Ok, ok… we missed yesterday but only because our campsite didn’t have wireless. However, it was a great day. Barb & family took us in the morning to the Konza Prairie and a friend of hers gave us a great tour. It’s a 8,600 acre “virgin” prairie used as a research facility by Kansas State. Among interesting things they’re finding out is prairie grasses respire(?) more carbon dioxide by an unbelievable amount (that’s my scientific term) than all of the traffic on I70. We also saw bison. More info than that and you’ll need to look it up on the internet.
After sandwiches back at the house, the kids gave Tillie a push down the driveway and we were off and running. First stop, Cawker City, KS to see the world’s biggest ball of twine. There is still time to participate in the “twine-a-thon” the first weekend in August if you’re interested…
Then on to Lebanon, KS, the geographic center of the US. Other that a marker, there’s not a lot more going on in Lebanon. From there we went on to Nebraska. Why? So we could add Nebraska to our state map on the van of course.
We camped at the Prairie Dog State Park campground in KS and saw….???? The answer, in case you really need to know, will be available at Thanksgiving.

Today on to Colorado!!!! HOT, HOT, WINDY, WINDY, FLAT, FLAT!! We did this trip in a Saab 35 years ago. Perhaps it’s not necessary to do the trip through western Kansas and eastern Colorado too often.
Finally we reach Denver. We call Sarah, Sarah calls us. We’re all excited. Plans are made to rendezvous at the Legion. Simple directions, I70 into Denver and then… there’s an accident ahead of us. The temp is 95. We’re going up a hill. The VW has an air cooled engine. Traffic is almost not moving. And now we’re not moving at all. AAA to the rescue! The last 50 miles to Sarah & Kenny’s we got the royal treatment.

Tillie loaded onto the back of the tow truck with a wonderful view. The three of us squeezed into the cab of the truck (it was air conditioned! And the guy didn’t make one of us find another way to get there – he was fine with Mary sitting on John’s lap). So now Tillie is nestled into S&K’s barn awaiting some tender loving care by Rob & Chuck.