Heading East Again

As all good things must eventually come to an end, we bid a fond adieu to Moab and started our journey towards home. The first stop was near Gunnison, Colorado in the Curecanti National Recreation Area where we expected to spend a few days, maybe as much as a week, exploring the 4x4 roads of that area.

While we were setting up camp this cute little critter was busily occupied right next to the RV without the slightest concern for our activities.

After temperatures in the low to mid-80's in Moab, it was quite a shock to awaken to this scene the next morning.

We found it to be very early in the "spring' season here. The dirt mountain roads in CO are gated keeping the more adventurous of us at bay. In addition the wind blew and it was just plain cold and too miserably windy to be outside for even a few short minutes.

Magpies were in abundance and didn't seem to mind the weather. Because we did mind, greatly, we made the decision to start for home the next day.

Parts of Kansas have the most interesting post rocks. On the outskirts of Dodge City is an example of the dugouts that were built by the settlers. This one is is surrounded by the stone fenceposts or "post rocks". Central Kansas had no trees which made building a challenge. Settlers did find layers of limestone just below the surface. The layers were 8-12" thick which was just the right size for making "bricks" and fenceposts. Holes in a line were drilled using wedges and stone hammers. When the holes were drilled the blocks were pried lkoose with pinch bars. Blocks were cut for shaping the walls inside the dugouts and longer pieces were measured and cut to use for fenceposts. The limestone was quite soft and chalky, making it easy to form. When exposed to the air the edges cured quickly. Post rocks lasted for 60 years and more making it well worth their effort.

On each end of Dodge city is this silhouette identifying the town.

Boot Hill is just one of the claims to fame used to draw to tourists. Unfortunately the original cemetery is long gone. Behind the fence are many old commercial buildings strung together for visitors to view.

Our next stop was at Brown Fishing Lake in eastern Kansas. We had the place to ourselves that night and in the morning found that we had been sharing it with all kinds of critters and birds. These geese were headed for their a.m. swim.

The muskrat made numerous trips past collecting greens.

After filling its belly the egret took off perhaps to hunt elsewhere.

The lake has 6-8 of these lovely peninsulas with picnic tables and fire rings. We back the camper out onto one and are surrounded by water on three sides - lovely. And best of all, they are provided by the state of Kansas free of charge. Each county has at least one fishing lake.

A heart attack in styrofoam! The gal who collected our money at our campground in Illinois told us of a regional meal we decided we had to try. The regular size meal is called a horseshoe while the lo-calorie (?) size is a ponyshoe. It begins with a slice of bread which is covered with a hamburger (2 on the horseshoe) then a pile of french fries. Then nacho cheese is ladled over the whole thing. There are variations. Vic's horseshoe is on the right and my chili ponyshoe is on the left. I have one burger with fries then a ladle of chili under the nacho cheese. It can also have ham , fried chicken or another choice or two.

Apparently this is a big thing in central IL and is virtually unknown in the southern and northern portions of the state. Good thing we don't live there. It was quite good - probably a good thing for health's sake to eat only once in a lifetime.

Our final night on the road was spent in southwestern PA where the white dogwoods were in full bloom!

And now, HOME SWEET HOME!