Paying $7.75 for a $5 Turnpike Toll

 Kansas City, MO

MO Missouri less problems!

In Search of a Cool Tulsa T-Shirt

The other night we were exploring Tulsa and we figured out that the state bird for OK is the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.  They are really cool birds and we have enjoyed seeing them since we crossed into Texas.  We learned that FC Tulsa's (Tulsa's Soccer Club) logo is a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher in an Art Deco Style.  What could be better?  We decided that Donna needed to have a t-shirt so before our drive to KC we stopped by a couple of Dick's Sporting Goods because we heard they had stuff.  Well we found this cool scarf but Donna doesn't need a scarf so we are opting to buy a T-Shirt online and have it delivered.  More on that when we get it.

Here is the awesome logo

Here is the awesome scarf we found and chose not to buy

So yea, this meme applies

Tulsa OK to Kansas City via The Will Rogers Turnpike

We marked the shortest course to KC from where we were and it wanted us to take the Will Rogers Turnpike.  I didn't think much of it, only that it would cost $5 to save an hour on the drive and it passed right by the OK/MO/KS tri-point marker which was a plus.  We head out on our trip and everything was going smoothly.  We noticed the turnpike only really had 1 pay toll booth if you took it the whole way.  You have to pay exact change to get off before the booth and you got refunded money if you got off after the booth but before the end of the turnpike.  It's all fairly simple until you pass something you want to go back and see.  Donna and I have a rule that if you are road tripping and pass something, it's okay to turn around.  We flew past what we thought was a normal rest stop until we saw it and then had to circle back to experience The Will Rogers Archway!  It's sometimes called The Will Rogers Archway Oasis.  Anyway, we had already paid our $5 when we blew passed the archway so we had to get off, get $2.50 refunded, get back on going the other direction, Pay $5, then get off at the archway.  

As you pass under it, you can see people sitting in chairs eating food.

The stairs to the "above the turnpike" area

Part Food Court, Part Souvenir Stand, Part Public Art, and all cool!

Will Rogers is there to rope you into buying something

I always love looking down on the world

People heading Eastbound and people heading Westbound meet in the middle

There is also Historical Info on the Archway

The Archway used to be taken up by a McDonalds and is still referred to as "The Worlds Largest McDonalds" in some references but now the McDonalds only takes up part of it.  Before McDonalds bought in The Archway housed a Howard Johnsons.  

Donna and I took turns using the restroom and exploring the space while the other took care of Francis outside.  After our visit we had to continue on the turnpike in the wrong direction.  We got off at the nearest exit and got refunded $2.50 and then got back on in the proper direction and got charged $2.75 at the toll booth.  That is how we ended up paying $7.75 for a $5 toll.

Our First Tri-Point

We continued on the Will Rogers Turnpike until it ended in Missouri.  This was our que to get off the highway and drive about a mile to the OK/KS/MO Tri-Point Marker.  You have heard of 4 corners right?  There is one of those but have you heard of State Tri-Points?  There are 61 state tri-points!  The tri-point was down a dirt road between the highway and a casino.  There was no one else there so we were able to take all of the photos we wanted.  You can read about all of the tri-points here.

The old monument built in 1938 was a bit off the mark when they looked at it again in 2004

This is the new marker

Standing on 3 states at once!

The Rest of the Drive

After the tri-state marker stop we stopped briefly at the Missouri Welcome Center and then pressed on to our Kansas City Airbnb.  

MODOT using office supplies for personal use again

The Rest Stop / Visitors Center had a great mural that took up the entire wall

Inside was someone helping and lot of pamphlets.  I got the official MO State Map, 2 State Park guides, and the Visit Kansas City book.

They even had wireless public phones!

We got to the Airbnb and unloaded the car.  We had to pay for street parking while we made about 13 trips to the 3rd floor using an elevator. Tomorrow we will lock down a monthly parking garage.

Our Airbnb is really nice and the climate control is great!  We won't be sitting in an 85 degree place!  It even came with a welcome bottle of bourbon and a roll of quarters to get us started on parking or laundry or pinball!

After settling in we went for a walk.  We are going to have a great time here in KC.  I am looking forward to our time here!

Mark Twain

Circular Thinking

If you missed yesterday's post check it out here.  We were in Tulsa OK exploring the town.