Yesterday we had five states to go on our list of thirteen. Now, after today's drive of 400 miles, we have ticked off three more - Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
We were both very sad to leave Omaha and vowed, as we have done so often in the past with places we have really enjoyed, to come back again. With Bob and Thelma staying in Wichita, Kansas last night, we were some 400 miles behind them and so we had a long day's drive to catch up with them at our overnight stop of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
We left our hotel at just after 8am and headed south, towards the Missouri border with Iowa. We reached the border after a drive of about 100 miles on the I-29.
Shortly after, we turned off the freeway into the town of St. Joseph, Missouri, which is famous for being the home of Jesse James, the outlaw. He was killed in his house by two bounty hunters.
As we drove into the town, we stopped first at the place where the Pony Express was founded in 1860.
We were amazed to learn that the Pony Express reached Sacramento, 2,000 miles away, in ten days!! The riders were often young orphans who were less than 110lbs in weight. Unfortunately for the backers of the Pony Express, the railways came along two years later and the venture went bust.
Close to the Pony Express plaque was this magnificent steam engine from the 1950s. It weighed over 280 tons and cost nearly $100,000 to build.
We then drove the short distance to Jesse James's house. We were told the story of James by the museum guide, Earl Carter. He agreed to have his photo taken alongside the display case showing Jesse James after he had been shot.
The small house that Jesse James lived in.
The display case showing a picture of Jesse after he was killed.
Earl Carter, the museum guide.
We left St. Joseph and drove across into Kansas. I'm in the doghouse with my wife because, as we crossed the bridge at the border, I failed to slow down sufficiently for her to take a photo of the Kansas welcome sign! I agreed we would stop as we left Kansas, so she could take a photo of the sign for those entering the state from Oklahoma.
The bridge crossing the river at the state border between Missouri and Kansas.
Once we were in Kansas, we decided to stop in the state capital, Topeka. First, we looked at the renovated Topeka Union Pacific Overland Station.
In front of the station is a war memorial flanked by the flags of the 50 states.
We then went on to the Capitol building. Whilst we were taking photos there, we saw this delightful red squirrel, a rarity in the British Isles.
Wendy pointed out to me the Indian with his bow and arrow on the very top of the Capitol. I've never seen such an unusual statue at the top of a building!
Our drive then went south for another 180 miles and, on the way, we pulled off the road at a slipway down to a lake and had a picnic. We watched the fishing boats being hauled out of the water and towed away.
Just before we reached the border, we stopped to visit the Little House on the Prairie. This was a reconstructed log cabin showing the place where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived when she was a young girl. Ingalls Wilder was the author of children's books.
We then crossed into Oklahoma and this time I stopped the car, so that Wendy could take photos of both the Oklahoma and Kansas signs. Hopefully I am back in her good books!
Saying hello to Oklahoma and....
....goodbye to Kansas
We reached our hotel in Bartlesville at about 5.30pm. It had been a long day but a very enjoyable one, apart from the telling-off about the photograph of the state border welcome sign by Wendy!
Bob and Thelma had already checked into the hotel and they told us of an incredible chance meeting with two of our good friends from our HERO rallies, Tom and Rosalie Gatsonides. They met up with them on a back road south of Wichita, whilst Tom and Rosalie were taking part in a rally from New York to Alaska. Here is the photo to prove that Bob wasn't telling a very tall story!
Bob and I are trying to work out the make of their car, which is behind them in the photo above. Can anyone enlighten me?
The day ended with us driving into the centre of Bartlesville to see the Frank Lloyd Wright 19-storey skyscraper from the early 1950s. It was the only skyscraper he designed. Having seen it, I am glad he didn't design any more!
No idea on the car - European and 1930s I would say . I thought a lagonda but there is not enough grille to be sure...
ReplyDeleteTrip seems to be going very well. Only 2 to do eh? Regards to all from Glasgow where it is pretty cold and has been very wet
Kaiser would have loved to have taken care of that squirrel for you...
ReplyDelete