Day 18: Kansas City, MO to Fort Smith, AR (343 miles)
 
Today started with the threat of rain but we laughed it off as riders do and did not put on our rain gear. Sure enough, it hit.  After donning rain gear at the side of the road and then adjusting rain gear once again under a freeway overpass with other wet riders, we got back on the road. As soon as it began it stopped and the sauna began. Nothing like riding in full rain gear in 80 degree weather. After a quick breakfast stop and removing all of our rain gear we gleefully hit the road again.... only to learn that the question mark on the map between Commerce and Miami, Oklahoma was not a paved road (hence the question mark). We found ourselves on the original Route 66 amidst gravel and dirt and pavement.  Three miles of teeth rattling road later, we were back on terra firma and made our way into Fort Smith, AR in the rain, again. Side Note: The Howard Johnson, where we stayed, opened that very day after a complete multi-year renovation. True chaos reigned as 100 riders checked into our hotel that needed a few more days of preparation and we were all very amused to find our beautiful room had no toilet seat. We had to improvise.... see photo below!

Where are we? Thankfully, a very nice local, Jerry Davis, who lives on the original road walked out of his home,
hand-shake extended and welcomed us to the Mother Road and helped us get our bearings.

No explanation is necessary here!