- Up early to try to view some prairie chickens — we tried but we don’t think we saw one although we did flush out a bird that looked kind of like a duck?? But no water in sight?? Is it a prairie chicken? Yes, we think so.
Sunrise
Sunrise 2
Glenda (splenda) in the grass.
Hags on Nags
- Next up – Tall Grass Prairie National Preserve with 3–really–stamps. The prairie (french word for meadow) used to cover 170 million acres of North America, today less than 4% remains. It is basically 3 types of grass rolling out over hills. Because of the drought here the grass didn’t reach its usual height potential so it was easier to hike through and see where we were going.
Schoolhouse on the prairie
prairie
prairie
Glenda as a junior ranger
- Still on our way to Overland Park, KS. Next stop Topeka for a visit to the Brown v. Board of Ed National Historic Site. We landed in Topeka but we were hungry!! Shout out to Papp for the Diners, Drive-ins and Dives book for directing us to Bobos Drive-in. Yummy. A vintage drive-in for the burgers and onion rings.
Bobos
Said our server
food art photo
At Monroe Elementary School now home of the Brown v Board of Ed National Historic Site
- We arrived in Overland Park, KS to the home of Glenda’s friends Bob and Nema and dog Cooper. They have a beautiful house and welcomed us, our bedraggled selves and overloaded car, warmly. Fabulous dinner on the patio in 80 degree Kansas October weather? We go to our separate but equal bedrooms. Ahhhh 🙂
Glenda, Nema, Sue
Cooper: Dog of the month at Pete and Mac’s Dog Hotel
Chocolates for dessert
Jersey Junction
Nothing really strong today–a mention or 2 in the Brown v. Board museum about Newark’s several African American Mayors since the civil rights movement. Nema and Bob have both been to NJ many times. Nema has decided that the Princeton U campus is the prettiest campus she has ever seen. Nema, a Texan who knows her way around a sweet potato pie, recalls over 20 years ago she bought the best sweet potato pie she has ever tasted from some guy in the Trenton train station. She still remembers it. So there!!
Theme of the Day: From the mountains, to the prairies….
Up next: Overland Park, KS
What fun we had with the gals from New Jersey! They walked in with the energy of two people just starting their journey. How is that possible after 38 days of driving and too many adventures to mention? After spending 2 days with them I can promise you they are not telling you everything. I’m thinking they are saving a few details for a book! LOVED having you with us in Kansas. Come back anytime.
What fun and excitement to boot!! Thanks Nema and Bob for a whole lot more laughs..We would like to think we are saving a lot up for our book and subsequent book tour but we can’t remember the important or funny bits. We will try to write it down on hunks of paper thrown around in the car for a future excavation and fun reveal. Hugs, G and S