2022 Aug 17 – Dayton, OH to Indianapolis, IN to Hannibal, MO- Kelly

State Count – 6

We saw the pretty, brick, stadium where the Colts play, but the highlight of the day was our stop at the Indy 500 Speedway. On a whim, we signed up for a private tour so we could get out on the track. Pasha was the first dog to take the tour that our tour guide knew of (and he should know, he’s been to 56 Indy 500s!) It was really one of the best tours we’ve ever been on. Kissed the bricks, got into the Penske suite, and were surprisingly enthralled with all of the history of the Brickyards. An American treasure! Suddenly we can’t wait for the May and the next running of the Indy 500!

A huge contrast to the raceway, our next stop was Hannibal MO, where Mark Twain spent part of his childhood and developed his love for the Mississippi River and where he set some of his most famous stories. We walked by Sammy Clemen’s childhood home and saw the window he’d climb out of at night to meet up with his friends to get up to mischief. One of those buddy’s was named Tom Blankenship and was the inspiration for the character Huckleberry Finn. A small, sweet town.