Living in the Scoot Utopia

On Saturday, July 22, I set out for my most ambitious walk yet, a 32 mile loop through Eastern Jackson County. And I would have succeeded had I not taken a bad step around mile 15 that eventually became too painful an ankle injury for me to continue. But I did at least manage to get 25 miles in -- 48,192 steps burning 3,142 calories -- over a 10-hour period (8.25 hours of walking time).

It was a great day for a walk, though the early morning clouds made me a bit nervous. I started out in southeastern Oak Grove just after 7am and had a nice loop planned that would take me through four different communities and the dwindling rural countryside between them. I did manage to hit all four before the ankle injury made me have to stop.

I began the day by locking my keys in the trunk of the car as soon as I arrived in Oak Grove, spares were brought to be along the way later in the day. The journey also included an amazing coincidence as I encountered another walking blogger who has posted comments on my site before.

Here's a map of the intended route, click on it for a large, detailed version...



There's a whole lot of pictures this time so I am putting them in the extended version of this entry. If you are viewing this on my main page, click the "Continue Reading" link below to see the pictures and read the full details of the story. Enjoy!

I began with a stop in Grain Valley to get camera batteries. While I was there I snapped this picture of where I went to school from February 1976 to May 1985. Yep, it's gone, all gone. Bulldozed for future development.

Oak Grove My walk began at Webb Park in southeastern Oak Grove, where I started off by locking my keys in my trunk.

Approaching Broadway, aka Hwy FF.

Looking south on Broadway/FF, Oak Grove's main drag.

Heading north on Broadway/FF. My morning route won't go through downtown, it was my intention to get through downtown and take pictures there at the end of the walk.

We're actually still in the core of Oak Grove here.

This sign is at the entrance to Frick Park, which was once the city's western gateway. It still is, but not for long.

These two stone houses were across the street from each other.

McMansion with a nice yard

A great view looking north. It's a bit hazy but you can see the start of new subdivisions in the valley below.

The westernmost suburban development in Oak Grove, pushing that city west towards Grain Valley.

This ranch was teeming with horses.

Just some nice scenery...

Grain Valley is visible in the distance.

Continuing west on R.D. Mize

The address shows just how far east I am, and I'm already about 2 miles further west than where I started.

Stillhouse Road is the agreed-upon boundary between Oak Grove and Grain Valley. Just after I snapped this picture a dozen cyclists rounded the corner. (They didn't stop.)

There they go...

Grain Valley These horses were not camera shy at all -- they approached me.

My only run-in with a scary dog happened right after I took this picture. See that dark speck on the driveway on the right hand side? Turned out to be a pretty large dog that did not want me around and told me so seconds later.

I've always liked this spot. Too bad it had to be cloudy for the picture.

Sni-a-bar Creek

The southern entrance to Monkey Mountain, my favorite park for hiking.

Looks like a good crop of soybeans. In the distance is Rattlesnake Hill. I don't know why it's called that... do we even have rattlesnakes?

You think he's just playing 'possum?

Approaching Grain Valley proper.

Misc shots of the newer areas in southern Grain Valley...

The suburban version of an alley?

Is it still a roundabout if every road entering it has a stopsign?

I tried several times on my walk to take a self portrait, but this one of my chubby belly is the only one that turned out.

Looking west on Hwy AA (Old 40 Hwy), which has been renamed Eagle Parkway along the Grain Valley segment. Blue Springs still just has it signed as Route AA. I've felt for years the entire stretch should have been renamed "Blue Branch Parkway", for the creek that starts in Blue Springs and ends in Grain Valley and crosses this road a couple of times.

Instead, Grain Valley gave the name I wanted to some chumpy little side road. On the left is Minter Hill, which features what is likely the steepest road in the KC area.

Speak of the devil, here's Blue Branch. As a kid I used to fish about a mile upstream from here.

This fairly new area is closer to central Grain Valley.

Grain Valley High School -- but this campus didd not exist when I went to school here.

Heading back east on AA. That's Monkey Mountain again in the distance.

Now heading north on Main (Buckner-Tarsney Road)

Truck: For Sale

Downtown Grain Valley

I'd end up crossing this same railroad several times today.

Downtown GV

Old town GV...

