Nearby is what appears to have been a spring-fed water source.
Nearby is what appears to have been a spring-fed water source.
Oberlin, Kansas
I was tempted to stay at the rest area since it was so nice, but the state park I had in mind was only a couple miles away. So we went to check it out.
From what I understood about it was it had several spots where electrical hookups were to be had at $10 a night on the honor system - drop a donation in a box thing. Elsewhere were many spots to dry camp.
Claire was having us take a dirt road that had been gated off with a flimsy metal gate. I can never really trust her directions so we continued on a little ways and came across a couple of these signs.
We must be on the right track Beans.
Colby, Kansas
Three dollars again for a load but at least this time I got hot water and a timer.
Twenty-seven minutes later, the moment of truth. I pulled out those t-shirts and was amazed. The dirt marks were gone, even on the blue t-shirt. All my sheets and pillow cases were brighter than I could ever recall. It is so nice to buy and use a product that exactly does what it is advertised in doing.
The dryers were twenty-five cents for four minutes, a minute less than Rip-Off laundry but I didn’t care. I was still reveling in my whiter than white laundry.
I bought an extra packet to take with me for next time.
Colby, Kansas
Colby had one of the roadside oddities I like to search out. This one was of Jesus standing in a wheat field. Now I don’t know the significance of this or the meaning behind it if there is one. I can tell you that Tuffy and Linda Kay Taylor made it and pay for the electricity to have it illuminated at night. So Colby’s daytime attraction becomes a nighttime distraction to motorists passing by on Interstate 70.
Oakley, Kansas
We spent the night behind the Buffalo Slaughter Cultural Center by the edge of a barren cornfield being treated to an impressive lightening display just before dark. Less than a mile away was the Fick Museum. We went over there to visit it in the late morning.
Oakley, Kansas
Oakley lays claim as to the “Birthplace of the Legend” which implies Bill Cody was born here. Nope. He was born in Le Claire, Iowa. The “Birthplace of the Legend” comes from an eight-hour buffalo shooting completion nearby with another supplier of buffalo meat for the railroad by the name of Bill Comstock. This took place in 1868. Cody killed 68 animals to Comstock’s 48 and so claimed the nickname “Buffalo Bill”.
Well maybe Annie Oakley was born here for there is the Annie Oakley Park, Annie Oakley Motel and so on. Nope again. The town isn’t even named after Annie. It takes its name from one of the middle names of the town’s founder’s mother. Annie probably never came anywhere near Oakley, Kansas. Nevertheless the town of Oakley is capitalizing on the names of the two American folk heroes.
Inside was the usual collection of tourist trinkets to purchase plus a big stuffed buffalo.
On our way out from Lake Scott Park we passed by the sandstone home of Herbert and Eliza Steele the first homesteaders to this part of western Kansas in 1888.
Comment Response
Thank you ‘K’ for the tip on using OxiClean on my whites. I had forgotten about that stuff. I will get some if I can find a small amount. Also, I don’t have room for a five-gallon bucket or other hand-operated washing contraption ‘E’, besides...that sounds like too much work to me. Thanks anyway.