We traveled on a pretty windy day – tornado warnings were heading east while we drove west from NE Oklahoma – and we landed at Butler State Fishing Lake near the small community of Latham, KS. It was an amazingly clean area with a vault toilet, lots of camping spots down by the water. We found a spot where we were surrounded on three sides and quite a distance from the road.
Our first full day their we met the local Sheriff Captain who checked on the place. He told us about the area and that this time of year (March) we probably wouldn’t see too many people. He was very nice and very helpful.
THE BEST VAN LIFE DAY EVER!
My back goes out occasionally and it is PAINFUL! I get to where I can’t stand, walk or lie down, but sitting? No way. When we drive for hours at a time and I can’t sit for more than 10 minutes, oy! Desperate for relief I called a few chiropractors in Augusta, KS, the nearest town of any size, and was referred to Dr. Guy. I think I own this man the best review any chiropractor has ever had. In addition to my back, I was certain I was headed for a hip replacement and my left quad was atrophying at an alarming rate. Dr Guy beat me up a bit (kidding) but he actually fixed my hip, I’m almost pain free and have surprising range of motion again, my back is doing great, and he realigned my pelvis, which was also a mess. I feel like a new person!
Also on our agenda that day were finally getting kayaks! We have stayed on some beautiful bodies of water and were convinced that kayaks would add to our lifestyle. We traveled into nearby Wichita to an Academy Sports and got not only kayaks, but bikes as well! Mine is a pink cruiser with a wicker basket and a ching-ching bell, and Calvin found one that actually fit his 6’5” frame.
We stayed at Butler Fishing Lake several more days, cycling the gravel roads with the dogs and kayaking every chance we got.
Traveling across Kansas, which is beautiful in March as the grass turns green, we headed into the sun and a spectacular sunset to camp at Hain State Fishing Lake near historic Dodge City. It had rained earlier in the day and I promptly got the Jeep stuck in the mud. In the dark. Fortunately Calvin is an excellent off-roader and managed to get it unstuck – we make a good team that way – and we found a dryer place to park for the night. I must say, this is exactly how a Jeep should be dressed – kayaks on the roof, bikes in back, and mud everywhere!
We did a quick tour of Dodge City the next day, stopped to wash the mud off Libby, and moved Moose to a rest area as more heavy rains were in the forecast and we didn’t want a sticky repeat of our earlier challenge. You would think that parking next to idling trucks all night would disrupt one’s sleep, but earplugs, rain on a metal roof and the low rumble of engines were just what we needed for a terrific nights sleep.
We headed to the Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City and explored this well done fracility with a brand new exhibit and were totally impressed. We had a great time and spent several hours there before heading west to Colorado.
A final message from Tigg, who decided to sit on my keyboard: Uijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuijkuij ogl;p