Blogs from Kansas, United States, North America - page 16

North America » United States » Kansas » Lawrence May 26th 2011

I haven’t really thought this trip through as much as I have others. I just don’t feel as if I am fully prepared for the adventure. For example, Sunday night as I began to feel daunted by the errands and packing I had some twelve hours to accomplish, I of course stopped doing what needed to be done and called a friend. His attempt to encourage me demonstrates my state of mind: “Well Erika, all you really need is your passport, right? And you have that.” At which point I had to get up from the bed upon which I had decided to deposit my daunted self and add ‘passport’ to the list. Then I went to bed. I was a bit wound up the next day, complete with timed schedule of things to do, but ... read more

Twas the night before Europe...

North America » United States » Kansas » Olathe May 20th 2011

AshleyPersinger

Well...it's here! In 12 hours we will be boarding our plane to start this crazy journey. I have to admit I'm a little nervous to get on the plane. Usually I love flying but with all that has been going on around the world it's a little intimidating to step on a plane. Oh and the fact that the world is supposed to end tomorrow doesn't really help the nerves either! But, I checked off all the items on my to do list and finally got all the packing done (thank goodness!). I will be relieved when I get on the flight knowing everything is done and there is no backing out then. I hope you all will enjoy reading my blogs..I'm new at this so bare with me. I will post as much as possible ... read more

Update!

North America » United States » Kansas » Hays May 16th 2011

brpaws

We are happy to report that we are now headed to Carver, Mass and have allowed ourselves 10days to get there. We are in Hays, Kansas and loving the new scenery ( green not brown ). Bison and cattle, lot;s of bunnies and birds. We are missing the extreme weather but have been having cold nights and days in the 6o's and 70's. Will try one time to attach some more recent photos. Any of you that are on Facebook can also see photos that I have posted there.... read more

Cottonwood Falls Kansas: The second stop in the Flint Hills

North America » United States » Kansas May 4th 2011

DSC8777

The Visiting Wanderer

Cottonwood Falls is a small town that finds its home in the Flint Hills of Kansas. I had not planned on stopping in Cottonwood; however, upon entering the town, there was a man made waterfall on the Cottonwood River that caught my eye. Next to the waterfall was a bridge that had been restored into a footbridge. A large tree was hanging from the concrete wall that creates the falls and another lay next to the bridge, signs of flooding that had possibly recently taken place. The American flag waved and snapped in the wind. It was hard to tell the difference between the roar of the waterfall and the thundering of the gusty wind. For lunch I stopped at Swope Park and ate the p, b, & j sandwich and chips I had made that ... read more

April 26--Entering Kansas

North America » United States » Kansas May 2nd 2011

OT41 Ap26 Lone Elm Park conestoga wagon

RamblingRosies

Cloudy and grey. We crossed into Kansas and after seeing the Lone Elm campground in Olathe, which was the first stopping point for most travelers, and headed to Gardner where the trails split. We continued following the Santa Fe Trail as the other two cut across land at an angle that did not parallel any roads. We gassed up at Baldwin. This community was the site of the battle of Black Jack which was between the free state and the slave state people and was widely reported in the newspapers which added fuel to the Civil War’s start. Drove until west of Topeka, KS where we stayed in the tiny town of Paxico at funky Mill Creek Campground, a private campground off Interstate 70. As you can see from the pictures, the walls of their out ... read more

OT43 Ap26 where the Santa Fe Trail left the others

OT44 Ap26 historical marker for Battle of Black Jack

April 27--Kansas

North America » United States » Kansas May 2nd 2011

OT51 Ap27 Oregon Trail silo mural at St. Mary's, Kansas

RamblingRosies

Paxico, KS partly cloudy, strong winds mileage 3954 left at 10:30 Drove across small country farm roads to pick up the Trails at St. Mary’s. Was the site of a Catholic Mission established by Jesuits in 1848 to convert the Potawatomi Indians and became a stopping point for the travelers on the Trails. It now has become both a college and a large Jesuit seminary. Definitely a Catholic town judging from all the statues of Mary in the yards of the residents. Unable to find the sites we had expected to find in the town, so we stopped to ask men who were loading food at a free food distribution center, where the monuments were. They insisted that we take some free food even though we said, “ no we didn’t need any”. They said ... read more

OT52 Ap27 Louis Vieux cemetery with cholera victims

OT54 Ap27 Conestoga wagon bronze at Scott Springs, Kansas

Chase State Fishing Lake - Kansas

North America » United States » Kansas May 1st 2011

The "Room"

The Visiting Wanderer

The gravel snapped and popped under the Jeep’s tires as we turned onto the lane that would take us to the lake. I knew that I had come here to photograph a well known waterfall but did not even know where to begin looking. The wind was getting stronger as it was funneled through the hills that bordered the lake. The gray stones lay like debris throughout the hillsides with the larger stone around the crest, like a crown on an ancient king’s brow. There were several jetties protruding into the lake where several men sat with their heads and hands pulled into their jackets. The morning was cool but the wind was bearing down on the lake with a chill of its own. The grass, finally green with spring, was lain nearly straight over. At ... read more

Living in Kansas

North America » United States » Kansas April 28th 2011

First trip

Samspurlock

I am ending my Junior year at college in Kansas. I can not believe it. My whole life I lived in California, Northern California to be specific (it is like two different worlds from North to South). I decided four years ago going into my senior year that I really wanted to explore a new state and attend college outside of California. I wanted a college town experience, something that is hard to find in California. I decided, the midwest is where I need to look. People always ask me...why did you choose to go to school in KANSAS from CALIFORNIA? Yeah Kansas may be flat and full of wheat fields, but the family atmosphere of a midwest town is something hard to find in this whole world. It was more than just good academics, good ... read more

Day Trip to Topeka, Kansas

North America » United States » Kansas » Topeka April 9th 2011

The Visiting Wanderer

The Topeka Zoo finds its home in Gage Park on the Northwestern side of Topeka. It is very easy to get to from Hwy. 40. It is a very clean park and the zoo is well kept and the landscaping is impressive once everything blooms out. The gorilla environment was well thought out and designed. The gorilla was sitting on the ground leaning against a small tree. As a few families gathered at the window and were pointing and whispering their observations, the gorilla casually glanced over at the window, the look in his eyes was unmistakable. I have seen that same look in my son’s eyes right before he does something he knows he’s not supposed to. No one even noticed his hand slowly coming towards his face until his finger was buried knuckle ... read more

The Midwest is HELL

North America » United States » Kansas » Topeka March 19th 2011

Illinois Gourmet Menu

Roadtrip Howie

Here's a description of driving through the U.S., heading west from Chicago: Farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, silo, silo, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, grain elevator, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, smokestack, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, Harley Davidson dealership, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, truckstop, farm, farm, farm, farm, billboard that reads: JESUS IS REAL!, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, Harley Davidson dealer, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, Casey's General Store, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, sign that reads: IF YOUR MOTHER CHOSE ABORTION YOU WOULDN'T BE HERE!, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, Harley Davidson dealer, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, farm, sign that reads: SEE THE ... read more

Brief history of United States

Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the origina...more history

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