2024--day 9

A leisurely rollout of Columbia this morning, highlighted by a breakfast rendezvous with Pat Market and Casey (Big Mama's Cafe--don't miss it).  Even more interesting was the fact that upon leaving our hotel driveway we were almost Wayland by what seemed like every cop in Columbia pulling into one of the hotels next door.  We didn't stick around to become part of a hostage negotiation.

While getting gas in Wentzville, MO, a few of our kids almost got into the wrong van (it looked just like ours).  One of them almost started a fight because a group of men were adjusting a trailer behind their van and he thought they were trying to break into our van.  I'm curious I'd the Mennonites would have fought back....

As an aside, it took nine days but we got Louisiana plates.  This means we saw 50 of 51 plates, including DC (only missing Hawaii), as well as all six of the major Canadian provinces that touch the lower 48 (New Brunswick would be a tall order).

One more observation...I don't think I've ever seen roads so bad as they are in Indiana.  It's almost as if the entire state wants you to stay out.  IEDs could only improve them.

At long last, Columbus.  About 534 miles.  Good night. 

2024--day 8

A leisurely start out of York, aiming to get to Kansas City, as the play looks like central and southern Missouri. 

Headed south out of the KC metro area for potential activity near Springfield.  Not exactly ideal chase territory because of the terrain and the trees, but that area had the best combination of storm potential and eastward positioning so we could start making our way home.

While the conditions weren't exactly ideal, storms did start to pop around Bolivar, and one actually became a weak supercell.  Even more amazing was the fact that when it split into two separate storms, it was the left-moving storm that became dominant--very unusual. 

A combination of losing daylight and messy storms ended what would likely be our last chase of the trip.  We made our way up I44 east to Lebanon for dinner and some cool sunset pictures. 

The day ended in Columbia, Missouri, home of Mizzou and my brother from another mother.  560 miles was the final tally for the day, and over 4K for the trip (so far).  Look out, St. Louis--here we come.

2024--day 7

A semi-early start from Woodward, OK, as we aim for Nebraska, some six hours away.  Along the way we ran into some morning thunderstorms with beautiful CG lightning, and some cool asperatus clouds in Wright and Jetmore, Kansas. 

Quite an exciting day, after all.  After getting to Broken Bow, Nebraska, we didn't have to wait very long for a supercell to develop.  We were able to stay with it (and it with us, on occasion) for quite some time, moving southeast through the state.  It was one of the most picturesque storms I've ever seen.  Honestly, it's hard for me to fathom that this was an HP supercell.  It was tornado-warned at one point, but I don't think it ever produced an actual tornado.  At least one of the videos will show how it rotated.

After we decided that between the waning daylight and the general ugliness of the thunderstorms we were basically surrounded by, we headed east and north towards York, Nebraska.  One cell basically developed right over us and converged with others to make for tropical rainfall that plagued us for pretty much the entire slog to York.  It was coupled with some of the most electric displays of lightning we'd seen since Sunday.  The video doesn't do it justice.

The rain finally and thankfully let up in York in time to be snubbed by a McDonald's that was apparently uninterested in our patronage.  

Tally for the day: 508 miles in three states.  All in all, the best chase day that didn't include a tornado. It was the meteorological equivalent of reading Playboy for the articles.