East Kansas City Airport

Hmmm... replace the airplanes with giant shuttlecocks and, aww... forget it, we all know what it looks like. ;)

Yennie Street - the future new route of 40 Hwy.

Looking east on the current 40 Hwy.

My first big surprise... after crossing 40 Hwy I discovered that the road I planned to take no longer exists.

My grandma's house used to be right about here.

None of these roads were on my map, so I was just guessing which way to go.

This was pretty... there were a few growing wild. Anyone know what it is?

Billboard blight

Blue Springs This new subdivision east of Adams Pointe golf course pushes Blue Springs right up against Grain Valley.

Heading west on Coronado

Driving range at Adams Pointe

This odd sculpture was located near the Blue Springs Marriot

Coronado & Adams Dairy Parkway

Farm remnants at R.D. Mize & Adams Dairy

Adams Pointe golf course...

Adams Dairy near Walnut

Adams Dairy & 40 Hwy

Cool railroad bridge. Note the two women sitting on the bench at the right end of the bridge, they'll come up again in a moment.

Blue Springs South High School Right after I took the above picture one of the freakiest coincidences imaginable happened. I had to cross the street here to begin my next westward push. At the exact same time, the two women from that bench were crossing perpendicular to me and we met on the corner. One of them asked if I would take their picture. "I'm documenting my walk for my blog," she said. "That's funny," I said, "that's exactly what I'm doing." "Wait, are you Scott Murdock?" she asked. "Yes," I said, astonished. "I'm Sarah!" she said. Sarah, as in the only other person I know of in the KC area who walks and blogs about it. Amazing... 1600 square miles of KC metro area and we cross the exact same corner at the exact same time.

Heading west into an "older" subdivision in southwestern Blue Springs.

Just crossed 7 Hwy

Looking east on 40 Hwy

Bike shop at 40 Hwy & Luttrell

Older neighborhoods as I approach downtown

Main Street in downtown Blue Springs...

I wonder what movie they were going to show?

For as long as I can remember I have heard people in Blue Springs talk about how someone needs to fix up the old train depot and open a cafe. So far all talk and no action.

Now I'm west of 15th on Main, in Old Town...

This tree was growing right in the middle of the sidewalk.

1834... wow.

A minute after I took the above picture I stepped into the ditch to avoid traffic and twisted my right ankle just slightly. It didn't really hurt much so I kept going.

Entering Old Mill Park, the original site of Blue Springs before it was moved a mile east to be on the new railroad.

Lake Tapawingo Technically I'm now in the city of Lake Tapawingo, a private lake community that is for all practical purposes a suburb of Blue Springs.

Back in Blue Springs I wonder who "Rye" was?

Talk about confusing. The land to the right of Woods Chapel Road in this picture is not officially part of Blue Springs, it's unincorporated Jackson County surrounded by Blue Springs on all sides. So it uses the Kansas City street system. But the numeric addresses are on the Blue Springs grid.

Continuing north on Woods Chapel, towards I-70...

A few shots of Blue Springs High School, which I attended from Aug 1985 to May 1987. My twisted ankle is starting to hurt.

There are lots of these signs out here. Blech.

Catholic church and school

Heading east on R.D. Mize, about to re-cross 7 Hwy

St. Mary's Hospital, where I used to work in the late 80's.

It's very rare that the one-room schools that the various "School Roads" are named after still stand today, but here is such a case. This is Sunnyside School, for which Sunnyside School Road is named. It's currently a church. At one time it was painted red and my youngest brother went to pre-school there.

The remains of the original Adams Dairy Road. My ankle is hurting really badly now. I stopped and took a 40 minute break to rest my sore foot. I very nearly called off the walk.

Pedestrian path along Adams Dairy Parkway, heading north under I-70.

If the woman in the white car had stopped a second later she'd be decapitated rather than standing nearby talking on her cell phone.

Pretty creek flowing into Adams Dairy Lake

A very odd piece of art...

Approaching Duncan Road...

As I headed east on Duncan there was so much new development my map was useless -- there were no familiar cues for which to get my bearings. Back in Grain Valley Near one of Grain Valley's newest subdivisions in the NW corneer of the city, my ankle pain became unbearable. With 7 miles to go with no services for 6 of those miles, I begrudgingly got out my cell phone and called for a ride. I then began a detour south towards a truck stop. Heading south on Rust Road.

