MIssouri or Missoura?

It is said by some here in Missouri that it is often pronounced MissourA as not to liken it with misery. With the exception of the jerk manager at the pool today who accused us of breaking the pump for the water slide when we didn't- we find Missouri to be anything but miserable. The people have been friendly and hospitable and we've had more than a few meals on their good graces. Last night in Marshfield one of the the nicest men on the planet, one James Rupe, arranged for us to have a delicious feed and A/C accomodation at the First Baptist Church. It was great, and we got to dunk a basketball on an 8 foot rim to boost the ego a bit. The Ozarks are neat with lots of interesting terrain and good swimming holes in the streams, and armadillos. We have continued to leave pre-6am to avoid the midday heat and have enjoyed watching the sunrise over the countryside in our rear-view helmet mirrors. Tomorrow we cross into Kansas and the temps there are expected to be over 100 degrees for the next few days. Fortunately some people in Kansas must have read our Tweets and accepted our unofficial "state to state challenge," because our first two days in the state involve welcome committees, media coverage, cookouts, and accomodation. Looking forward to the Great Plains and hoping for but not counting on favorable winds. Biggest question on our minds: when will sweet tea become unavailable?