Big Trip flip today, but it worked out

Here is what we originally planned to do today,

We thought we would run down to Council Grove, Ks to the Kaw mission- turns out it was closed today.  Then, we thought Cottonwood Falls, for the courthouse... not open today.  Then, Wichita, for a baseball and pin visit to the Wichita Wingnuts.  They never returned my calls, and their website said that the stadium was under construction, and their first home game wasn't for 2 weeks, so we blew it off.

Here's what we wound up with today, a very much extended trip, all in over 100 degree weather today!

We made a first stop as planned at Tallgrass National Preserve, in Strong City, Ks.  Problem was the darn GPS took us the long way, resulting in a 40 mile detour, plus a 52 mile double back.  

From there, we tried for two other Santa Fe Trail locations, but both of them were closed.  Rats.

So, we decided to head on over to Ft Larned NHS, which we had originally planned to do tomorrow, and get that knocked out, so we did. 

Then, we dragged into Hays Kansas, to Camp Wal Mart.....  all this today in over 100 degree temperatures, on the 9th of May! 

Here's another view of the typical view out our front window for most of the day, long, straight roads, with speed limits of 65. 

We were forced by the GPS to go the long way over to Strong City Kansas, home to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.  This is actually was a working ranch, and has been maintained to show the spirit of the life in the late 1800's- early 1900's in Kansas.  Originally there were several million acres of beautiful grasslands, now not so much remains.. 

 This is the barn that served the ranch during the day.

Here's the motor home parked in the lot, and you get an idea of the plains and grassland around from the shots below.

Tallgrass is the 117th unit I've visited.... They didn't have any pins here!

Next, we made it over to Ft Larned NHS, which was a stop over for travellers on the Santa Fe Trail.  This was a very well done rehab of an old timey western fort. 

The had set up the Barracks just like it might have looked back in the day- and had a small museum that had many interesting artifacts.  I did get a pin and a couple of postcards.  This is my 118th unit to visit. 

Tomorrow, we'll head down I-70 for a bit, stop at a rest stop, then unhook and run about 40 miles up the road to Nicodemous NHS, which is off the beaten track a bit, but one I wanted to be sure to visit.  Then, we'll head on over to Colby Kansas, for a boondock at Wal Mart, and also so we can stop back in at a Pilot Service Station to trade out our new Rand McNally GPS, which is not functioning.  Seems it has a bad antenna in it, according to their help desk.  Just hope we won't have any problem with the return and exchange. 

After that, we head on over to Colorado.