My last photo of the day -- a pretty field across from a new subdivision.

A few minutes later my ride arrived behind me, so I climbed in and rode the last 7 miles back to my car. I don't know if I'll re-attempt this route again in the future since I can't stand repetition, but we'll see.

It's now Monday morning and I still have the pain from my ankle injury, but no muscle pain to speak of and no blisters this time. With the days getting shorter this was probably my last really long walk of the season, but I'll still do several more 15-20 mile walks in the months ahead.

I still feel like I got some good excercise, which is what matters, but it's really disappointing to not be able to finish something like this.

Posted by ScooterJ at 10:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

With the heat wave expected to mercifully break on Friday, it's finally time for my next walk.

I'll be walking this Saturday, doing a walk that will be a little bit different from my past walks, and probably a little bit longer than my last one. Hopefully I won't get eaten by any pit bulls. Stop by here Sunday for the details! :)

Posted by ScooterJ at 04:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

To the two carloads of drunk idiots who tried to run me off the Paseo Bridge at 1:40am last night because you were racing each other and I was in your way, I hope you wrecked later.

Posted by ScooterJ at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Anyone else downtown notice the crazy rain that fell between 6:30 and 7:00 last night?

I was on the patio at Harry's Country Club and it started raining very lightly, Except the rain was falling on exactly one half of the patio. Those on the dry side were wondering why those on the other side were looking skyward and moving under the umbrellas. The odd part? Yes, we could see big storm clouds massing many miles to the south, but above us was a blue sky except for a tiny wisp of a cloud directly overhead.

About 10 minutes later it started raining again -- this time on everyone and a little harder -- enough to make some people move indoors. It rained steadily for about 2 or 3 minutes. Except this time there were no clouds above us at all... the rain was falling from a clear blue sky.

Posted by ScooterJ at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Dos Hombres in the River Market has all-you-can-eat tacos on Tuesday nights.

How can they afford to do that?

Well it's pretty easy when they only manage to get 3 tacos to your table over the course of an hour and ten minutes. And tell you repeatedly that it's because the back dining room is packed and they all put their food orders in at once, but then as you are storming out in anger you check the back dining room only to find that it is pretty much empty. And to be offered margaritas while you're waiting only to then find out that no those are not being comped, they still want you to pay for them.

All-you-can-eat bullshit.

Posted by ScooterJ at 01:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

The following barhopping walk, which covered 6.5 miles, actually took place back on June 9. This writeup was originally intended to be a substitute Night Ranger column for The Pitch, but it's just too hard to condense 15 bars into a format suitable for print and keep it interesting. So now, without further delay, here's the rundown of that day. (Kudos to Ken for helping with the writing and Seth for taking good notes.)

---

"I might as well be preparing to write my own obituary."

These were the words going through my mind on Friday an hour before leaving to begin an afternoon of barhopping for this column. I was still recovering from a nasty summer cold, my head was throbbing, and it was 92 degrees outside but there were brews with my name written on them awaiting. Sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

The rules for these jaunts are simple: you go walking from bar to bar, drink one beer, and move on.

Meeting up with my buddy Seth, we set out on our adventure.

Stop #1: The Caddy Shack, 700 E. 3rd St. (12:55pm)

Setting foot inside the golf-themed bar and grill, we teed off our drinking run alongside the few remaining patrons still there from lunch. Rose, our bartender, not only served us our drinks but also whipped up a batch of butter drizzled popcorn. There is a God.

Beers consumed: Bud Light (me), Bud (Seth)

Back into the heat we went and soon arrived at...

Stop #2: The Red Front, 310 Admiral Blvd. (1:28pm)

The unmistakable bright red paint job made it clear we had found the right place. Now well past lunch hour, we found ourselves alone in this clean, well-maintained gem whose claim to fame is the Red Front Bull Shooters. Don't even think about challenging them to darts, as the Shooters are the Spring 2006 ADA champions.

Beers consumed: one Pale Ale apiece

Stop #3: Tarantino's, 601 McGee (2:00pm)

Three weeks ago this place was known as The Garage but under new management it's been reinvented as Tarantino's, a full-service eatery.

