Shawnee Mission to Missouri Border; Distance = 6 Miles; People Met = 19+
The day started with a presentation to the Westwood View Elementary School. I had never thought to talk about kindness and community involvement to kids, but Gretchen had taught at that school and arranged for the engagement. I was the most nervous I’ve been for a presentation yet, though Cindy thought this would be piece of cake for me, since I often behave like a kid to begin with. The trick, though, is how to entertain kids while still getting an important message across. I think I succeeded, though I’ll know more when we get to stay with Brian (teacher at the school) and Christy Watson on Sunday evening.
3-6 Grades at Westwood View Elementary School
Also on the itinerary Gretchen prepared for us was another presentation in the evening for a potluck supper at Westwood City Hall. The gathering is best described as Gretchen and Ardie’s social network. I got to taste one of Ardie’s barbecue dishes at the potluck. The significance of that is we are in the Kansas City area, the famed center for barbecues, and Ardie authors barbecue cookbooks. We chatted with Bob and Pat while we were eating. Bob now walks 1 ½ hours a day, and both have gone on camping trips.We also met Ann and Stan, the parents of Reid Nelson who we stayed with in Lawrence. The two of them have bicycled across the country and Ann runs marathons – in her eighties! We got to chat as well with Phil and Gail who were from Joplin, Missouri and reported on the kindness that flooded to the area after the tornado.
Westwood City Hall presentation, photo by Gretchen Davis
I gave the “usual” presentation and heard it had at least one positive effect. Pete and Helen were rethinking their church’s approach to a food pantry after hearing my ingredients for an effective community project. I would have loved to get pictures of all these fine folks, but I forgot my camera bag for that evening.
In between the presentations we had lunch at the Davis’s home and, oh yeah, we hiked the final six miles to the Missouri border, all on bike trails. Ironically, the most urbanized border of crossing so far had no sign by it. We essentially entered our newest state by crossing to the other side of State Line Road.
Welcome to Missouri!
Other Photos
Scott helped with directions ... and walked faster than us
Tony and Colin described the Indian Creek Trail in Missouri
Liz at Taco Bell was going to tell her church about us
Great pictures & great people!
I guess in the interest of harmony I better approve this comment.