28th April: Fulton, MS to Columbia, MO

The awful headline news carries nothing except the disastrous news of the tornadoes in Alabama. It is somewhat surreal at breakfast mixing with refugees who have escaped the mayhem of the previous day. A number of people had arrived at Tuscaloosa with nothing left at all except for the clothes they were wearing. Some were injured, and others had lost loved ones or couldn't find them. We could overhear all of the terrible stories being discussed. Interestingly, a few of them who noticed our Australian Severe Weather shirts asked for descriptions of the storm - they were keen to understand one of the most extreme atmospheric events in Alabama's history.

Today was to be a travel day - we are heading north and then west into Kansas, our route will take us through Tennessee and into Missouri, and west to Kansas. We pass across one of the world's greatest rivers, the Mississippi, and onto the flat country skirting the west bank of the river as we head north to St Louis. Although we are not expecting anything in the shape of severe weather today, as we approach St Louis we notice a thunderstorm passing across the city. Interestingly the storms are developing in relatively cold air and in an associated upper cold pool. Although we are happy with this, it coincides with peak hour and Hway 55 becomes chock-a-block with traffic. It's unfortunate that a lot of these large inland cities do not have an adequate public transport system and subsequently twice a day the road systems are virtually jammed. As we turn west along Interstate 70, not only do we have to contend with insane traffic, we are inundated with a deluge!! Finally clear of St Louis, we head west and overnight at Columbia.......

We couldn't find Davy Crockett....

Impressive bridge across the Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is big, big, big!!

Missouri!!

River flats, Missouri

We figured all of the traffic from LA was crammed on the St Louis freeway at 3.30pm!! It was madness!

Not only did we have to contend with the mad traffic, this storm rolled out of the NW from nowhere (coldie)

Negotiating the deluge in St Louis

High based shower and snowline west of St Louis

29th April: Columbia, MO to Arkansas City, KS

Our destination today takes us from Columbia to Marion Kansas. The Missouri countryside is undulating, primarily farm and ranch....travelling north and south across the American interior is a botanical lesson, especially in the spring. By late April, trees south of about 36N have generally bloomed and are in full leaf...as you move towards the 38th parallel, trees are just starting to bud. North of about 40N, the bulk of trees are not budding....and this is testament of the long winters north of the 40th parallel...and this spring has been exceptionally cold across the northern United States.

We eventually reach the Missouri River, which appears to us Aussies as a grand river, but is less than half the size of the Mississippi...and we pass into Kansas. As mentioned our destination today is Marion, Kansas, NE of Wichita. We are interested in looking at a property there. Property prices in parts of the USA have crashed and you can buy reasonable homes for between $25,000 and $45,000US. Marion is a pleasant town - it's clean, and green. We scout the main street and everyone says hello as we pass. We check out a couple of properties and one takes our eye. It's interesting to note that these properties come with full heating and air conditions, usually a basement unit. They have double glazed windows and substantial lofts. We are astonished at what you can buy for so little money compared to Australian property prices. We are contemplating a base in the USA for a number of years to come. We finally head south and overnight at Arkansas City (Ark City). Our destination will be Texas the following day for more stormchasing.

Missouri River passing into Kansas

Missouri River - Australians are not used to such big rivers!

Interstate 70

You find all sorts of strange towers throughout America

Beer and peeling paint in small town America

Abandoned home, Kansas

Cornfields, Kansas

More cornfields in Kansas

East central Kansas prairie

Part of the Flint Hills, Kansas near Marion

Kansas has experienced a long dry spell in contrast with the floods affecting Arkansas

Train heading north near Arkansas City