Day 7 - Salina, KS

We started the day looking for an adventure in an area where we didn't expect to find one. We were so wrong!

The route:
We started in Topeka and ended up in Salina.  It's a distance of 112 miles as the crow flies (all on I-70W). Our 233 mile journey, however, went east on I-70, south on I-470 to I-335, southwest on I-335 to Cassoday, north on KS-177 to I-70, then west on I-70 to Salina.

Observations:
The weather continues to be pleasant.  The temperature has been sneaking up over the past few days.  We hit 87°F by 5pm.  There was a steady wind from the south.  We got tossed around a bit when big rigs passed.

The plains emerged as we traveled down I-335/I-35 (Kansas Turnpike).

The trees are starting to disappear

There's lots of grazing land here

The Flint Hills appeared.  This is an area named for abundant residual flint (or chert) eroded from the bedrock that lays near or at the surface.

Yes, there are cowboys here

We found it interesting that cattle are brought here to graze from as far away as Texas.

We left the turnpike's divided highway at Cassoday and headed north to follow the National Geographic Flint Hills scenic drive.

KS-177 is a good, two lane road
There was very little traffic

Cottonwood trees are abundant near streams

We stopped at a scenic overlook.  The views seem to stretch forever.

There are lots of wildflowers on the plains

Tallgrass has many adversaries
Less than 4% of the original acreage remains

The Chase County Courthouse in Cottonwood Falls is the state's oldest courthouse still in use.

Main Street in Cottonwood Falls
(You don't speed here, the pavers are very uneven)

We stopped at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.  There was a NPS ranger on site, but all of the exhibits are self-guided.

The visitor center is modern and well maintained

The Preserve was established from the 10,891 acre ranch built by cattle baron S. F. Jones in 1881.  It was known as the Z-Bar/Spring Hill Ranch.

The ranch house was built for $25,000

Carol takes us on a tour

This had been the 2nd floor office

1st floor parlor #1

1st floor parlor #2

solid walnut staircase

curing house

inside the curing house

outhouse

Any questions here?

The limestone barn cost $15,000 in 1882.  It housed livestock, equipment and enough hay and grain to feed the animals in winter.  5,000 pounds of tin covered the roof.

barn

Lower Fox Creek School
1/2 mile north of the ranch house

Council Grove offered the final highlights of the trip.  It's a busy town with lots of history.  

The Santa Fe Trail went through the town

Farmers and Drovers Bank

We had a late lunch/early dinner at the Hays House Restaurant.  The entrees were very good.  We shared a piece of homemade peach pie.  It was out of this world!

The oldest, continuously-operating
restaurant west of the Mississippi River.
Seth Hayes (Daniel Boone's grandson)
opened the restaurant in 1857.

Post Office Oak
Travelers left messages in a cache at the foot
of the tree to inform others of trail conditions.
The tree died in 1990.

The Council Oak is the site of an important treaty with the Chiefs of the Great and Little Osage tribes.  The tree was destroyed in a 1958 windstorm.

The story

Campground:
We stopped at the KOA of Salina.  It's convenient from I-70 and very nice.

Site #44

Tomorrow:
We're planning to visit Stu Horowitz (Carol's brother-in-law) when we get to Denver.  We want to arrive there by mid-day on Wednesday.  Tomorrow will be a long day of driving.