I need to definitely research the origins of the hamburger in my next quarter pounder!! After witnessing solo Longhorn cattle grazing happily on hundreds of acres of desert scrub, scores of Black Angus enjoying the goodlife in green, mountain pastures and now thousands of dirty, stinky cows packed into stockyards with their heads stuck in troughs of grain. What happened to the free-range thingy?? Very sad!! Time for a "veggie" burger!!
We were now heading lower in elevation with every mile as we descended the Colorado plateau. And then my worst nightmare was before me: Welcome to Kansas!!!
We were now heading lower in elevation with every mile as we descended the Colorado plateau. And then my worst nightmare was before me: Welcome to Kansas!!!
I sorta feel bad for saying that but even the Official Travel Guide for Kansas 2015, published by the State suffers an inferiority complex. They feel the need to publish on page 8 a whole series of Kansas "myth busters". For example, "The Hills are Alive" which states, "Kansas has a fair share of hills and elevation changes. In fact, six states have less variation in elevation than Kansas, ordered below from flattest to least flat: (1) Florida, (2) Illinois, (3) North Dakota, (4) Louisiana, (5) Minnesota, (6) Delaware." Gimme a break!! I submit the following:
Kansas: Mile post 12 (Welcome Center):
Kansas: Mile post 12 (Welcome Center):
Kansas: Mile post 60 (Colby):
Kansas: Mile post 130 (Wakeeney):
Kansas: Mile post 200 (Abilene):
Kansas: Mile post 330 (Topeka):
Need I say more?!!!!!!!
We stop in Oakley, KS for some gas and a burger. Little did I realize that this little town is borderline famous. It is "famous" for a fossil museum and a very twisted connection with "Buffalo Bill" Cody and his show buddy, Annie Oakley.
Strange connections:
"Buffalo Bill" Cody was hired in 1867 to provide buffalo meat for the Kansas Pacific Railroad.
Annie Oakley had no connection to Oakley, KS other than she took the last name "Oakley" because she didn't like her original, Phoebe Ann Mosey. The origin was back in Ohio where she was born, from the town of Oakley, OH outside Cincinnati.
But never to look a gift horse in the mouth, Oakley, KS has a "cultural center" and a pretty cool, huge statue. Never one to pass up a celebrity photo opportunity, I pose with a good looking buffalo and Bill, himself!!
"Buffalo Bill" Cody was hired in 1867 to provide buffalo meat for the Kansas Pacific Railroad.
Annie Oakley had no connection to Oakley, KS other than she took the last name "Oakley" because she didn't like her original, Phoebe Ann Mosey. The origin was back in Ohio where she was born, from the town of Oakley, OH outside Cincinnati.
But never to look a gift horse in the mouth, Oakley, KS has a "cultural center" and a pretty cool, huge statue. Never one to pass up a celebrity photo opportunity, I pose with a good looking buffalo and Bill, himself!!
We drove a bit further in this never ending state to the town of Abilene. Surprise once again, this little town of 6,844 was the boyhood home of Dwight David Eisenhower and even stranger, the place his Presidential Library is located. To make things even more strange, the "Covered Wagon RV Park" I was staying at tonite is right next to the Library!!!!
RV park had a nice pool so I took a relaxing dip, ate a bowl of my homemade Lobster Chowder I had frozen and went for a Shona walk. Lights out and off tomorrow to find a fence to whitewash in Hannibal, MO!!