We settled in at the small bar where Trish, our server, poured us our selections and then took our lunch orders.

"This is the first time I've ever used the taps here," she said. Nothing like taking a tap's virginity. I doubt, though, that it'll remember its' first.

With the occasional interruption of a nearby drill as power was being installed to run additional air conditioning, we dined on our food. Seth's tenderloin and thick, seasoned fries were all he had hoped for. My calzone was generously stuffed with hot, melted cheese. Man Food. Food good enough to keep drinkers going.

As we finished up we were startled by the sound of the garage door beginning to close behind us, shutting us off from the rest of the world. Joe, the owner, quickly hit a button and the door reversed its course.

"The neighbor behind us is on the same frequency," Joe laughed, "that's something we'll have fixed soon."

Beers consumed: One Bud Select apiece

Stop #4: The Stables Bar & Grill, 813 Walnut. (3:20pm)

Somewhere between Tarantino's and Stables, I managed to mysteriously cut a 3-inch gash on my leg. Seth pointed out my blood-soaked calf, which I hadn't even noticed, and we walked into the place with me looking like I'd been on the losing side of a break dancing contest.

While I attended to my cut in the restroom, Seth ordered our beers. Guys? Lemme tell you - chicks dig a guy with paper towels pressed to a bleeding leg. You heard it here first.

The Stables interior is very dimly lit as the windows are covered in a dark plastic. About a dozen other people were in there with us, surrounded by the country-western décor and a jukebox playing '50s rock.

Beers consumed: Bud Light (me), Newcastle (Seth)

After finishing our beers we began walking to our next bar as the sound of an unusual amount of sirens blared around us...

Stop #5: The 12th Street Rag, 200 W. 12th. (4:06pm)

Arriving nearly 25 minutes before opening time, we figured we were pinched. The bartender, however, was nice enough to unlock the door and let us inside. We seated ourselves at this very long bar in the lobby of the Marriott Hotel and ordered our round.

The bar includes a large seating area, a dance floor, and a stage with a grand piano. We finished up shortly before the piano player was slated to begin. We weren't in the mood for a melody, but the beer had sure gotten us to feelin' all right.

Beers consumed: Guinness (me), Miller Lite (Seth)

As we headed east to find our next bar we found ourselves at the scene of a horrific bicycle accident that was the reason for the sirens we had heard earlier. Our destination was somewhere just beyond this tragedy.

Arriving at 12th & McGee we looked in both directions trying to find our bar, which was supposed to be where we were standing. Walking a block north revealed nothing. South? Squat. It must have gone out of business, or so I thought. If not for one last quick glance over my shoulder to spy a tiny, unlit sign in a window, I would have passed up on THE find of my Friday afternoon.

Stop #6: Zoo Bar, 1220 McGee (4:40pm)

We stepped in the door and immediately realized we were strangers walking into a place populated entirely by regulars. One woman moved her purse and made room for us so that we could sit.

"What do you have on tap?" we asked.

"Absolutely nothing," she replied.

From that moment we knew this would be our favorite stop.

As we drank our cans o' hooch and looked around, we took in the décor: stuffed animals (we're not talking plush, kids), shelves of liquor that seemed to be leaning forward, and decades of patron-penned writings covering the walls. I was home.

Conversation moved to the bike tragedy that had taken place a block away. We all paused for a moment as the TV aired a live update about the accident. Then a gentleman at the end of the bar wondered aloud if the victim was "one of them 'Bees'" (the Downtown Community Improvement District workers in the yellow and black uniforms).

"I hope not," said a woman two bar stools away. "They help keep out the riff-raff. You know that old bus stop on 13th that's not used anymore? I looked out the office window and I saw two people out there. I turned to my coworker and said 'Call the DCID, those people are fucking!'"

"Excuse me, " Seth asked, "Did you say they were fucking?"

"Yeah, fucking, right there in broad daylight."

"As in 'fucking' fucking?" Seth quizzed.

"Yep, she was straddled on his lap, and they were all grinding up and down."

Huh.

Moments later the weather report came up on TV and the bar erupted with talks about Katie Horner.

