I’m John Robinson and this is my fellow traveler, Erifnus Caitnop.

Together we have traveled more than 300,000 miles covering every mile of every road on the Missouri highway map. Along the way we’ve seen hidden gems that you won’t want to pass by, including the world’s most replicated main street. This car won an Emmy Award. I just went along for the ride.  From the green hills to the Ozark hollers, we have driven up and down every Main Street in Missouri’s more than 700 cities and towns. We’ve passed the most beautiful azaleas and the sweetest peaches, the most creative murals and the most prized white oak barrels.

For sure, we got our kicks on route 66, still the Main Street for many Missouri towns. But don’t overlook other favorites, the avenue of the Saints, the avenue of the greats, and Highway 17, which is the road to Success, Missouri.

We’ve marveled at the world’s most beautiful marble and hundreds of classic tin ceilings, all stamped right here. We found the best thing since sliced bread. We’ve circled every town square, and stopped at many of the merchants to shop local. We’ve toured communities rebuilt – and rebuilding — after tornadoes and floods. We’ve crossed the back of America’s most historic bridge, in my humble opinion, and sat at the soda fountain of the oldest drug store west of the Mississippi. Oh, and we celebrated the world’s smartest dog. We found draft horses, show horses, and the Pony Express. We found fairs and festivals, and the homes of our heroes. Each museum is a treat. Each volunteer deserves the highest honor.

An old proverb tells us you never step in the same river twice. And that’s a good thing. It’s what keeps me traveling, to experience what I missed The first time. To visit the Vietnamese restaurant in Delmar. To return to the soda fountain famous for the Elvis, and get some carriage therapy around independence square, to head north to revel in the Rhythm and the roots. And to sample your favorite restaurants, your unique shops, your amazing history.

I was honored to be a keynoote speaker at the Missouri Main Street annual conference, to explain why some idiot would drive every mile of every road on the Missouri highway map.

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