Independence and Kansas City, Missouri

Our first night in Independence, Missouri, we hit a HyVee to buy groceries plus lots of ice to keep the fridge cold, since it had gone on the blink the day before. We hadn't been near a town with a big grocery store in a week, so we stocked up on everything that didn't have to go in the freezer.

Then we took off to get some barbecue.

Our Ohio State friend (hope you read this, Carl) had recommended two KCMO barbecue places. We picked Jack Stacks in downtown Kansas City.  There was an hour wait, but the hostess said if we could find a place at the bar we could eat there.  Into the bar we went. A table for four was clearing. We moved toward it about two seconds after another couple; they suggested we share. So we had dinner with Bill and Sherrie -- “Okies” as they told us, who now live just across the river in Kansas City, Kansas.  They had great information about what to do in KC and some future planned stops. Very nice couple and a lot of fun.

Jim and I split a sampler plate of barbecued chicken, ribs and burnt ends. KC is famous for burnt ends and they were good. I’m sure a real aficionado could give a better explanation, but burnt ends are essentially brisket that gets more cooking/smoking than regular barbecue and has a bit of char.

The next day was all refrigerator, all day long, as explained in the last post.  

On day three we visited the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum. Very interesting and for the most part very somber. 

Truman had a lot on his hands; his decisions impacted not just our country but the world.  Among many other things, he reorganized the executive branch and created the Department of Defense, CIA, and the National Security Council. He waged war against Korea without Congressional approval. He was instrumental in creating NATO. And he approved dropping atomic bombs on Japan. 

Bess Truman, Margaret Truman, President Truman, and Jim in a display about  the "whistle stop" train tour the Trumans took for the the 1948 presidential election. That's the year Truman had his photo taken with the famous "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline. The train traveled over 30,000 miles and Truman gave 350 speeches. 

Bev and Harry. Lyndon Johnson signed the Medicare bill at the Truman Library and gave the former president and Mrs. Truman the first Medicare cards.

Harry and Bess Wallace Truman's graves in the library's courtyard.  Their daughter Margaret Truman Daniel and Margaret's husband, Clifton Daniel,  are buried nearby.   

After we left the museum we got a second dose of barbecue.  This time is was burnt ends and cole slaw from a nearby restaurant called "A Little Barbecue Joint."  Then we settled in to watch Ohio State play Penn State. Or rather, Jim watched at the back of the rig while I did trip planning at the front.  Jim provided play-by-play, as I have trouble watching close games. Ohio State won 39-38. I'm still not quite sure how that happened. Nor do I understand how they got creamed the next weekend by Iowa.  Poor kids.