"I'm afraid to turn on the TV on a sunny day," began one of the regulars. "She's liable to ruin the whole fuckin' deal. She'll say 'someone having too much fun might have a heart attack and die.'"

"Everyone stay indoors and take cover!" quipped another regular, waiving his arms frantically in the air.

"Damn right," local Zoo Bar legend Larry said. "This bitch is ate up with the dumb shits!"

We did not want to leave this place but had many more places to visit. Just before we left, Seth noticed that the older, white flowing beard-wielding guy to his right drinking Goldschlager.

"So what's the deal with that, is that really flakes of gold?" Seth asked him.

"That's right, it's good for you. Minerals. A couple shots of Goldschlager and then some shots of Patron and you'll be shitting gold Mexican coins the next day...but they ain't worth shit."

Beers consumed: One Miller Lite apiece

If this column were a movie, this next portion would be the montage...

Stop #7: Grinders, 417 E. 18th St. (5:30pm)

Beers consumed: PBR (Seth), Bully! Porter (me)

Stop #8: The Brick, 1727 McGee (6:20pm)

(Where we were joined by Aaron and Bev, aka The New Tragedies)

Beers consumed: PBR (Seth), Miller Lite (me)

Stop #9: The Cigar Box, 1519 Grand (6:58pm)

Due to us arriving just at the end of Happy Hour, we got two beers for the price of one. Usually free beer warrants applause but there are rules to be upheld here. Rules, however, are meant to be broken on occasion. This was one such occasion.

Beers consumed: Two Miller Lites apiece

Stop #10: JP Wine Bar, 1526 Walnut (7:54pm)

Beers consumed: PBR (Seth), Bully! Porter (me)

The next stop wasn't a conventional bar stop, but one we had to make nonetheless.

Stop #11 - The Screenland Theater, 1656 Washington (8:54pm)

Because we arrived here well after the start of the night's last feature, the bartender seemed puzzled by our arrival.

"Um, we're just here to have a drink," Seth said.

A smile grew across the bartender's face. "That's the coolest thing I've heard all night! Come have a seat!"

The Screenland shows current indy flicks along with choice "classics" from time to time. While we drank, I made sure to note that there are three very important films they NEED to show as part of their classics series. "Flash Gordon, Clash of the Titans, and The Last Dragon."

Flash, The Kraken, and Leroy?!? You can all thank me later.

Stop #12: PR's Place, 1741 Washington (9:22pm)

Remember the scene in "Weird Science" when the guys step into the bar alongside Kelly LeBrock and everything immediately goes silent? Well, that happened here...'cept we didn't have Kelly LeBrock with us.

The mostly-Hispanic clientele stopped talking and all eyes locked on us. Heads slowly turned to follow us as we nervously made our way to the empty chairs at the far end of the bar.

The bartender was terrific and, within moments, made us feel welcome. This ended up being one of our favorite stops.

Beers consumed: One Bud apiece

In this last shot I am rotating an imaginary globe in order to try to answer Seth's question about what time it currently was in Germany.

Stop #13: Taqueria Mexico, 910 Southwest Blvd. (10:08pm)

We...were...starving.

"I'm gonna eat the fuck out of this place," Seth said after we were handed our menus. Food!!!

Beers consumed: Carta Blanca (Seth), Dos Eqquis (me)

"Seth and, um, B... um, Seth and...uhhhh... I forgot my name!" fumbled a buzzed Bev, trying to announce that she and Seth wanted some sangria.

Stop #14: La Bodega, 703 Southwest Blvd. (11:08pm)

All we needed was a pitcher of sangria. Finishing that off, we called it a night.

Beers consumed: None, pitcher of Sangria

Our adventure had come to an end. We said our goodnights and parted ways...but I had just one more stop to make.

Stop #15: Winslow's, 20 E. 5th Street. (12:32am)

On other days I've been in to see bikers bending one another over the bar and whooping asses with belts. This was not one of those nights: the band was long gone and place was nice and quiet. I capped my night off with a Guinness.

The total haul came to fifteen bars, fifteen beers, half a pitcher of sangrias, a 3-inch leg gash, and a very tired guy that could only dream that night of a return trip to Zoo Bar in the near future.

Damn you, Katie Horner.

Posted by ScooterJ at 05:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)