Today was another great day! I was like a kid in the biggest candy store in the country. Scenery is my thing. Kansas views are amazing. Windmill farms fascinate me. The first time I saw one was about 15 years ago in California. Kansas has a little bit of everything cattle and horse ranches, animal refuge’s, all kinds of farms and a personal favorite oil drilling machinery. They all have there own charisma.
David asked me if I wanted to stop in Abilene, Kansas and go to Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Presidential Library and Museum and visit his Boyhood Home. Eisenhower is my favorite President. I was having too much fun scenery watching.
I asked David if he wanted to stop at the Kansas Auto Racing Museum. He said “No”, he was perfectly content cruising along. It was a truly easy and enjoyable ride.
This may sound corny, but at one point today, David and I sang America The Beautiful. We had just passed a barn with a painting on the side of the American Flag and it said God Bless America. David said to me “You know what two things people in The Heartland all have in common? They are very religious and patriotic. ” I couldn’t agree more. Another reason for breaking out in song, we had just been talking about why we can remember every word from so many songs of our youth, but have a hard time remembering two lines of any current song.
In five days we have traveled, approximately, 2,065 miles. We have another, approximate, 240 miles to Denver. Seventy more miles before we’re out of Kansas. From east to west, Kansas is VERY, VERY loooooong. We thought we’d make the Colorado border today, but we found an interesting campground.
High Plains Camping in Oakley, Kansas is less than a mile off I 70 Exit 70 ($36 full hook up 50 amp). They have an off leash dog run. E T has been an awesome traveler, but has spent all of her outside time on a leash. We thought this would be a great place to let her run free. It would have been, but the temperature here is 103 degrees. We are at an elevation of 3,055 feet. It is HOT! The grass in the dog run (park), is toasted. Hopefully in the morning it will be cool enough for her to enjoy a little freedom to run.
This is a funny E T story. She has taken to sitting UP in the passenger seat. When we pulled into the campground she started to growl and then let out her 16th bark. We were SHOCKED! What had gotten her all fired up? It was a statue of a Bison! When I took her out to “meet it” she was visibly afraid. Very timidly, with lots of coaxing, she approached and made friends with it. Now all she wants to do is go over and sniff it! What’s going to happen when we get to Yellowstone and she sees the real thing???
What don’t I like about Kansas? It’s “Weather Emergency Warnings”. There are LOTS of postings on what to do and where to take shelter. If an emergency arises and we need to evacuate or take shelter while we’re at the campground(s) the management gives you verbal and written instructions at check in. If we’re on the road, every so many miles there are “if the yellow lights are flashing” signs. I know it’s precautionary, but it’s creepy.
Tomorrows terrain changes and weather should be interesting … in Colorado
I have posted a 20 photo slide show. If it’s not appearing in your email, please go to www.barbsadventures.net to view.
It was so nice meeting the two of you the other night at the campground in Topeka. You meet so many nice people camping but who would have thought we had so much in common, ie, NHRA drag racing! I just wanted to let you know that you left some straps and winch at your campsite and we grabbed them for you. If you would email me scook5656@gmail.com and let me know how we can get them to you, we would be happy to bring them to you. Hope you have safe travels to Denver and we will see you soon.