The Traveling 3some - Day 6 - From Dodge City to Topeka, Kansas to Columbia, Missouri

October 12 - 485 miles - 31.1 mpg

We went to bed with a balmy 83 degrees outside. Norm lost the coin toss so he got to take Cricket on his morning "necessaries" run. We walked into 43 degrees coupled with a constant cold wind, for a wind chill factor low enough to freeze ear lobes.  Listening to the Weather Channel later, it seems that overnight some kind of front had moved in "from the north" - make that North Pole.

After another free savory breakfast (Norm's favorite kind), we hit the road about 9:20am. The strong wind coupled with the usual turbulence caused by oncoming big rigs on two lane roads precluded one handed driving. For sure. At one point, a large, heavy Chevy Suburban ahead of us was being visibly buffeted. We were going 70 mph and the oncoming rigs (often multiple ones bumper to bumper) approaching at the same speed had Pam comparing the rock'n'roll experience  to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland.  

For 20 years, until 1868, Fort Larned and its two companies of troops watched over the Sante Fe trail part way between the trail's end points, Independence Missouri and Sante Fe in what was then Mexico. The garisson were heavily involved in the turbulent Indian Wars - George Custer of "last stand" fame was at one time stationed there. The fort began in 1848 as nothing but mud and sod huts. Late in the day permanent stone structures were built as seen today. It is the best preserved fort from that period in America. Once the Indians were effectively suppressed and the railroad supplanted life on the trail, the fort was no longer needed and decommissioned. Sad tales of the clash between cultures abound in the history of the area.

Something evocative and haunting about these metal cutouts in the windswept open.

The bridge from the parking area, virtually devoid of cars, to the fort. 

In essence, natural terrain features protected the fort location on three sides.

From a distance, looks good enough to be trendy in-fill housing in Sacramento.

A first class exhibit area - very informative. Money well spent.

This horse was molded from clay - quite magnificent.

Peel me a grape, please:

Flat...Flat...Flat...no wonder Cricket is snoring:

Topeka! 

This was a must see. A full restoration was completed in 2014 to world class standards. The state capitol as a showpiece belies all that "corny in Kansas" stuff, much like the new Golden 1 arena helps put to rest Sacratomato jokes. Honest Abe strikes a pensive pose.

The inside of the dome: Fit for a cathedral.

The House of Representatives Hall: Perfection in wood, brass, stone, marble......

John Stewart Curry created this painting "Tragic Prelude" featuring abolitionist John Brown. We'll be visiting with John again at Harper's Ferry in another state.

Ike considered Abeline, Kansas his home town. He is buried there and the Eisenhower Presidential Library is in Abeline as well. Not on our list this trip, but to make up for it we may make time to visit a couple of Bush libraries as we pass thru Texas. Oh, the tingling anticipation!

Checked into our hotel in Columbia, Missouri about 7:45pm in the dark.

A hot spa at the end of a long day on the road - here is Pam, cooling off in the pool.

Ah, the spa.