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| Dakota is getting bored as it continues to rain outside. Since we left Missouri the rain has been our constant companion. The low hard freeze temperatures are very early and quite unexpected. We are, nevertheless, not getting the worst of it. Central Kansas has higher tempts but massive flooding and no end in sight of the rain. |
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| What is it and what is the problem? This is the control panel in the microwave. Some short in the wiring caused the fuse to burn out which we replaced. Then it worked for awhile before shorting out again. We have decided that unplugging it and going "old school" before microwaves is the safest thing to do. We have been in contact with Keystone for them to decide if this is a manufacturer's defect. When we saw sparks fly just by opening the door (nothing was running) we did not want to run the risk of a fire (bad thing in an RV). |
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| What is it and what is in it? Due to the aforementioned cold weather, it became apparent that using the heat pump was not going to cut it. When we set the thermostat for furnace the blower would come on, run for about 30 seconds and turn off. No heat and did not hear the pilot light kick on. Bob (poor Bob, thank you, Hon) had to go outside to disassemble the furnace. This is a mud-dauber wasp nest inside our furnace. Pesky little buggers. A couple dormant, half-frozen wasps inside gave him no problems when they were summarily dislodged and removed. Did this solve our heat issues? Uh, no. Still no heat. The manufacturers really want to discourage owners from doing their own repairs so he couldn't get inside the furnace. The cold air return was essentially clean, a couple clumps and dust. Repair technician managed to get into it and found a small clump of dog hairs blocking a metal tab(sail switch) from making contact which completed the circuit for the pilot light ignition. Problem solved. |
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| Approaching the Monument Rocks. It's such an odd sight (site). We were driving for about 50 minutes with nothing but Kansas prairie in sight, turning off the main 2-lane highway on to the muddy dirt road between one field of seriously overripe corn and sorghum plants. Rounding the corner and passing a few low mounds of graze land the view become dominated by this massive ancient chalk monoliths. The chalk was deposited curing the Cretaceous period when the central interior of the U.S. was covered with a sea, about 80 million years ago. Today the chalk beds give up fossils of fish, turtles, sharks, swimming reptiles and invertebrates like giant clams. |
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| Finally some lovely Kansas blue skies. Standard admonishments of NO littering, camping, climbing, fossil hunting and my personal favorite, NO honking at the cattle. They get agitated and neither they nor the ranchers think it's funny. |
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| A classic view looking through the "window" towards the southeastern group of monoliths. Bob is just under 6 feet tall so this give a good perspective of the height. |
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| And this gives you a different perspective. We were very glad to have our truck for this trip. We were following a converted van with a raised roof that was sliding all over the muddy road. They finally gave up and let us pass so they could turn around. Other than collecting a lot of the local mud we had a very easy drive. |
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| From the other group looking back at first group. |
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| Does this count as climbing on the rocks, a forbidden activity? Tori and Dakota agreed when I said I didn't think so. |
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| The window. |
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| Bob liked this one. |
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| The erosion in the slate creates interesting patterns. |
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| Bob loves to use the panoramic option of his phone. |
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| Sunrise with beautiful color and clouds. If any one is interested, I did not see this myself. I don't do sunrises. They happen too early in the morning when I prefer to be sleeping. I am a sunset person. |
Dodge City, Kansas - Thursday, 11 October 2018
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| A very good depiction of how the town of Dodge City made it's mark. Cowboys. |
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| Another good depiction of Dodge City. Boot Hill is the name of the cemetery to the left and up the hill where the gamblers, "fallen doves", gunfighters, horse thieves and other unfavorable townsfolk were interred after their untimely demise. The only problem with this information is the unofficial nature of how it was established. People with money were buried outside of town, at nearby Fort Dodge. It wasn't until the first victim without money or friends was killed and lay in the street that townsfolk knew they had a problem. The hill behind the main street was an ideal burial spot. |
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| Bob has the winning hand but it looks like "Doc" Holiday is going to dispute that as he is reaching for is gun. Careful, Bob! Gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em. |
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| Outside the Visitor's Center is this scale statue of Marshal Matt Dillon (Gunsmoke). At 6 feet, 7 seven inches tall, James Arness always got his man. BOB! Are you trying to steal the Marshal's gun? |
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| Anheuser Busch began brewing in St. Louis in 1852, was the first brewer to use pasteurization and refrigeration, so I suppose it's possible Dodge City patrons could have imbibed at the dozens of saloons in town. |
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| If there was too much consumption of intoxicants the Fort Dodge Jail began accepting patrons in 1865. Prior to that date, drunks were lowered into a dry well to "sleep it off". When they were able to climb out of the well, their debt to society was considered paid in full. (I can't say if that is accurate but it is what I read in the museum.) |
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| One of the two cells inside the jail. Cold in the winter, hot in the summer. "Mind your Ps & Qs, gentlemen." (An old saying meaning keep your attention on your own pints and quarts.) |
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| Allegedly, many of those poor folks buried here died with their boots on, hence, Boot Hill Cemetery. |
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| On top of the hill. |
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| One whole room completely devoted to the TV show "Gunsmoke". |
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| I have a drying rack that looks very much like this one. What's old is new again. |
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| Darn, heading for the Long Branch Saloon and I forgot to put my boots on. |
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| Most of the store fronts have been recreated as the town's main street burned several time and was relocated here on Boot Hill. |
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| Bob took to the stage in the Long Branch only after getting Miss Kitty's approval. Obviously, men don't typically have a dance routine. And if you have ever been around when there was dancing going on, you will also know that Bob doesn't either. Sorry. |
Prime on the Nine Restaurant, Dodge City, Kansas - Saturday, 13 October 2018
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| When in Dodge City, a steak dinner is practically mandatory. In our case, an early dinner to avoid the crowds. Bob had the 14 ounce Dodge City Strip steak while I ordered the 10 ounce Sirloin steak, cooked to perfection. So excited to try them we forgot to take any pictures. The double chocolate brownie sundae was just enough to fill up the corners for Bob while I had the cheesecake with seasonal fruit compote. |
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