#MissouriRoadTrip

[asphaltapostle]

Nevermore's Benedict

was quite pleased at the end of January to rediscover one of my absolute favorite local routes - notably, the stretch of road on which I once managed to get ye olde XJR fully airborne a lifetime ago.

Craft Publish

WikiLoc

RoadStr

Open in Apple Maps

[jenniferbarhoumy]

During my journey north last Thursday. I traveled 40/61 North - saw an eagle's nest and the beautiful stretched out wing of an eagle right next to the bridge just north of Troy, Missouri! Yay! That was my second eagle sighting of the day! Went through Elsberry and Annada to Clarksville -- saw an immature red tail hawk... omgoodness... so beautiful! And saw it again on the way home too! Failed at capturing a picture of it. Stopped at the Clarksville Lock & Dam 25. Not a lot, but there were eagles. And photographers with some pretty amazing glass (lenses). Spoke with one gentleman who traveled south from Quincy, IL, after it was too cloudy to photograph the eagles. He had counted eighty eagles near the Clarksville Dam. We decided to go several miles north... not much there. Frozen ice to the north and south. I did receive a wonderful hug and kiss from Luke, a deep liver colored Lab that was TALL. I continued onward and went back to the Lock and Dam area. I also noticed a road parallel to the river... which was great! Saw two immature eagles and mature birds! Turned off my car and used the hood and my elbows as a tripod - too much mud to use the tripod! I drive a little further, then turned around and found THREE in a tree! Close to the road! Used three different lenses, short to long. The telephoto lens was $100 and is completely manual operation... pain in the arse. And my arms aren't long enough to hold it at full extension or with the doubler tele-convertor. Plenty of American White Pelicans which are amazing to watch! They’re rather large, yet very graceful. Found more eagles!  Eventually, decided it was time to head back home, southwest, before the sunset. Being one that dislikes backtracking, I went south on 79, and hit Highway 47 back to Troy. On that leg of the journey, the sun was going down and there were clouds surrounding it. I saw a white ring in one area, and it gave way to just a touch of rainbow! Right before that rainbow, it was 44 degrees, 440 Miles left on the new tank of gas and 4:44pm!!!! There is no way to describe the gratitude for such an amazing adventure! My pants are muddy, my car is muddy, and my heart is FULL and HAPPY! Until the next adventure... HAVE FUN! Jennifer - owner of Spirit Journey Photography