SUMMER TRAVELS – 2008: KANSAS

SEPTEMBER in KANSAS

Leaving Omaha, we drove west on I-80, turning south at exit #257 onto State Highway #183, which continues into Kansas.  At Greenburg, we turned onto Highway #54 to Liberal, Kansas, and then on into Oklahoma.  Driving through Kansas brought back a lot of memories of former trips throughout this interesting state:

POST ROCK COUNTRY:

A few years ago, we followed some of these same roads. North central Kansas countryside consists of rolling hills, frequently broken by ledges of limestone, and, miles and miles of unique, picturesque stone fence posts!    Now, on our present trip, as we neared the city of Hays, we once again drove through an area where this type of limestone had been used extensively in fence posts and buildings.

In a region of few trees, early settlers solved their fencing and building material problems by quarrying the local limestone.  The stone used was quarried from a rock layer found near the surface.  This limestone is rather uniform in thickness, 8 to 9 inches.  When first quarried, it is soft enough to be sawed, drilled, or shaped with hand tools.  However, after prolonged exposure to air, it hardens and becomes very weather resistant and durable. Stone posts are usually from 5 to 6 feet in length and weigh between 350 and 400 pounds each

This fascinating  “post rock” area in north central Kansas runs roughly between Junction City and Hays, Kansas, approximately 30 miles north and 30 miles south of  I-70.  The width of the area is about 100 miles.  A “Barbed Wire and Post Rock Museum” is located 25 miles south of Hayes, on Highway #183 on the far southern edge of the town of La Crosse, Kansas.

As well as fence posts, many interesting old buildings built from this stone can still be seen throughout this area…schoolhouses, churches, barns, and homes.

JUNCTION CITY:

On that earlier trip to Kansas, we spent several weeks near Junction City, waiting for a new travel trailer to be built.  Junction City is located on I-70 in northeastern Kansas between Topeka and Abilene.  In 1859 Junction City was incorporated as a city, and in 1861 Kansas entered the Union as a free state.

There were many interesting old buildings in this historic town, and most of them were built out of “post rock” limestone-such as this old stone school house.

LAKE MILFORD:

Situated just northwest of Junction City, on K-57, this is Kansas’ largest lake, and is known as the Fishing Capitol of Kansas.  While in the area, we stayed in campgrounds on Lake Milford.  First, in a Corp of Engineer operated park called Farnum Creek.  Later, we moved to Milford State Park, where there were four individual campgrounds on 1,084 acres. It is a lovely area, with many roads to hike.  Being September, the weather was gorgeous, and I virtually walked every road and trail in the park!  Scenery was lovely, with lots of trees, in autumn colors, birds, deer, and wild turkeys.

ABILENE, KANSAS:

While here, we visited the town of Abilene, which was founded as a stagecoach stop with a population of about 300 in 1857.   As the railroad pushed westward, Abilene was discovered by cattle men during the days of the large cattle drives. Almost overnight it grew into a cattle boom town with a population of 3,000.

From 1867-82, nearly three million head of cattle were driven up the Chisholm Trail from Texas to Abilene.  From here they were shipped via railroad to eastern markets.

Driving through the town, once again we admired  many lovely old limestone buildings! (This historic stone building, built in 1882 as the First Presbyterian Church, is now an art center.)

“OLD ABILENE TOWN”:

Of course we had to visit “Old Abilene”. Most of the buildings are replicas, although several of them, including all of the log structures and the school house are originals.  Built in the late 1800’s, not far from here, they were all moved and rebuilt on their present site.

One of the latest additions is a Western Museum.  Formerly the old Rock Island depot built in 1887; the depot was moved from its original site just across the tracks.  There was also a souvenir and gift shop, newspaper office, photo shop and restaurant.  It was a lovely autumn day, so browsing around was enjoyable

DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER LIBRARY:

We also visited this huge Complex.  Included in the Complex are the library, museum, family home, visitors’ center, and “Place of Meditation”.

The library houses historical documents relating to General Eisenhower’s careers as a soldier, educator, and 34th President of the United States. Across from the library is the museum, with exhibits related to the life of General Eisenhower and events of his times.   The home was occupied by the Eisenhower family from 1898 until 1946.  And, the Place of Meditation is the final resting place of Dwight David Eisenhower, his wife, Mamie Doud Eisenhower, and their first-born son, David.

FORT RILEY, KANSAS:

Located a few miles northeast of Junction City, Fort Riley was another stop on that trip through Kansas.  Both Rodger and I were interested in visiting this former fort, now an army training camp, as we each had a brother who completed their army training at Fort Riley.

As the frontier advanced westward in the early 1850’s, a fort to protect travelers was needed.  Camp Center, (now called Fort Riley) was established in 1853, and was first under the leadership of Lt. George Custer.  During the next three decades, soldiers used Fort Riley as a staging area to protect the expanding frontier.

In 1892 Fort Riley became the center for cavalry tactics and training.  The U.S. Calvary Museum at Fort Riley relates the history of the mounted soldier from the Revolutionary War to World War II.  Fort Riley has also served as a training center during all of the major wars of the 20th century. Today Fort Riley is home to the Army’s Ist Infantry Division, and the Ist Armored Division.

Driving around the grounds we enjoyed seeing the many historic buildings, (most which were built of post rock) including Lt George Custer’s home, one of the original buildings.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN:

Our new 5th wheel travel trailer was finally finished, so after “moving in” we hit the road.  And, as on that trip, now once again we approached southern Kansas, flatter farm land and the fields of milo.

