Lunch in Twain-Land

    We got underway toward Taos again today, and took time for a picturesque lunch overlooking the Mississippi River in Hannibal, MO--boyhood home and inspiration of Samuel "Mark Twain" Clemens.  The weather for our drive today was beautiful--blue sky and sunshine all day, with temperatures gradually increasing to 72 by the time we reached St. Joseph, MO. 
     The further we travelled across Missouri, the more spring-time was on display:  daffodils dancing along the grassy areas of exit ramps competed for attention with rows of golden forsythia bushes.  As we traveled through towns, we caught glimpses of blooming crabapple and magnolia trees.  And, amusingly, about 5 minutes after Bob remarked that we hadn't yet seen any wildlife along the way, we passed a lake filled with hundreds of migrating swans!
     Tonight we're settled into our hotel in Atchison, Kansas.  Our hope is to be another 400+ miles down the road tomorrow night--somewhere in Colorado, and only a day away from Taos, New Mexico!