Jun 24, 2014

 

The thumbnail shot is a view looking towards a couple of uncharacteristic buttes in a scenic shot from the road approaching the township of Blue Rapids KS.

We have enjoyed our day today, enjoyed the ride and seeking out what was difficult to find and just the experience of the pioneer and that of small town America. 

 

'Old School New School'. A shot just south of the township of Westmoreland KS of a memorial where the wagon trains used to stop for a break, they were known to spread out far enough to cover the whole area covered by the town so an impressive area.

 

We lunched at Blue Rapids in the 'Branding Iron Cafe' and forgot our plan to share meals which we should have done! The Cafe was on the square surrounding the huge roundabout in the middle of the little town which boasts it has the first roundabout in Kansas.The town is a little tired and seems to be inhabited by people stuck somewhere between the 70's and 80's going on the hairstyles and lack of hair colour of the women we saw and the general attire of the reidents. I feel a bit bad about saying that but it felt like a step back in time as it has been in small country towns we have encountered which we don't experience in Australia. Interesting, and i

n the middle of the roundabout here is a cute very little building which is the Police Station. Cracked me up.

 

From lunch we headed for 'Alcove Springs' which was another favourte camping spot on the trail and marked the end of the tallgrass prairie of Eastern Kansas and entered the shortgass plains. We travelled over 20 miles in total over large loose dusty gravel roads to find this and felt very gritty by the end of it but glad we went. The shot is of Norm doing what Norm does, if there is water running he MUST sample it. The springs have never been known to run dry even in the worst Kansas droughts.

 

And the bikes as we were about to head back onto the highway. No prizes for guessing who went second...and I hung back to avoid Norm's dust!

 

Marysville was a treat and this is a viewof a small town America Street. Quite a bit larger than many we had seen and obviously doing a lot better than some of the outlying area.

 

And a Marysville memorial to the Pony Express, loved this. Norm feels a real affinity with the job done by them and what we have done over many years for our customers and Nation.

Bits and Bobs:

 

More rail lines. This was a quick shot from the rail bridge as we headed into Marysville and as we came out there were 8 lines of trains lined up and 2 moving off. A part of heading west is hearing the mournful sound of the trains all through the night as they continue their task of supplying the Nation with all they need.

Before I forget - Roadworks Speed Limits - So much more practical and sensible than at home. On the parkways (freeways) where speeds are between 60 - 70mph the Roadwork speedlimit is between 50 - 55mph (80kmh +) with a sign a few miles out saying it is ahead, then about 1/2 a mile out warning then there it is with a sign (in Illinois) 'Hit a worker $10,000.00 fine and 14 years in jail' (in Kansas) 'Hit a worker $10,000.00 and loss of license and in Nebraska fines are doubled in Roadworks areas'. People behave well through roadworks probably because they are well targeted and make sense! On more minor roads they are sometimes marginally reduced.

Last two night's Accomodation: 

Senate Luxury Suites, 900 SW Tyler Street, Topeka,KS, 66612

Was once an impressive bulding with generous sized rooms but is becoming very tired and worn out. Nice and clean and comfortable but in need of refurbishment. Comfortable bed, included breakfast wifi and parking. Nice and handy to the State Capitol and walking distance to a couple of dinner options. Got what we paid for but not complaining.