1 minute of Iowa

While at a gas station in somewhere Nebraska, I chatted briefly to a lovely dude from Kansas City (midwesterners are boundlessly friendly), who said if we were to make one stop on our drive through his city it had to be at Oklahoma Joe's BBQ.

Not one to ignore such a recommendation, especially after learning it was one of 13 places Anthony Bourdain said to eat before you die, we left St. Joseph and went out of the way to a gas station in the suburbs of Kansas City to which the restaurant is attached.  I prepared myself emotionally to eat some brisket, and we rolled in to the joint late in the afternoon, only to find it closed for Memorial Day.
Finding another farm-to-table operation nearby, I had a kale salad, moral compass remaining.  Tom and his morals had a brisket and bacon sandwich (no judgement of course).

We decided to check out downtown Kansas City, which has evidence of life, but no actual humans.

And then went to walk across the Missouri River.  Clarisse had a bit of trouble with this, or maybe Tom did, as when we were parking Tom crunched into the car behind us. "She's a bit larger than I remembered", and we got out to see a cracked fender.

Right after leaving a note on the windshield, a large muscle-bound Russian in an Ed Hardy shirt came out of that building, obviously to decapitate us both.  But he said the crack was already there, smacked Tommy on the back and said don't worry about it.  Spasibo Boris!!

And we walked out to the Missouri.  I've been struck by the number of trains criss-crossing the country. Miles long trains with coal and who-knows-what have been everywhere. 

We got back in the car, back in the rain, and made our way to St. Louis.  More prairie home companions.

And more weird road companions.

And finally, St. Louis!

Our search for food and drink continued.  Wandering around until we were both grumpy, we tried about 6 restaurants and bars, before finally finding the Broadway Oyster Bar.   Naturally they had just stopped serving food, but the fantastic jazz and the cold Budweiser soothed the soul.

Before long the Cardinals game down the road let out, and throngs of fans packed in just as a thunderstorm started rocking the little place.  Tom had 2 beers spilled on him, and we made friends. Thanks Bob and Mandy for the local tips and the fun!