The 3rd was a very busy day. We started in Baxter Springs at their museum. This is a small community but they have a first class museum. This is the entrance.

You can wander through this place for a couple of days and still not get it all in. The top level is filled with displays of artifacts and photo histories of the territory. When you enter, you are immediately greeted by this wonderful example of frontier architecture. An early bank's teller window.

The basement is full of reconstructed rooms. This is an old wagon from the late 1800's

When we left the museum, we were escorted by two very nice ladies from Joplin who came up to spend some time with us. They were traveling in their 1959 Chevrolet four door hardtop which was in excellent condition. On the way, we passed through this very interesting and old steel bridge. it was constructed over Brush Creek in 1923 and is the only remaining Marsh Arch Bridge on Route 66. It is listed on the National Registry.

Carolyn on the left and Gina on the right spent most of the day touring with us. Here they are by the trailer. Later in the day, they moved on and headed to Memphis for the upcoming 30th anniversary of Elvis' death. Gina is a big Elvis fan.

We stopped at the Isler Bros Deli for lunch. The food was good and the decor even better. Spent a little time with a couple of local farmers and learned something about how to cut and dry hay.

O.K. this is going to take a little explaining. Remember the movie "Cars"? There is a little restored gas station in Galena, KS. This is Melba who owns it and it came with an old truck. Here she is showing us the history of this story. See next photo...

In the movie, there is this truck called Mater. Actually it is Tow Mater. Well, anyway, in the movie, this tow truck, get the connection with the name?, can go just as fast backwards as he can go forward. OK, so far? Good. Well, this gentleman, Dean, has a very unusual talent. He can turn both of his feet backwards. Something to do with being bowlegged and double jointed. He said he used to be able to walk backwards when younger. Anyway, Dean was the inspiration for the character in the movie to be able to go backwards. Check out his feet in this photo. He said it starts to hurt after about 10 seconds.

And, TA DA! Here is the old truck that came with the station that became the inspiration for the truck in the movie "Cars". And it actually runs. If you come to Galena, you can rent it for parties for $50 plus $10 for the driver.

For dinner we ended up in Webb City at the Bradbury Bishop Deli. This is a beautifully restored restaurant.

We met several new friends and one of them ran home and came back with her old electric Kit Cat Klock. Here Woody is holding it while standing behind the vintage soda fountain. The soda fountain goes back to the forties.

Here is another shot of the interior and the soda fountain.