Capitol ideas

Marina wants to photograph as many state Capitols as possible on the way, so we caught Topeka and Lincoln this afternoon. In between returned to the Whistle Stop Cafe in Mayetta for awesome grub. Ate there in September on the way to Canada for breakfast. This time had the pan fried chicken lunch special. As you can see, lunch arrived before the blackberry pie appetizer was finished! Mmmhmmmm

Also introduced Marina to geocaching to get her more navigation experience and she found several as we ventured west.
Three days=1302.9 miles

segregation

Next stop was Monroe Elementary in Topeka for the Brown vs. Board of Education NHS. Coolest part may have been that it felt just like any number of elementary schools in America. Extensive collection of civil rights history prompted lengthy conversation on "fairness," opportunity and equality. Let me just say that I am maintaining my optimism for this next generation and their influence on our country.

The Big Red One

Stopped at Ft Riley, KS for the Cavalry Museum and like other military monuments and memorials, it's just fantastic. Excellent displays with just enough history to tie events together, plus plenty of cool gun stuff. And Corps of Engineer architecture.

Not your grandfather's Kansas

Close your eyes and imagine Kansas. What do you conjure other than corn, Jayhawks ,and Oz?
Even Marina is shocked by the variety and beauty. Oh, and the jerky and sausage we found in Kiowa. The scenery along the Medicine Bow River is outstanding, the world's largest hand dug well survived an E5 tornado in Greensburg, and I still contend that Ft Larned is the best representation of frontier life preserved in the States.

home? Nope, Oklahoma

Bigger'n the one in Texas anyway.

dern sod busters

First stop today was north of Cleo Springs, OK at the last remaining sod house in the state. Built by a tough and ingenuous Scots man, it served his family for decades before being covered by a shed. Non poisonous snakes and mud daubers welcomed.

Funniest thing to me was that a bunch of the tools and one of the guns they displayed in their museum I still use on a regular basis. Might be the old guy in the photo sooner rather than later.

The same but different

The temperature was 70 for the beginning of Marina's trip, double what we had for Sophia's. We took the same boring route up 35 to OKC, except we discovered Dublin Bottle works sodas at a gas stop. Can recommend those Texas made beverages if you find them. 

The OKC National Memorial still impresses me with its touching and tactful portrayal of the 1995 terrorist attack. Today was overcast, but that seems appropriate for the setting. 

Check out Marina's blog for a Chisolm Trail crossing we found just south of Hennessey, OK.  Also had a great hamburger steak at Gails Grille while sitting at two of the 13 counter stools, meeting the locals crowded into the tiny place. 

Great start. Great conversations which I cannot share of course. 548.5 miles today. Now off to the fitness center. 

Sooooo different.