Making the drive along 50-Highway from KC to Jeff City is an experience I've enjoyed since I was at Mizzou. Weird little towns, strange burger joints and quaint little farms on every horizon provide the driver with visual variety on every journey. Driving through Syracuse, MO (Population 116) it occurred to me... I mentally set every small town horror story I've ever read in this rural town. Something about it is cool and creepy but I've yet to stop there.

This Travel Journey is to meet the new Missouri Tourism Director (Katie Steele Danner) , as well as, go to lunch with my good friend and former Director Bob Smith before he retires. After meeting with Ms. Danner, I had time to check out the inside of the Capitol and see our lawmakers in action... then I heard...

"Sullivan... I'm sure it's not the first time you've eaten behind bars but we're going to the Prison Brewery for lunch!"... Bob Smith

After a quick 3 minute drive from the Capitol I was eating a pork loin sandwich behind bars across the street from the old prison. (Too easy for jokes and irony so I won't go there.)

Ted's Top 5 Things he learned about travel on this trip:

1. Missouri comes from the Indian Tribe name meaning "town of the large canoes"

2. Missouri Tourism currently ranks 35th on Gammet's Social Media rankings

3. The Missouri State Prison once housed "Pretty Boy" Floyd & James Earl Ray.

4. The "Gone A-Rye Pale Ale" was much better than the "Big House IPA" and the "I Ain't Your Honey Wheat". (If it wasn't lunch I would tried the others)

5. There hasn't been a murder charge in Syracuse, MO in over 10 years... but there have been 62 FIRE related alerts...  I knew it!!!

Sure... I may have been a bit full after lunch but that didn't stop me from firing down a Goober Burger at the Wheel-In in Sedalia. Peanut butter on a cheeseburger... hey, don't be a wimp and make your day "fun", be a hero and make your day weird.

Ted

Trip Quote-

"Be careful not to get peanut butter on your fancy tie son."