To Springfield, MO

Today was to be my last stretch of driving before laying over for a week in Springfield. Sikeston is in the Boot heel of Missouri, Flatland. I headed out on the little highway that passed Paul Eakins' place. Sixty miles further bumps began forming and before I knew it, I was in the Missouri Ozarks again. Though I lived on the other side of the Ozarks, this was instantly familiar. The same rocky soil, the same woods, the same bunnies.

Even though I was anxious to get back and start on the chores waiting for me, I still took a twisty road. I was driving through a section of the Ozarks I had never been in. I should notice it.

My route took me through Niangua, MO to pick up my mail. It was odd coming back after only three months. Still the same little town but different somehow. I no longer had a reason for being there. I never had a sense of belonging there, but I owned property nearby so at least I had a reason for being there. I did my mail stuff and talked with the postmaster lady. I realize as I write this, I didn't inquire after any of the local gossip. I didn't ask about my neighbors or what any of the local news was. It was too soon to be nostalgic and not close enough to feel important.

From Niangua I went to Marshfield. It is amazing how quickly you can whip through bureaucratic stuff. I under two hours I went to the assessor's office and got copies of two old tax receipts, I had a safety inspection done on my car and replaced some shocks, I went to the license bureau and registered my car and completed the banking I needed done. Yow, I was expecting half a day at least.

From there it was to Springfield. Back to where I started out just over three months earlier. Very strange. They are remaking the town. Downtown they have trendy places to hang, many art galleries, a new sporting arena and developers are converting all of the big old buildings to trendy lofts. It is as if they are trying to be like a modern city but with no edge. You never have to watch your back. You don't have to avoid certain areas and the town shuts down at 1am so everybody can get a good nights sleep. With 176 religious colleges there what do you expect? It's very safe. Probably a nice town to retire to, if you are of that mind.

But there I was in Springfield. I had lots to do. I made a number of modifications to the database that runs this site, made headway on the writing I needed to do. And got food poisoning at a franchise place. One of the nice things about dysentery is that you can eat anything you want and not have to worry about losing your figure.

But I must make one hearty recommendation before I close off this section of the trip. In Springfield, there is a place called TekSnak that is located on Glenstone at Sunshine in the plaza that is on the Southeast corner. In the morning they have excellent, strong coffee. It is spotlessly clean. I wouldn't hesitate to eat raw food there and have, the fruit salad is made fresh daily and is wonderful: melons, mangos, pineapple, grapes. Whatever is fresh and in season, none of it canned. Their menu is simple but top notch for what they do. There is nothing greasy or poorly made in anything I've eaten there. They put a nice salsa fresca on their breakfast burrito that has the bright flavors of cilantro and green onion. Even better they have wireless there. If you don't need wireless they have five computers hooked up to the internet so you can surf as you eat. It is owned and operated by a nice couple who don't know I am plugging them. They are open from 6am 'til 3pm, breakfast and lunch only, daily lunch specials. In the morning they play NPR so you can listen to the news while you work and drink coffee. Check 'em out