On our first trip through Kansas I was not familiar with this strange crop!  The leaves are similar to corn, but the plant is shorter, like sorghum.  And, they have a large colorful “head” of seeds.  I soon learned, that milo comes in a variety of colors, from pale yellow to deep rust.  It is a feed grain and is also used in the production of ethanol!

BENSON, ARIZONA:

Leaving Kansas and our memories behind, there were no more stops, and we arrived at our home base in Benson on September 8th.  The summer monsoons poured a lot of rain over the area, and it was amazing to see the desert so green!   I will be busy “catching up” for some time, so my next post may not appear for awhile.   Let me hear from you!

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SUMMER TRAVELS – 2008: Nebraska

END of AUGUST in NEBRASKA

Our youngest daughter, (who sets up my blog) her husband, and youngest son, live on the west side of Omaha.  It was wonderful to see them again!   The two weeks we were here was spent between their lovely home and our campsite at Two Rivers State Recreational Area, about ten miles west of their home.

TWO RIVERS STATE RECREATION AREA:

This lovely state park along the Platte River encompasses some 644 acres of land, and about 320 acres of water in the form of 7 small sand pit lakes.  It is located just off of Hwy 92, one mile south and one mile west of Venice, NE.

The park includes 6 separate camping areas, with 209 individual hard surface pads, of which 113 have electric hookups.  Other features include, a swimming beach, picnic grounds, fishing, playgrounds, and hunting in season.  A unique feature is the “Caboose Park”.  Here, 10 colorful cabooses sit on their original tracks.  Remodeled and restored for lodging, these cabooses are available for rent from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

One of the most pleasant places we have ever stayed, the site we selected was in the Lakeside Campground, and was located directly on the shore of one of the sandpit lakes, with large trees offering shade.

We have stayed in this park on two other occasions, and I would recommend this very beautiful recreation area to anyone traveling in the area!

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SUMMER TRAVELS – 2008: Minnesota

JULY & AUGUST in MINNESOTA

After leaving Mobridge, our plans were to attend an all school reunion and centennial celebration in Hill City, MN the town where we attended high school (click link). On July 4th a parade was held, and numerous vendors set up their wares in the City Park. I also, set up a table offering my books (The Maverick Series) and my hand crafted pine needle baskets for sale. (see an earlier blog entry regarding these baskets.)

July 5th was the school reunion, which included breakfast and a barbecue dinner, programs, visitation time, and other events. It was rather humorous, as most of us were looking, first, at name cards before faces, since we had all changed over the years!

From there we went to Grand Rapids, Minnesota, where we spent three weeks with family and friends, and fishing and relaxing at campgrounds north of there.

SANDY LAKE RECREATION AREA:
Leaving Grand Rapids, our next stop, was at this recreation area, located off of Highway 65 ten miles north of McGregor, MN. Operated by the US Corp of Engineers, it is situated along both sides of the dam on the Sandy River which forms the reservoir of Big Sandy Lake.

Big Sandy Lake (9,400 acres and 77 miles of shoreline) is located on the canoe route that linked Lake Superior and the Mississippi River. Archaeological evidence indicates that Native Americans had established villages along this route after the glaciers retreated, 10,000 years ago. The Northwest Fur Company established a major fur trading post near here in the late 1700’s. Sandy Lake Dam, completed in 1895, controls the runoff from a 421 square mile drainage area including eight lakes.

Camping sites were spacious and the setting was lovely. Our site was located along the Sandy River, and directly across the road from Big Sandy Lake. Near the park entrance, there is a large mound, which appears to be a burial mound. However, even though used for burials, it is actually an ancient natural glacial mound. And, atop this mound stands a large stone monument, and two old grave stones. The history of the graves and memorial is as follows:
The Monument: The Tragedy of 1850-1851 occurred when treaties between the US Government and the Ojibwe Tribe failed. Details of this tragedy are too great to go into on this post. However, the incident led to the death of about 400 Indians. 150 years after the Sandy Lake tragedy, the descendants of the involved Indian bands gathered to dedicate this memorial to those who suffered and died. This Mikwendaagoziwag Memorial means “We Remember Them”. My information comes in part from a brochure from the Corp of Engineer’s office at the park. More detailed information can be found from the following sites listed in the brochure:
E-mail: pio@glifwc.org Web site: www.glifwc.org or the address:
GLIFWC: P.O. Box 9 Odanah, WI 54861
The gravestones: A plaque at the base of the mound states, that in 1831 Frederick Ayer established a small missionary school at this site. This was attended by both white settlers and Indians until the building was moved to Fon du Lac in 1834. This mound actually contains several graves, but only these two stones remain standing today.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN:
The Seavey family annual family picnic was held on August 10, and we had planned our trip to include this event. Each year a different family hosts this event. This year it was at a cousin’s home in Lino Lakes, a NE suburb of Minneapolis. At least four generations of family members gathered, weather was great and all had a great time.

WINONA, MN:
Located on the Mississippi River in SE Minnesota, Winona was our home for many years. This is where, after our four children were in school, I attended college, earned a Master’s Degree in Art, and taught Art at Fountain City, Wisconsin for 10 years. Winona also was our last home before taking early retirement in 1979.

While in Winona, we stayed at Prairie Island Park and Campground, a large and lovely area located on the banks of the Mississippi River, with a view of the high bluffs on the Wisconsin side of the river.  Our stop here this summer was to visit our oldest grandson and his two darling boys (our great grandchildren), ages 7 and 3. Time with them was short and sweet, especially when we have no idea when we will see them again.

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