It took mere steps from the gate to make it airside and the next thing you know, I am standing in the main terminal corridor steps from the cold outside, so I found somewhere to drop the jacket and get myself sorted. Back and fully stacked up in my gear, I ventured outside into the cold to try and find the rental car shuttle. Sadly there wasn’t much in the way for signage for rental cars, just hotels and parking but I eventually found it and huddled in the cold waiting for the shuttle. When it did arrive, the driver decided to wait almost 15 minutes for what felt like every single person in the terminal. Even though he could of been around twice in that time he kept the doors open… to the 14F temperatures outside…. bastard.
I eventually got to the rental car area and now was the tough time deciding what was on the lot. With the temperature and the threat of snow I figured an SUV or AWD of some kind. Sadly… none on the lot that I could see. There was a Dodge Journey and I wasn’t sure if it was a 4WD or not, and no staff around to check, so I grabbed the next best thing. Chrysler 300C at least I knew it would be stacked full of goodies (and it was). No heated steering wheel though. By the time I rolled out of the lot I was in my leather seat getting comfy, then it dawned on me… leather seats, frigid temperatures… DOH! But thankfully there was heated seats… o yes!
I took the car and headed downtown to the National Airline History Museum for a bit of a private explore with a friend and when that was over and we were being kicked out thanks to a private function we headed off to find some BBQ where the wait wasn’t around. In the end we got to Winslows BBQ down by the Rivermarket area and it was good. Kansas City BBQ is all about the sauce and this place is known for it’s spicy sauce. Habanero spicy. Called “Fire Pork” the sandwich was damn tasty, being pulled pork mixed with the Habanero sauce and served on some lovely Jalapeno bread (didn’t even know that existed). Pair that with some deep fried pickles, a serving of beans and coleslaw and I was a happy man. Plenty of Avgeek chatting over dinner and time to excuse myself and head over the border into Kansas to my hotel.
My hotel for the night was the Crowne Plaza Kansas City – Overland Park and it wasn’t all that bad. It was definitely a conference hotel as when I got there, the places was going nuts thanks to a medical conference. The music was pumping out the back in the conference rooms and thankfully I couldn’t hear a thing from my room. Settled in for a nights rest as it was going to be a cold morning.
Sunday 8th December 2013
The outlook outside this morning was not conducive to running (ok so I figured that before I flew over) so that meant a gym workout and a quick walk through the hotel as well. The hotel wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t perfect. The room was ok but the sad thing was that they had so many faults and did not even care about it at all when I checked out. But for free, I can’t complain at all. It is close to a number of restaurants and shops, but the nearest starbucks was a good mile away in a straight line, or a 10 minute line in a convoluted fashion. But I did it anyway as I was trying to work up some stars to make gold. Funny things you will do for loyalty of any kind. After grabbing a coffee from starbucks and driving very very slowly, I headed onto the Interstate towards town and a recommendation for breakfast.
The snow made for an interesting drive and looking around where the restaurant was made it feel surreal. Definitely wasn’t like this when it snowed in Seattle. I wasn’t going to complain it was pretty cool. I had breakfast at “You Say Tomato” which was definitely a hipster hangout and it was a place I probably would like more but it wasn’t all that great. The coffee wasn’t bad, the Caramel pecan cinnamon roll was epicly good (would of been more awesome with frosting) but the oatmeal was disappointing. Dry and horrible….. blergh. Expensive didn’t help things at all. Maltby Cafe it was not!
After breakfast I headed off to get a tour around Kansas City with some friends and got to see all the geeky things. Got to take several photos at at DC3 in the middle of the city (Above a coffee factory). Took a selfie at the state line and even managed to visit the most beautiful train station I have seen outside of New York (nothing beats Grand Central). I also got to see the old TWA headquarters and had numerous photos taken at the Moonliner, with me and the Moonliner and just more photos in general. It was getting cold out so time for some lunch. Wanting something general we went to “Grinders West” which was meant to be a Sandwich place, and we didn’t expect much at all. Little did we know we would happen across an awesome Avgeek place. They had old AA Economy seats at a couple of the booths, even with working seatbelts (didn’t recline though). The food wasn’t bad either 😉
After lunch it was time to make a few souvenir purchases and then start returning slowly towards the airport so that I could make it out safely, farewell Kansas City, you were awesome.
