Western USA 2003
Geographic Center of USA KS/NE border to Little House on the Prairie, KS
Woke late today, then walked and ran and skipped through the prairie, looked for wild edible plants and found lots of hemp-like plants. Couldn't get the stiffness out till after noon so took it easy and got a late start.
Short ride over to the geographic center of the USA which through fate or fortune is in someones front yard.
--Center of the USA
There is a stone monument and tiny chapel big enough to hold 4 people. It is a very remote out of the way place I wonder who comes here and why I leave my name in the guest book.
--Cute church..
--Quaint..
--This is hanging behind the mini-pulpit.
Headed south to Newton, KS which is where my friend Jackie Knee is originally from I had promised to stop and see the town, he made the town web page which is hosted on my server back in Maryland. Arrived there around 5pm and found the public library and emailed Jackie I was in town although he lives in Maryland just wanted to let him know. Drove through main street which had a lot of boarded up buildings but nice architecture. Ate dinner at the "China Buffet" on main street had lots of good seafood for $7 all you can eat. Typical of most small towns I saw in Kansas there is a severe decline of population everyone has left or died off now that the small farms are no more. One town was even entirely abandoned despite the beautiful buildings and architecture, however I also noticed a trend of Latinos moving into these empty towns.
Fueled up continued eastward to the town of El Dorado which was having an old car fair with lots of souped up muscle cars very classic Americana. Kansas is an interesting state between the mid-west and the west, between the north and the south there are a lot of cultural influences here that blend into something uniquely.. classic American like the cars at the fair beautiful, custom and strong.
--Car Show, El Dorado, KS
--Car Show, El Dorado, KS
Continued driving into the night to Elk City Lake and found a secluded access road to make camp for the night next to a swamp. Mosquito's were very bad all night, big, black and loud and angry. Killed many but it was a constant battle not sure who won the war. Much worse in the morning could see clouds of black swarming around the car looking for any tiny crack to get in. Unable to get out of the truck to eat or stretch I fled in near panic in the morning. Locals at a gas station said it was the worse they had ever seen. Weather is hot, muggy and my hay fever is kicking in. What a change from the bitter cold of a few days ago.
Posted by stbalbach at September 20, 2003 01:39 AM