Kansas to Kansas

October 10, 2011

After spending the night in a Wal-Mart parking lot in Wichita, KS we were up and going about 7:30 or so.  We charged down route 15 To Udall, Ks and stopped for a few minutes to say hi to Wilma’s brother.  It didn’t look like anyone was at the house, so we continued on to the office. Just as we decided no one was there either, he opened the door. We parked real quick and hopped out. To say he was surprised would be a bit of an understatement.  Seems he and Wilma haven’t seen each other for about 10 years.   He was expecting a customer to come by and had to take a second look to recognize Wilma.  They were glad to see each other.  It was a really quick visit, but anything is better than nothing.  We were off and running again shortly.

Wilma and Betty fixed breakfast and we ate in a city park in Douglass, Ks on route 77.  After a breakfast of pancakes, eggs and turkey sausage, we continued up route 77 to Augusta then East on routes 400 and 39 to Fort Scott, KS.  Fort Scott’s claim to fame is Fort Scott which was built in 1842 as a military garrison on the “permanent Indian frontier”, near the origins of the Oregon and Santa Fe trails.

Like Fort Larned, to the west of it, Fort Scott did not have a fortified compound, but consisted of a number of buildings arranged to face on an open, rectangular parade ground.   The fort was abandoned in 1853 and sold off to civilian interests in the area.  It was reactivated for military use during the Civil War.  Fort Scott has been restored by the National Park Service and is a fascinating place.  Needless to say the Visitor’s Center has a couple of Cancellation Stamps that were properly added to our National Parks Books before we left the fort to look for a place to spend the night. 

Enlisted men's sleeping quarters

Here's the kitchen / bakery

It must be the officer's quarters! Not bad.

We found Gunn Park, in the town of Fort Scott, a few miles from the old fort and now are set up in the park for the night.  It is really a tough life.  We must have driven a torturous 170 miles or so today.

More from the Bedrock bunch tomorrow.  Good night all.