Here's today's route (starting in Wichita not Arkansas City) First stop was Dodge City; we visited a tourist attraction named Boot Hill, which was kinda cheesy but did have some cool historical stuff Then a quick lunch in Old Town Then miles and miles of straight road west to the horizon Kansas has MANY wind farms Our next stop was Monument Rocks , which is about 15 miles off the nearest paved roads. We had to be careful to not hit any cows. Lots of cornfields, but surprisingly, right before the Rocks, was a huge sunflower field. I learned of this landmark a few years back while watching the PBS show Making North America . Bee in the "Eye of the Needle" The strata are very interesting. Layer upon layer of shells. A closeup Then more driving westward on I-70, flowing with traffic at 90MPH. Eventually we passed into Colorado. And had a GREAT sushi dinner in the Cherry Creek area o...
Heading west, across the Mississippi, the Ozarks, and into the Great Plains We spent the night in Fulton KY, which is right on the KY/TN border GREAT hotel! This opened last year, and it's beautiful and very comfortable. Compare the pic below with what it looked like last year ( google street view ) Across the street is the breakfast place, which is actually in TN (the state line runs down the middle of street). Reminded us of Blackwater Junction back home. I read the local newspaper over breakfast Upon checking out, I chatted with the hotel guy. He asked why we were in Fulton, and I told him it's the childhood home of a good friend. He asked the name, and I said Mark Pennell, upon which the guy said he knew Mark - they went to grade and Middle school together, and played trumpet together, and that Mark was really good. (His name is Chad). So I guess Mark really is from here! Here's Mark's childhood home in South Fulton, the TN si...