When I decided to attempt something as crazy as visiting all 50 states this year I set out some visiting criteria for myself. First, layovers without leaving the airport don't count, neither do just driving into a state and turning around and driving out. I vowed to participate in some type of commerce or, ideally, a cultural or physical activity. So here I am in Missouri basically just driving along the eastern edge on the interstate, commonly known as the "Bootheel". The Mississippi River twists off to my left as I drive through essentially flat farmland. There are few logical stops but I was determined to make it count.
My first stop was one of desperation. I had a cold. It was one of those pesky my nose is running, eyes are watering and I keep sneezing every two minutes type of plague that made me grateful nobody was in the car with me. Frankly, I didn't want to be in the car with me. I had purchased cold medicine in Kentucky and it wasn't doing the trick. I exited the highway and went into this lovely Country Mart. Is this going to be my commerce of the trip? Cold medicine and a jumbo box of deluxe tissue, you know the spiffy kind with the lotion. How pathetic I've become!
The only site of interest on the map was the Hunter- Dawson Historic Site on New Madrid, MO. That's the site for me! They offer tours of a "majestic mansion illustrating the grand lifestyle once enjoyed by one of southeast Missouri's wealthy families during the late 1800's". Nifty! New Madrid sites right on the banks of the Mississippi where it loops in almost a 360 degree turn. Unfortunately my timing was off to tour the mansion but I enjoyed the town and wondered where all of the 3000 residents could possibly be.
An example of the flat terrain I was exploring.
Proof I was actually in the state with a rather artsy reflection of my phone in my glasses. Next: Arkansas.
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