Summer Sights - Kansas/California/Colorado - #1

Our "Besties" came for another wonderful visit. Our original plan was to visit some sights in Western Kansas and then go to Breckenridge, CO for a few days, but that plan was changed when we received the shocking, sad news of the passing of a dear friend in California. We did the Western Kansas visits then flew from Denver to LA and back to Denver.

So here are glimpses of our Kansas sights. We visited Fort Larned National Historic Site out in Larned, KS. We've been here before, but knew Larry and Elaine would enjoy it. It's a very interesting piece of Civil War history and the migration to the West.

Looks like Larry didn't get the note that it was "White Tee Shirt Day"!

Yolks for oxen. Reminds me of the scripture where Jesus says in Matthew 11:30 - "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." NONE of our burdens are too heavy for him to carry!

The stockade - must have been a really rather brutal place.

Ball and chain with ankle lock!

Outdoor torture chamber! I should have stood inside for size perspective. I barely fit! And to think they would actually put a prisoner in here on a day like this - it was 107 degrees! Inhumane!

General store

More provisions: salted beef tongue, salt cod, four, malt, ground cinnamon, salt pork. Sounds like you could get most anything as long as it was salted - the method of preservation!

Officer Quarters

Enlisted Quarters - double bed bunkbeds!

The Bobsey Twins! Really now, Elaine and I did NOT plan to dress alike! It was laughable when we realized it. I guess good friends do things like that without even knowing it. :)

The Pawnee River - TRULY! Water is SUPPOSED to be flowing where the tall grass stood. More evidence of the drought. So very SAD!

107 degrees at 2:05 pm, and it only gets HOTTER as the day goes on!

Lunch stop. Do we (I) look like the heat has the upper hand????

After lunch we drove to St. Fidelis Catholic Church in Victoria, KS. Stained glass windows are magnificent!

This is the fourth church built by the local population. It was begun in 1908, completed in 1911, and restoration begun in 1994. It is a masterful creation with a rich history, and has been named one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas. It's a sacred place that is well worth a visit!

Crosses of every type adorn the nearby cemetery.

Next stop - Nicodemus, KS - the first western town built by and for black settlers.