OnManeuvers: I didn't see Harry Truman, but I did see Uncle Jesse!

Turns out my legendary lack of patience is what kept me from getting on the WiFi here at the Three Trails Inn. (No need to comment on that, family!)

Leaving Cincnatti was easy, although I did pass through a work zone down the street from Frank and Lauren's that was guarded by a officer straight out of "Policewomen of Cincinatti". It was wise of me not to stop and ask for her number.

Still on the police theme, as I approached the Indiana border, there were three cop cars in the median all within 1000 feet of each other. Must have been waiting for Smokey and the Bandit.
Indianapolis went by in a hurry, but I stayed way too long in Terra Haute (that sounds like the start of a country song) trying to find something to eat and fiddling with a balky gas pump.

I passed by St. Louis to the north, but I could just see the Arch from the Interstate. Crossed over the Mississippi River and saw a cool little lighthouse thingy in the river. Crossed over the Missouri a little later and it was in full flood. Much of the West side of St. Louis is urban sprawl for what feels like forever. It could have been Jersey, PA, NC or any metropolis. I can't wait to get on to the Blue Highways.

I finally got in to Independence, MO and found my way to the Three Trails Inn. I inquired after the proprietor and Bennie quickly appeared to show me to my lodgings. (Suddenly I'm trying to sound Westerny) I'm staying
in the Oregon room. In case you are curious as I was, the three trails are the Oregon, the Santa Fe and the California. After resting for a moment, I got the 411 on the town from Bennie and headed out to find some grub. In Independence, the Jackson (county) square is where it's at. I walked around a bit and with Bennie and Yelp's help I settled on the Cafe Verona. Had a pretty decent buffalo mozzarella (okay foodie Italians that I know, please comment on why it's called buffalo mozzarella, I didn't want to ask last night) appetizer, spinach side salad and a pesto chicken panini, followed by tiramisu for dessert. Oh, and Taylor Swift's sister was my waitress. Not really, but I thought so.

Both the Three Trails Inn and Cafe Verona get my endorsement. There are a couple of other spots in the square area that looked good including Square Pizza and the Courthouse Exchange.

After dinner, I went OnManeuvers of course. Found some interesting churches, a fire house that was turned in to a bike shop and another firehouse that is the Harry S. Truman Historical Site Visitors Center. After tooling about in town looking for trouble, I returned to the square where I had seen people setting up for an event. Taylor Swift's sister told me the do movies in the square on Thursday nights. How cool! They were showing Despicable Me so I hung around for a little bit and watched parts of it. In between watching the movie and people watching I tried my hand at some nighttime photography. I'll post some of my more successful ones below. I wrapped up the evening by grabbing a scoop from the old fashioned soda fountain on the town square. It wound up being a pretty good, small town America experience.

I slept pretty good but my phone kept blowing up with the craziness back home. I guess you all had some storms and resultant house fires/water rescues to deal with?

I got up fairly early and had designs to go for a run, but it is storming here as well. I leisurely gathered my senses and finally sorted this WiFi before heading down to breakfast. There I met Charlotte, a Zooey Deschanel look-alike, who was here in Independence from the UK to conduct research at the Truman Presidential Library for her thesis. She is researching post-war reconstruction in former British colonies in Africa. How 'bout them apples!? We had a very pleasant conversation over a wonderful stuffed French toast breakfast. Bennie took Charlotte off to the library, so I'm gathering my things and going OnManeuvers.