Road Trip - Stormy in Joplin, MO 05-31-13

I am still in Joplin, MO.  As it turned out I should have left this morning and I would be west of the storm.  Guessed wrong this time. 


The wind was strong all day.  I can watch this tree from the window of my room.  Hard to take a picture of wind, but it was really whipping the trees around. 
 

Mid-day it was sunny with clouds and the wind decreased some.
 

I have been missing sushi, so I looked up the possibilities in Joplin.  There are only two and this one had the best rating.  I went about 6:30pm and had very good sushi and slow service.  They make a roll called New York, New York - spicy crab and small slivers of Granny Smith apple - which is quite delicious.  I also had the miso soup and a spicy tuna hand roll.  The presentation wasn't unusual so I didn't take pictures.
 

I wondered about this rock just off the sidewalk, guess it is a "stone garden".  Odd.
 

This was the view from the parking lot when I came out - looking west.  Heading our way.
 

About fifteen minutes later - the view from the motel parking lot.

About 8:30pm I had a call from Liz in CA, who had checked The Weather Channel and was concerned.  While I was talking to her the room phone rang - it was a warning from the front desk that a tornado warning had been issued and I should come downstairs for safety.  I took my laptop, phone, camera, book and purse down and sat on the floor in the room behind the desk for about 40 minutes.  There were a man and his college age son from SBarbara heading for St. Louis, a couple with a newly adopted three week old baby girl, and a young woman with her lovely little mutt, Abby.  The college guy was the most nervous, however I think it was not over the possibility of a tornado, but the fact that he was missing a ball game being broadcast from out of the area.  To each his own, eh?

Don't know what I will do in the morning.  But don't worry, I won't go if there is a threat down I-44 and across I-40.