For it being the 4th of July the temporary workers staying at the fairgrounds with us didn't stay up too late with their roman candle war, but it was kind of fun to be stowed away in our camper looking out the window at the fellas in the field. We could also see fireworks going off here and there in every direction since we have 360 degree views out in our fairground field.
Leaving Dighton we got our first rains. Taylor rode in them for a while, but it became apparent that it really wasn't very safe as more trucks got on the roads and water was pooling, so there was a lot of spray. I probably felt more unsafe for him than he felt for himself. I got him in the van outside of La Crosse, Kansas and said, "I wanted to drive 4 miles up to LaCrosse anyway, so just come along with me and let's see if the rain passes."
Yes!
We learned a great deal at the barbed wire museum and the post rock historical site. The invention of barbed wire changed the plains, as "free range" passed and ranchers enclosed their land and kept their animals fenced in.
There's a nest made of barbed wire. The birds had to get creative during dust bowl days when there simply was not other material to build a nest.
We also learned about how the settlers made fence posts without readily available wood. They would drill down into the ground, pour water into their bore holes and when the ground froze they were able to release a section of limestone to use as a post for their fence. Once we learned about these we saw these limestone posts throughout this area of Kansas.
Did you know that there are thousands of variations in barbed wire and there are thousands of patents on the various styles? Barbed wire also had a huge impact on war.
Museum viewed - check. Skies cleared for now - check. Time to get back on the bike.
As we neared Larned, while Taylor was still biking I got to catch the last half hour of Fort Larned Historical Site being open.
This was a fantastic museum because it was so informative and well preserved. I loved how personalized it was.
Every room was well furnished from the time and had a description like this of who did or who might have lived there. Sometimes an explanation would ask, "Do you notice a feminine touch to this room? This Captain's wife and baby daughter lived here with him." -- or something similar.
The "clinic"
The hospital rooms were interesting to me. I kind of doubt that they looked this clean!
The detail was cool...down to hang-tags on the beds with soldiers' names and diagnosis.
Ha! Stomach Bitters from Pittsburgh!
Taylor met up with me here, but it was closing time. He kept biking into town for us to end up in Larned for the night. Let's hope there's a campground...
Leaving the historical site...
I beat Taylor to Larned so I drove to check out where the listed campground was. The storms started kicking up again. I am pretty cautious about where I drive with the camper, so I parked and thought I would just quick jog up the 300 foot hill to look over the crest into where the campground was supposed to be. I wasn't going to drive up where I couldn't see on a gravel road and get stuck in some muddy, rutted road...but when I jogged to the top I still couldn't see what the campground would be like and when I turned to look at the sky it looked ominous, so I ran like mad back to where I parked the van and camper at a vet's office! Yipes!
Rodeway Inn had water and electric sites at its Rode Home RV "park" - works for us!
Finishing off the day with a little mexican fiesta :)