bad influence?

It's mostly a Midwest thing but sour cream and raisin pie is rich and tangy and should be enjoyed whenever possible, even at breakfast!

For the record, marina wasn't tempted, she had coconut cream.

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. 

Southern Manitoba

Melita has slightly warmer temps than the rest of the Province, so it was dubbed the Banana Belt and they built a 30' monument.

Longest swinging bridge in Canada, located in Souris. 

Wade Bogs

You'll just have to ask Emil about his luck following me and Kali around various water features in North America. 

The hunt begins

Saturday morning we drove 85 km to get to the WMA we had scouted on Friday while temps were<60. Broomhill north of Melita.

Been a while since Jackson got to hunt with Dad, but he was having a great time. 

Several months of research and over 2000 miles of driving put Kali on a big covey of sharptails and the first foreign flag on the rig. Pretty good start!

O Canada!

There's no substitute for preparation. We pulled up to the border with all of our gun,and dog paperwork and passports at the ready,answered a few questions and even asked a few about birds, and were officially legal aliens in about 15 minutes. Actually the proper pronunciation in Manitoba is "aboot" and we're adding to our vocabulary as we go. 

 

They let these guys in? Of note, this is my first selfie with a Phartsmone. 

This one's for Marina. Teddy the Turtle greeted us in Boissvain.

So we left the center of the universe (Helena) Wednesday morning and reached the Geographic Center of North America by Friday morning, and didn't even need 4WD. 

Rugby, ND lays claim to that distinction. 

Fargo, oh yeah, you betcha

Covered 5 states to get within shouting distance of the border, shutting down in Fargo, home of the NDSU Bisons, the 2013 FCS champions. College town means vibrant downtown area and many restaurant options. We chose Mom's Diner/Pop's Roadhouse where we found awesome apple and blueberry pies, sirloins for us and dogs, and Fargo Brewing Co. Scottish ale. Good Mojo!
Tomorrow is the Geographic center of North America, then into Manitoba.

Mm hmm good! Mayetta, KS Whistle Stop Cafe had home made blackberry and strawberry rhubarb pies for breakfast! No need for lunch today.