Day 7 – Eureka to Springfield, Missouri
Today we were heading to Springfield, Missouri, with around 426 km (264 miles) on the agenda. It was going to be a fairly big day in the saddle, with a mixture of historic Route 66, tourist attractions, good food and, inevitably, a few navigational challenges.
Because apparently, riding one of America’s most famous highways can’t just involve following a road. That would be far too easy!
First Stop – Bourbeuse Valley Harley-Davidson
We kicked off the day with a visit to Bourbeuse Valley Harley-Davidson, conveniently located not too far from our motel.
Rather than simply jumping on the interstate, we made a point of navigating onto Highway 100, which follows part of the old 1926–1930 Route 66 alignment.
What a fantastic little stretch of road!
It was full of long, sweeping curves that wound one way and then the other. The sort of road that makes you appreciate why we travel on motorcycles in the first place. I enjoyed it so much that I nearly turned around and rode it all over again.
If only the entire day had been that straightforward!
The Joys of Navigating Historic Route 66
One of the challenges of following Route 66 is that the original road doesn’t always make itself obvious. Signage can be inconsistent, signs can be missing, and sometimes you can sail straight past a turn without realising you’ve done anything wrong.
Today was another example of that.
We missed one sign and ended up travelling around 16 km (10 miles) before we realised our mistake and had to backtrack. On two other occasions, we found ourselves veering off the route because the signage was either inadequate or missing altogether.
Out of the 426 km we travelled today, we probably spent around 150 km on the interstate.
Now, don’t get me wrong. The interstate certainly has its advantages. You can open the throttle, settle into a decent pace and make up some time without constantly checking for the next turn.
But that’s not really why you travel Route 66, is it?
The old road is about the journey, the history and the little places you’d never discover if you simply pointed the bike towards your destination and hammered along the highway.
Still, when you’ve lost 16 km because a sign has gone missing, the interstate can start looking rather attractive!
Meramec Caverns – A Natural Wonder
Our first major sightseeing stop was Meramec Caverns near Stanton, Missouri.
These spectacular caverns are a natural wonder and a popular attraction for travellers exploring this part of the state. The underground formations are fascinating, and the guided tour gives visitors a chance to experience a very different side of Missouri.
After spending so much time riding through the countryside, it was a welcome change to get off the bike and explore something formed by nature over an enormous period of time.
If you’re travelling through the area, I’d definitely recommend calling in and taking the tour. It’s one of those attractions that’s worth allowing time for rather than simply riding past the entrance.
Route 66 has plenty of roadside oddities, but every now and then it’s good to stop and appreciate something genuinely spectacular.
Missouri Hick BBQ – Follow Your Nose to Cuba
After the caverns, it was time to think about lunch. Fortunately, we had the perfect destination in mind: Missouri Hick BBQ in Cuba, Missouri.
You don’t need much help finding this place. As you pull up outside, the smell of smoked meat hits you, and suddenly any thoughts of keeping the day moving along disappear.
Missouri Hick is a great stop for anyone who appreciates proper barbecue, and my go-to meal here is the pulled pork sandwich.
Admittedly, I’ve only visited twice, but it hasn’t disappointed me yet. Two visits might not qualify me as a leading authority on Missouri barbecue, but I’m happy to keep conducting research!
There’s something special about finding a great local feed while travelling. It becomes part of the experience, and sometimes those meals are just as memorable as the attractions themselves.
Wagon Wheel Motel – A Route 66 Classic
Close to Missouri Hick BBQ is another iconic Route 66 landmark, the Wagon Wheel Motel.
The motel lays claim to being the oldest continuously operated motel along Route 66, making it a significant part of the road’s accommodation history.
Back in the heyday of Route 66, motels like this were essential for motorists making their way across America. Travellers needed somewhere to pull in, park the car, get some sleep and carry on the next morning.
Today, the Wagon Wheel remains a reminder of those early road-trip days, when the journey was as much about the places you stayed as the destination itself.
Even if you’re not looking for accommodation, it’s worth stopping to have a look. It’s another piece of Route 66 history that helps bring the old highway to life.
Fanning 66 Outpost – The Former King of Rocking Chairs
A little further along the road, we stopped at Fanning 66 Outpost.
This place was once famous for having the world’s largest rocking chair. Unfortunately, someone elsewhere in the USA has since stolen its crown.
There’s always someone who has to build a bigger one, isn’t there?
Still, losing the title doesn’t make the Outpost any less interesting. It’s worth stopping to browse the range of goods on offer and have a look around.
Route 66 has no shortage of unusual attractions, and the competition to build the biggest, tallest or most ridiculous roadside object seems to be a tradition in itself.
Whether it’s a giant spaceman, an enormous rocking chair or a hot-dog-wielding statue, you can usually count on America to deliver something memorable!
Three Harley-Davidson Dealerships in One Day
Our ongoing quest to visit as many Harley-Davidson dealerships as possible continued, and we managed to fit in three today:
For us, visiting dealerships is part of the fun of touring America. Each stop adds another destination to the trip, and it gives us a chance to browse the merchandise and add to the T-shirt collection.
At this rate, we’d need to start planning a separate suitcase just for dealership shirts!
Between the historic road, the caverns, the barbecue and the Harley stops, we certainly weren’t short of things to do today.
Overnight Stop – Comfort Inn South, Springfield
After a big day on the road, we arrived in Springfield and checked into the Comfort Inn South, located at 3776 S Glenstone Avenue.
This motel turned out to be a very pleasant surprise.
It was priced similarly to several of the other places we’d stayed during our holiday, but the overall experience was noticeably better. The staff were friendly and helpful, the room was clean, the bed was comfortable, and breakfast offered a good range of options.
It’s always nice when a motel exceeds your expectations, especially when you’re travelling day after day and a comfortable bed becomes one of life’s great luxuries.
After a long day in the saddle, a good night’s sleep and a decent breakfast can make all the difference to how you tackle the next day’s ride.
The Comfort Inn South was easily one of the better accommodation experiences we’d had so far.
Another Day on the Mother Road
Day 7 gave us a little bit of everything: a fantastic stretch of winding road, a fascinating cave tour, some excellent barbecue, historic Route 66 accommodation and another three Harley-Davidson dealerships ticked off the list.
We also had another reminder that following the original Route 66 isn’t always as simple as it sounds. Missing signs and confusing alignments can add a few unexpected kilometres to the day, but that’s all part of the adventure.
Tomorrow, we’ll be crossing into Oklahoma and continuing our journey west along the Mother Road.
Hopefully, the signs will be a little more cooperative. But if not, at least we’ll have the interstate to fall back on — and somewhere along the way, there’s bound to be another good feed!
The Thirsty Tourists — Touring is thirsty work!