Les and Marcia's Bohemian Life: Kansas – Family

We were already excited to visit Kansas. My Brother Bob and Sister-in-Law Edie were on a 5^th Wheel tour of the Midwest. Our trips met just outside Topeka. Brady and Charlie said their casual hellos. Charlie was quite willing to share chew bones. Brady was quite willing to steal all the bones

*Cousin Charlie and Brady

We all made an easy choice to visit the newly renovated Kansas StateCapital Building($330 Million restoration). From the outside it looks like a perfectly respectable capital building. Then you go inside. From the hardy basement labyrinth to the sparkling 22 karat gold dome it is beyond my words of amazing!! We were happily going about our exploration then stumbling on a guided tour. Our tour became much more interesting when we were then able to tour the Supreme Court, the House and Senate Chambers and the Library. The guide, Berry was also the chief historian and architect for this massive project. If you ever find yourself anywhere near Topeka, do not miss the free tour of this building.

*Bob, Edie and us on the Kansas Capital steps

*As far as basements go this is pretty cool

* Tours are availble to climb to the top of the dome

*Bob and I found out they alway leave the microphone on in there - Shhhh

* Original frescos had been covered by layers of paint

* some of the prettiest hinges I have seen

* Bobs interpretation of John Bown. I think it is pretty accurate.

How can you come to Kansasand not visit the Wizard of Oz Museum? Well...Ya can’t. Onward to the town of Wamego. The museum has a huge collection of movie memorabilia and information on author L.Frank Baum. It was fun to stroll through the life sized dioramas. Across the street from the museum is the Yellow Brick Roadthat rather indirectly leads you to the Oz Winery.

* contemplating quantum physics

* Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Our last day together was a road trip to Abilene to visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home. This is a beautiful place. A city block had been cleared around Eisenhowers childhood home to accommodate the visitors center, museum, library, and his and Mamies final resting place. My brother really loves American history, and presidents making this even more interesting of a visit. However, Edie and I did get waylaid by Mamie’s jewelry and dresses. It was such a special treat to be able to spend this time on the road with Bob and Edie. I know they love traveling and their new 5^th wheel. “Happy trails”!!

* Big house in Albelne I asked Bob stop for so I could take this picture - Thanks Bob

* Nothing beats the smell of fresh hay

One more meeting we are looking forward to is seeing our long time friend Claudia and her new husband Joe. We hadn’t seen each other in 14 years as they have been living in Hawaii. We love Joe and it was great to see Claudia’s spunky spirit hasn’t changed. We are excited for a visit from them to Florida!!!

* Claudia and Joe,"Welcome back from the rock !!"

Kansasis broken up into four districts; Eastern Wooded Hills, Flint Hills, Central Prairie and Western High Plans. We had planned to continue up through the EWH to go up to Nebraska. Then I got a great Facebook message! Our best friend neighbors, Mike and Sharon from Delton MI (Sharon is also my best wine drinking buddy) were going to be in Manhattan Kansas attending a conference in the next couple of days. We quickly and happily switched gears and moved to Acorn Acres ( www.acornresort.com) on Milford Lake in the Flint Hills District. They have great full hook-up RV sites and beautiful cabins. I would highly recommend this spot for any gathering or comfortable get away.

MilfordLake was built by the Corp of Engineers.At 2300 acres it is the largest manmade lake in Kansas.It is a beautiful area that is made assessable to all as no homes are built around this lake.One afternoon we visited the Milford Nature Centerand Fish Hatchery.It is a nice blend of functioning hatchery, animal rehabilitation and nature preserve with a playground for the kiddos.

* Baby Catfish Crib

* Baby fish are learning to operate the fish feeder

Mike and Sharon had to attend meetings. We had two opportunities to meet. No time had passed between us. It was as close to sitting on The Jones deck having a stemmed glass as we could get. I would be delighted to get a message like this anytime.

*Best Surprise ever - Love you Sharon and Mike!!

We are not far from FortRiley, any active army fort and the home of the US Cavalry and 1^st Infantry DivisionMuseums. At first impression this is the most structurally substantial active military fort I have ever seen. Buildings are built with large native limestone blocks, giving it a very permanent look.

