Well, I got my work assignment as a Race Marshall for the Springfield end of the Clinton/Springfield stage (Wednesday) of the Tour of Missouri this week. At first I was freaked out as it is in a rather ... uh ... depressed ... part of town, but I've decided to embrace it and would like to invite you all to join me for a festive gathering in this historic section of Springfield, Missouri. Just across the tracks from the famous (former) Frisco Diesel Shop, I'll be attempting to keep traffic trapped in Garrison's Convenience Store "A Neighborhood Place". From what I observed the short time I was there taking pictures, the clientele was mostly bikers -- not cyclists, but motorcycle riders, but they are brethren, right? Just west is Vaughn's Drive-In, an old-fashioned ice-cream type stand (the pink building). Their sign showed that they were having some sort of special. Directly across the street was Hair One Barber Shop (I don't have a photo, but you can catch part of the sign -- maybe Levi Leipheimer can stop in for a hair replacement). Across and to the west is Big D Loan & Gun -- a fine pawn establishment. I haven't checked, but there might be a deal on a bike in there! All in all not a bad location. A fast straightaway, so we won't have to hang long and can still catch the finish downtown (if we hurry). So come on! Hang with me, my Dad and my boss's husband Harold. Please ...

http://www.tourofmissouri.com/

Bob