Oct 22, 2012 - On the Road to Topeka, KS

Travel days are exciting for different reasons. You never know quite what to expect with weather, road or traffic conditions. Today was no exception. We prepared to leave Hannibal while a gentle, steady rain fell on us. Marilyn drove her car as we decided not to tow it today, partly because of the rain and partly because Marilyn was doing great at driving and following me in the RV. As we approached St Joseph, MO, Bob called on the radio to tell me that they needed to stop due to a warning light. Thankfully the rain had stopped by this time...

Oct 21, 2012 - October 21, 2012 – Topeka, Kansas

October 21, 2012 – Topeka, Kansas This morning I had breakfast with Sue at the IHOP. It was really busy. When it was the Village Inn, we could sit and visit without worrying that people were waiting for a table. That is definitely not true now that it is an IHOP. After breakfast, I went to Topeka to play tourist. The 1st stop was Truckhenge. This is located down a dead end road and was locked so I couldn’t get in, but I took a couple of pictures. It is a take-off on the Cadillac Ranch. I didn’t ask for a tour as I didn’t think I wanted to...

Oct 10, 2012 - Topeka KS Wal Mart Campground Part 1

Was another sunny day, but was a little windy. Going across Interstate 70, in Kansas, you will see several road signs and gates that says I-70 is closed. Not to worry as they use these signs for the winter snows in Kansas. I remember the very first time, many years ago, when I saw these signs, my first thought was what the heck was I gonna do. There are not to many direct roads that cross Kansas. I can say at each road sign, there were plenty of restaurants and motels. Those of this in RV's just stay in our own beds and maybe eat our own...

Oct 9, 2012 - On the way again

We were in Forest City until Oct 9. We stopped in Topeka, KS to visit with Loyal and Lou Ann Yarnell (the Yellowstone animal magnet photographer), whom we haven't seen since 2010. Loyal and Lou Ann took us out to dinner at Mr Stir-Fry, which was wonderful. We hadn’t been there before. We called it a short evening after our visit since we had gotten up at 5 AM to hit the road. It was great seeing them again. Minnesota and Iowa both had all the trees changing color, but Kansas is still very green and KS is just beginning the harvest whereas...

Sep 5, 2012 - On the Road to Topeka

Mike & Marian had a long drive today which dictated an early breakfast together. The restaurant next door opened at 6:00 and we were there right after the doors were opened. We shared a fine breakfast, conversation and lots of laughter before sharing hugs and heading in separate directions. We look forward to seeing these wonderful people again. Marilyn & I pulled out of the Campground at 7:16 AM and arrived at Deer Creek Valley RV Park at 12:14, giving us a nice steady drive of five hours. Once again, a slight tailwind helped us out and we...

Sep 1, 2012 - to Topeka KS; 16/228

120901-Sat-68305-Today we ended at 68834, started at 68305 miles, for total miles today of 529. KS was hot & we lost the trike cover. Luckily it was not raining. We bought a tarp at Wally World and wrapped it all up with rope. It should work until we get home and I can order another cover. The wind also blew so hard that the awning got wind behind it and we had to stop at a rest area and roll it down and then roll it back up and that seemed to take care of it. We stayed at Wally World, in their parking lot. No alarm needed.

Aug 28, 2012 - Heading West

Monday was more Braeden day. We all meet Trudy for lunch in Lebanon and then back to the room to pack up. We got up early the next morning and hit the road. We were some place in Missouri heading down the 70 with the cruise control set at 69 (speed limit is 70). We came upon a Sheriff's truck and the van in front of us hit his breaks closing the gap between him and us to about 3 - 4 car lenghts. Scott noticed that the Sheriff turned on his lights and got on the freeway. Wonder who he is after? The van? The white car that passed us? Oh, this...

May 29, 2012 - Topeka, Kansas - Just Passing Through - 310 miles

Tuesday, May 29, 2012 Good morning from Topeka, Kansas. We did the Memorial Day traffic from St. Louis; even though it was busy it was a pleasant enough trip – 309 miles bed room to bed room. Found out Monday morning George the RV camp owner in St. Louis wasn’t the pleasant old gentleman you could learn to like. He was grumpy with me when we were hooking up LUCY & TOAD near the exit to his campground. Told us at least 2 times, we should do our hooking up out on the street. RULES, RULES, RULES! Sorry George. I did all of the driving and...

May 29, 2012 - All Things Kansas

Our first stop today was at the Brown vs. Board of Education National Park site. This is probably the thing that Topeka is most famous for besides being the capital of Kansas! The site is actually the black school building where this challenge to the "separate but equal" concept in education was brought. The Supreme Court combined 5 similar cases under this one heading when they ruled that separate black and white schools were inherently unequal. This was one of many challenges to the concept of "separate but equal" that would be brought...

May 28, 2012 - Topeka, KS

The trip over to Topeka from St. Louis is less than a 5 hour drive. As you move across the state of Missouri, some of the cornfields are replaced with cattle grazing land. Missouri still has rolling hills and lots of green. Even as far as Topeka, you don't yet see the acres and acres of wheat fields that you would see if you traveled further west in Kansas. Interestingly, when settlers first arrived in the state they only used it as a passage to the west, but did not stop here. They believed that nothing would really grow here, since they...

May 23, 2012 - On the Road Again (Topeka, KS)

We were anxious to get going this morning so it was hard to sit there sipping coffee when it was already daylight outdoors. I kept telling myself that we are retired and there is no hurry. We had a five hour drive to Topeka and a stop for fuel and a sandwich at Cameron, Missouri added another half an hour to that time. We pulled in to Deer Creek Valley RV Park right at 1:00 PM and were all set up with left over Chinese food for lunch, by 1:45. The trip was uneventful. Just the way we like them! We did get a bit quiet as we passed the spot...

Apr 7, 2012 - Topeka, Kansas

Left Grand Island, Nebraska this morning & made our way into Kansas. Headed for Wamego, Kansas basically east of Kansas City. Brian's Dad was born in Wamego & immigrated to Canada with his Mom & Dad. Brian's great grandfather had donated some stained glass windows to a church in Wamego so we stopped at the church to view windows (which had been moved from the original church to the new church in 2010).We then found the original church where they had been moved from as well. Also did some cemetery scouting looking for gravesites of Brian's...