Moving East -- Baseball (Yes, More) and Harleys, too!

Did I think when we left Weslaco that this would be the summer of the baseball game? No, but it seems that has happened.

Ken, outside the Kansas City Royals Stadium

After leaving Jefferson City, we went to the Kansas City area. We wanted to see my cousin, Tina (and Troy) Heckmaster, as well as actually be a bit "touristy" in the city. As many times as Ken and I have been in the KC area, we have never really taken the time to look at it in a more in-depth manner.

Scoreboard in Royals Park

Because we were going to see Tina, who lives across the river in Overland Park, Kansas, we found an RV park to the south of KC, in the community called "Peculiar"!  Love the name of that town!  And the RV park was truly a great place to stop for a few days.  The owner calls it "Peculiar Park Place RV", and the 'streets' are named for the streets in the Monopoly game, including one avenue called "Park Place".

The National Guard brought the colors onto the field

Of course, Kansas City, MO, is the home of the Kansas City Royals, baseball team, so it just wouldn't do if we didn't take in a game or two. Saturday evening we took in a great game -- the park is next to the KC Chief's stadium (a shared parking lot), and that particular evening was to honor the armed forces. A truly outstanding job was done by the team's organization, from a swearing-in ceremony for several new Army recruits, to a magnificent fly-over by A-10 jets during the National Anthem. Each branch of the service was honored at various times between innings of the game.

The following day, after Ken had called his great-niece and family, they joined us for a second Royals' ball game.  It started earlier in the afternoon, and it was hot, hot, hot.  But after the top of the 5th inning, the game was halted to allow the field crew to cover the field and allow us to get under cover for the thunderstorm that hit quite suddenly.  

 

Only moments before the sun was blinding to the eye and it was hot, hot, hot!!

We stayed in the concourse area for about 45 minutes, then the game resumed. Lots of fun (and steam), and a great BBQ dinner after the game with the kids before they drove back to Jefferson City.

We drove to the north side of Kansas City the following day and stayed in the community of Platte City, MO.  It is just up the road a short distance from the Harley-Davidson manufacturing plant, so a tour of that facility was certainly in order. 

What a great work ethic those folks have -- such a shame we don't see more of that "pride in workmanship" in all things American made.  And such a shame too, that we don't have more things to purchase in this country that have a label that says "American Made" attached to it!  Though you cannot see it in the upper right photo, there is a sign behind the cycle on the right side of the middle sidewalk.  The signs reads:  "Employee Parking -- Do Not Touch" !  How's that for having primo parking!!  Ken did think he should be in at least one photo of all those 'hogs', so he is near the bikes, but not touching!

The RV park we stayed at had once been a private fishing club for the uber-rich!  It had started out as a fish hatchery, then purchased by a fellow who wanted to provide a total fishing adventure for those that could afford it.  It was quite run down before the current owners took it over and cleaned it up.  Three lakes for fishing although Ken didn't have a license, so he passed on that opportunity.  Besides, when we stayed at April and Scott's, while in the Jefferson City area, he caught a lot of crappie and bass, which we have in the freezer to taste as we get the desire.  There is also the chance he will be able to fish at one of our future stops in southwestern Nebraska, so we didn't worry too much about not getting anything with fins!