Storm warnings came in loudly as we skipped out of Ohio, and into Indiana and straight to Illinois. Considered rerouting ourselves but braved the forecast all while the alerts of poor air quality from the wildfires peppered our day.

Despite the crazy winds and big rain we kept driving, slowly, but eventually crossed the Mississippi. Who can pass by without recalling Langston Hughes’ “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” noting the ‘Ancient, dusky rivers’ of our pained history? We breathe and pause and acknowledge.

By sunset we find our way to historic Rt 66 in Joplin, Missouri, and this quiet gem. “On the Road” echoes loudly in this place.“It’s the too-huge world vaulting us, and it’s good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.”

All in all, the heartland has fed our traveling souls and caused us to consider much. Tomorrow we adventure further west.