Day 5 - Columbia, MO

It's another day of wonderful weather.  We were up early, but made a pretty casual get away.

Our morning housekeeping and hook-up activities included a nice chat with a neighboring camper from Illinois.  He and his wife live just a short distance away.  They brought their trailer to the Festival of the Little Hills for the first time.  It was fun to share towing and camping experiences.  We finally pulled out at 10:30.

We decided to take some back roads as we headed west.  The National Geographic Missouri Valley Wine Country scenic drive was a perfect fit.  The drive follows MO-94 west from US-61 to Hermann ... and MO-94 passes right by our campground entrance.

The route ...
Most of the 150 mile trip was on the scenic drive.  We went as far as Hermann on MO-94W, then took MO-19 a short distance north to I-70 and I-70W to Columbia.

The scenic drive ...
MO-94 traced the broad bends of the Missouri River.  We climbed over sweeping green hills and passed prosperous farms and vineyards.  There were lots of sharp turns and steep hills. This was not a leisurely drive.

The highlights ...
The scenic drive started just beyond Weldon Spring (a modern, upscale community).  

We took a 5 mile excursion off MO-94 to see the Daniel Boone Home at the Daniel Boone Home and Heritage Center.  The house was actually built and owned by his son Nathan.  Daniel lived there for the last 20 years of his life and died there on September 26, 1820.  We took the house tour.  No inside pictures were allowed.

This is the back of the house

The front of the house overlooks the
Femme Osage Valley

The heritage center exhibits include a number of other period buildings.  None were on the site during Daniel's life there, so we didn't view them.   

The Carriage House, however, captured our attention with a vibrant floral display.  This butterfly garden was alive with butterflies,  the sun glinted off their wings.  Unfortunately, still pictures don't capture the experience.

We encountered a stretch of wineries a few miles west of Defiance.  The road was narrow, twisty and steep.  It was hard to make the turnoffs into the wineries.  We finally succeeded at the Balducci Winery.  Carol tasted.  The Missouri Valley Wine Country scenic drive was a success ... we bought one bottle of Missouri wine!

Balducci wine tasting and sales.
They don't sell in stores.

The drive along MO-94 followed the Lewis and Clark trail.  It provided beautiful views of Missouri's rural areas.  

We passed the St. Johns of Pinckney United Church of Christ a few miles after Teloar.

We crossed the Missouri River and stopped for a late lunch at Hermann.  

MO-19 follows a main street in Hermann

Campground
We're staying at the Cottonwoods RV Park, next to the Boone County Fair Grounds.  This is a very nice campground.

Tomorrow
We'll probably get to Topeka, KS.