About That "On The Road Again" - (August 4 - 13)

Dear Family and Friends,

Whoo Hoo, we are on the road again!!! How we have dreamed of this during the last two months!!! We learned a lot about ourselves during this period and are most grateful to have such dear family and friends who shared their homes with us during the time our Tour spent getting repaired at Camping World.

We left Camping World and Springfield, Missouri, on Thursday, August 4. The technicians ably put our beautiful home back together so that it looks like new. We will miss their continually positive attitudes when working in the 100 plus degree humid heat this summer.

We travelled to Parsons, Kansas, where we again enjoyed the hospitality of Roger's aunt and uncle. Their daughter Kathryn, joined us as well. Roger loved seeing the sites of his family's farm and hearing more stories from his Uncle Jud.

On Sunday, we drove to Lake Melvern near Topeka, where we intended to stay for a week. At this Army Corps of Engineers park we tried several sites before determining that there was too much slope to level the Tour.  Happily we found an RV park in nearby Lyndon that had level sites. The park was surrounded by soybean and corn fields, making it a beautiful place to live for a week.

Bear says it is time to get on the road again!

What a pleasure to fill up before setting out on our trip to Lake Melvern!

The Carnegie Library in Lyndon.

Roger and Bear posing in front of the Lyndon Court House.

Our RV Park was surrounded by soybean fields.

Bear taking himself for a walk!!!

Our Tour in the RV Park.

Truly "home sweet home."

On Tuesday, Roger, Bear and I drove thirty miles to Topeka, for a day of sightseeing. We enjoyed visiting the capital of Kansas, the Governor's Mansion, Old Prairie Village at Warde Meade and the site of Brown vs. The Board of Education. The following pictures give you an idea of our day.

The Kansas State Capital

The restoration project will take many years.

                                     

Corinthian Columns
Can you name the other two types of Greek columns???

The Governor's Mansion

Old Prairie Town Village is a collection of buildings that give you the idea of what it was like to live in small towns on the prairie of Kansas pre Civil War. This is a typical one room school house.

Roger and Bear on the front porch of an inn on the stagecoach route.

Topeka's Botanical Garden

Ionic Columns
Other than Corinthian and Ionic, can you name the third type of column?

Railroad Station

Monroe Elementary which played an important part in the 1954 landmark decision of the Supreme Court, allowing schools to be integrated and paving the way for the civil rights movement of the 1960's. The school houses a museum.

On Wednesday we journeyed to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve located in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Bear decided to take a break from sightseeing and stay in the Tour. Today less than 4% of North America's tall grass prairie (think 8 - 10 feet high blue stem grass) is preserved with the help of the Nature Conservancy and National Park Service. This National Preserve is headquartered in the Spring Hill Ranch which was a working cattle ranch in the 1880s. 

We also visited the nearby town of Cottonwood Falls where we met KJ, Carolyn and their children, Ian and Kathryn for lunch. KJ is the grandson of Roger's aunt and uncle from Parsons. KJ is actually Father Lackey, an Episcopalian priest, whose parish is located in Emporia. It has been most gratifying to watch him grow from a baby to a very inspiring young man who with his family, makes a difference to many people.

Original barn at Spring Hill Ranch

Tallgrass Prairie (lack of rain finds the grass not as tall as usual)

Spring Hill Ranch

Cottonwood Falls Court House

Father Lackey, Ian, Kathryn is hiding, Carolyn and Roger

Thursday and Friday found us riding our bikes in the surrounding area. For us, it was such a thrill to get back on those bikes and see local areas at a slower pace. 

Cycling in Eisenhower State Park gets a two thumbs up from me.

Saturday begins our two day trip to Colorado Springs. We have had such a great time in this area of Kansas. Bear, Roger and I thank you for reading our blog.