Les and Marcia's Bohemian Life: Following your Instincts will lead you to Unexpected Adventures

Our intention, leaving Kinsley KS was to head to Deerfield KS for a few days. Then we saw what these areas really offered and the scary meth lab décor camp ground. We headed an hour and a half down the road to Lamar CO. Trust your instincts. Lamar is a tiny town but lovely. To Bradys joy, it is also full of fast bunnies. The welcome center was terrific and could double as a museum. It is located in the old train depot, has a A-T and SF Engine and a wind tower blade as yard ornaments.

*Wind Tower Blade upclose

*Fields of Black eyed Susan are everywhere

Bents Old Fort (Williams and Charles) and Ceran St. Vrain started a trading post in 1829. It was operating until 1852. It is a mystery as to how and why it was burnt to the ground. Thoughts are; bankruptcy, Government seizers or to stop the cholera outbreak.The structure we have today was built using the drawings by Lt James Adams. He had made the drawings as payment for his extensive medical treatment and Fort Dent in 1846.Dent had been a major trading post of the Santa Fe Trail, dealing mainly in Buffalo Fur. Aside from the amazing reconstruction and authenticity, the natural conversations with the craftsmen made this a very cool experience. Oh, did I mention this is a National Park?

*These markers are everywhere

*Free range squash

*The fort is adobe built

*Traders shop

*Main dining

*Deer hide and beaded Indian saddle

*Buffalo hide lined doors and windows help keep the dust out ( a bit)

*Quartz window

* Indian recliner aint that comfy

* Wouldn't be complete without a game room

*The drawings that saved the day

*Shade for livestock and humans

*The giant size of this fort is amazing

* Buffalo hide press

*My love of hardware continues

*Cavarly parade saddle

*Great picnic spot. Check out the table

*Water for random cattle

Comanche National Grassland covers over 435,000 acres.“Stop Les there’s a historical marker!”Not hard to see as we are in WIDE OPEN SPACES.Looking closely you can see wheel marks from the days this was the highway to the west.

* Wagon tracks from days gone by

We took a very nice hike to Vogel Canyon.Both of us were surprised by the amount of flowers and flowering cactus. This was a great peaceful walk and I am sure we were the only humans in a 20 miles (at least).

*Flowers from the Vogel Canyon walk

*Vogel Canyon

Heading out of Lamar, we made a mental note for a stop here on the way back. We had noticed a Petrified Wood Building. Truth be told the Ripleys Believe it or not Sign was seen first. The building owner was just closing his car dealership next door and took the time talk to us. His story is that it had been built as an eye catcher to encourage travelers to want to stop there for gas. The wood had been taken from a nearby river. Petrified Wood is wood that has been turned to stone by ”permineralization”. Ok that means all of the organic material (wood) has been replaced by minerals, or you could just say this it has been fossilized. Built in 1933 to make people stop – it is still works.

*This was such a surprise!!

*Didn't even think anything like this existed

*1933 roadside attraction

Moving on into Nebraska we stayed at a great RV Park.It was full hook up, large pull through lots, super fast wifi, very pet friendly and cheap.It also just happened to be on a working cattle ranch.For us that is a cool bonus.

*Empty Cattle Pens at our back door

*Next

* Brady was cramping kittys style

This was one of the few must stops on our travel list.I have been so excited about this since I read about it years ago. Carhenge of Alliance NE is as great as I was hoping it would. Built by Jim Reinders of classic cars it is a nifty replica of that Stone one over in Europe. Carhenge was dedicated during the summer solstice of 1987. Over the years the grey cars have started to grow graffiti. Most places I would feel disappointment over this. Somehow here, it feels appropriate. There is other car art and sculptures here too. Take your time, have picnic and enjoy the inspiration.