If you have any interest in Army History, American history or horses you should love the US Cavalry Museum. You start in an art gallery filled with Remington and Russell paintings and bronzes depicting the dedication of the horse to the military. There are exhibits on the evolution of military tack and soldier / horse training, to include the transition to mechanized warfare (displays on the museum grounds). We started to tour the 1^st ID, but the fire alarm started (I’m sure for no serious reason) so we left. Perhaps if it was the 2ID (my division) we would have persevered.

* In memory of the one and a half million horses and mules of the Union and Confederate armies that were killed, wounded or died from disease in the Civil War

* Photo taken during training at Fort Riley

The Fort Riley Historical Society in conjunction the CavalryMuseum maintains the Custer House.This is the only remaining officers quarters from the 1850’s.They have done a lovely job of recreating a officers family life during that time period.

*This was the most unique item in the Custer House - Love it

Concretions, Concretions, Concretions – What a fun word! RockCity is near Minneapolis KS. Rock City is about the size of two football fields and hosts over 200 Sandstone Concretions; some the size of small houses. These sandstone balls have been created over millions of years of the drying up of seas and current, rain, floods and evaporation. Guaranteed to be the best $3.00 you will ever spend!

* One of Kansas' 8 Natural wonders. Concretions

It is time to move on to the western High Plains. Terrain is changing from green trees, to flint sided hills through miles of giant fields of alfalfa, corn and soy beans to wheat and cattle. We stopped in Kinsley (also known as Midway). This is a very small tidy town filled with feed mills, a dynamite local museum and the best Chinese food since we’ve eaten at Tony’s in Battle Creek MI. 4 Aces is a great little RV Park with very friendly owners with a great pet policy. Brady had so much fun stalking and chasing bunnies, deer and a fox.

* 14 miles of wind farm on the way to Dodge City

* Kinsley

* Santa Fe Trail markers are everywhere

*So now we have seen a real Sod House

* Smooth mud walls can be painted - nifty

* Atchinson, Topeks and The Santa Fe

* My Superman can stop that train

Our visit to Dodge City was nice. Known as “The Queen of Cattle Towns” it still holds close to it original beefy roots. National Beef Company and Excel Corporation process 10,000 head a day from hoof to dinner daily. That is not what we came to Dodge for. We visited Boot Hill Museum. This is a historical recreation of the rough and ready 1872 to 1879 western town. Your admission covers a short history movie, a gun fight, view of many original artifacts, original and reproduction building, the original BootHill Cemeteryand a Native American Museum. Much is covered here. Which is a good thing as much of Dodge Cityhas moved on to embrace today. This is a good ½ day visit (no more is necessary)

*Watch out Mr. Dillion - Theres a new Marshall in town

* This seems to suit us well - Swap tipi for 5th Wheel though

Kansasis full of surprises. The town of Hutchinson has the only salt mine museum in the states. Strataca is a working salt mine. It produces salt for those states that find a need to clear ice from their dismal winter roads. The museum is in a completed portion of the mine. You take an elevator 650 feet under ground – it opens to 68 degrees, level floors, high ceilings and wide rooms all salt lined. First you wander at your own pace and learn how the salt is mined and the see the equipment that is used. Mike Rowe did visit here –but it does look like a dirty job at all. You then can take a train ride. The train is too cute. It was purchased from the childrens zoo. We both could still fit in the seats. You ride the old 1930’s tracks and learn when this was a dirty very manual job. This part of the mine is also used for film storage as well as other fragile stuff. The last part is a tram ride that takes you back to total cave darkness and gives you an opportunity to gather salt bits. This was a terrifically fun and interesting day.

*Used to cut the salt walls

* when the ceiling falls down - stand clear

* Salt mine storage -

Fort Larned was known as the guardian of the Santa Fe Trail. 1821 to 1880 it was the most heavily used trade routes in the states with gold going east and pioneers and trade goods going west. Fort Larned was established in 1859 and provided security for the US Mail or any pioneers and traders that were there to tag along. At one time the 10^thCavalry was stationed here. This Buffalo Soldier Cavalry division was the much respected by the Native Americans for their bravery. The Company was composed of one white officer and the rest black. Fort Larned was decommissioned in 1883 when its mission to secure the Santa Fe Trail was complete and no longer necessary. What remains is wonderful sandstone buildings maintained by the National Parks Service. This is a free stop with a great guided tour.