Well this has been a very frustrating day. Started with terrible thunder storm. Had the radio on and the report was that it would last one hour. And it did, almost to the minute. Did review another chapter meanwhile. Left about 10:30.
We made our way to the Indian Mission School Museum in Kansas City KS. I saw a movie about these schools some time ago. I think it was about Jim Thorpe. So I was very interested. However, they are only open Wed-Sat. Of course this was not mentioned anywhere and we have 3 travel books. Jack said that maybe it was a recent budget cut that limited their hours. I think Kansas doesn't have its act together as well as other states we have been in. So just walked around and read the plaques. Beautiful grounds. This area of Kansas City KS is very much like Potomoc. Same types of houses, streets look the same, a little hilly. The whole works. Could almost see Val and her Button taking their daily walk down the street.
Came across Stroud's Restaurant which seemed very busy. In business since 1933. I had chicken fried steak for the first time that I can remember and Jack ordered pork chops which were also chicken fried much to his surprise. Good though and enough dressing with the chops for 4 people.
Then I decided I better call the Strawberry Hill Museum before we went there. Good thing I did because they are only opened on Sat and Sun. Too bad because the museum is about history of eastern European immigrants -Poles, Czechs, Hungarians, etc. I was sure I would find a little something for my mother. Oh well. Several abandoned grain elevators on the way out of town. Really looks sad. We drove right by the U of Kansas Medical Center too.
On to Fort Leavenworth. It is huge. They have beautiful statue to honor buffalo soldiers - the black infantry group. See picture. Statue is standing in what looks like a river. Gorgeous grounds with parks, fountains, lots of playgrounds and huge educational buildings that look pretty new. Some of the housing on the base reminded me of that movie with Robert Duval who was the strict father in the army. Several moving vans and lots of hustle bustle. They scan your driver's license at the main gate before letting you in. I guess we are not suspect. A big conference going on about military research. Got to the history of the calvary museaum at 3:40 and they close at 4:00. By the time we walked to the back to use the bathroom and worked our way forward, the gift shop was closed and the clerk we saw was gone. Kind of spooky. The museum is crammed with lots of stuff that would be interesting to see if there was more time. As we drove out of the parking lot the clerk was in her car and seemed to come out of nowhere and zoomed around us. She must have locked the door behind us and gone out the back. It was getting too late for us to hit downtown Leavenworth that is supposed to have all of these nice shops including one devoted to that Polish blue and white pottery we like. My mother loses again.
Headed about 50 miles west to Perry Lake. Huge corn and wheat farms. Surprised that it is still hilly in eastern Kansas but landscape is beautiful. The Kansas state road markers are bright yellow sun flowers. Cutesy. Then the directions to the camp at the dam at the lake were screwed up. It was a little after 5 and of course the visitor center was deserted. However, we did get settled and will spend 2 nights. Very nice and calming which we need today. The gray line in the distance is the dam in the picture. I can finish up the review of the book and Jack can do his work and has a conference call tomorrow.
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