Home again * Day Twenty-five 09-12-08

We stopped to read the information board which is between Montezuma and Ensign. There are 170 towers that cover nearly 20 sq miles and is the first to be built in Kansas. Each tower is 207' high and weighs 147,000 lbs.

Papa Ken helped build these wind towers seven years ago. Each turbine consists of 3-blades, 77' each, 154' in diameter and each blade weighing 3,300 lbs.

We stopped in Greensburg to view what was left of the city after the terrible massive EF5 tornado on May 4, 2007 that was nearly 2 miles wide. The city was 95% destroyed, but they are rebuilding and life will go on.

The tornado destroyed the Big Well Museum & Gift shop and the water tower. A new water tower has been constructed and plans are for a new museum/gift shop. Notice the bent flag pole.

This has been constructed since the tornado.

This is the World's Largest Hand-Dug Well which was built in the 1880s. The Santa Fe and Rock Island Railroads were laying tracks across the plains of Kansas and needed a reliable water source. The cost was about $45,000 which was a hugh sum of money in those days. The well served as a source of water for the city until 1932. In 1888 the well was completed and it is 109' deep and 32' in diameter.

Since the tornado no one is permitted to walk down the steps to the bottom of the Big Well, but plans are to open it again soon.

This is the big Gem Stone Rock between Cedar Vale and Sedan. It was found in the ground when the new 169 highway was built. It was stood up and half is buried in the ground.

WE ARE HOME! We drove 408 miles today making a total of 5,425 miles by car plus the 4,100 traveled on our Alaska/Yukon trip making a grand total of 9,525 through 15 states, British Columbia and Yukon Territory in Canada. This is the most I have traveled on any trip. I will be spending some time on the farm before I go back to Lawrence next month to live with Awin again. I must go help him plan for his wedding next July. Wonder what else is in store for me.

Emily jumped into the car as soon as the door was opened. She was so happy to see me.

I hope you have enjoyed my trip and perhaps learned a few things about our wonderful world that we live in.

Continental Divide * Day Twenty-four 09-11-08

We spent the night with Georgi and Pat.

We saw deer out the window as we ate breakfast. There were four in all.

Beautiful hot air balloon and San Juan Mountains as seen from their driveway.

I am standing on the Continental Divide.

This shows the continental divide line.

Explaining how they built this road.

The beautiful sky over the Colorado mountains.

We're back in Kansas again. This is the best state of all! This is the last time to changes our watches as we are back in to the Central Time Zone.

The Sunflower State ranks 13th in land area and 33rd in population. The largest city is Wichita and Topeka is the capital.

It is good to see my state flag.

We traveled 412 miles today and stopped in Garden City for the night.

Four Corners * Day Twenty-three 09-10-08

Beside the Kayenta, Arizona hotel (in background) was a replica of an Indian village built out of mud.

This explains about the Sweat Lodge that was used in place of a bath because of the shortage of water. Doesn't sound like fun to me.

The Sweat Lodge. It is very short and you (not me) would have to crawl to get inside.

The Land of Enchantment ranks 5th in land area and 36th in population. Albuquerque is the largest city and Santa Fe is the capital.

The New Mexico license is pretty and bright.

We stopped here.

The New Mexico flag is yellow with red in the center (second from right.)

Sign explaining about The Four Corners.

Here I am standing on four states at once.

The wind was so strong that it blew me over. So I am taking a nap in four states.

Mama Bev and view of platform of the four states.

This is my second time to be in Colorado on this trip.

This is Chimney Rock east of Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

We spent the night with friends who live in the mountains west of Pagosa Springs. These are the new friends that I met.

We only drove 225 miles today. Tomorrow we will head for Kansas.

Headed to Grand Canyon * Day Twenty-two 09-09-08

The Beehive State ranks 12th in land area and 34th in population. Salt Lake City is the largest city and capital. We are now in the Mountain Time Zone.

The tattered Utah State Flag.

A Harley Man who drives this.

The Grand Canyon State ranks 6th in land area and 18th in population. Phoenix is the largest city and capital.

Arizona flag on a sunny day.

State license

After a lot of driving we made it to the Grand Canyon which is one of Earth's most powerful inspiring landscapes. The river is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and a mile deep.

The North Rim and South Rim are just 10 miles apart, as a raven flies, but 215 miles by road. The South Rim elevation is 7,000' and the North Rim 1,000' higher. Winter snow closes the North Rim, and often briefly blankets the South Rim which is open all year round.

Standing at Bright Angel Point looking in the Bright Angel Canyon. I hope I don't fall in.

What a beautiful place of rocks of many colors.

We saw the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in north central Arizona.

The Indians learned to live in this land of rocks and built onto the big rocks to make their houses.

We walked across the Colorado River on the Navajo Bridge south of Page. That is Papa Ken looking at the bridge for autos.

Hang on tight to me.

Mama Bev helped we walk across and held my hand so I wouldn't fall.

It's a long way to the bottom.

This tells how they held the bridge together.

This is the big toggle screw that holds the bridge together.

We drove 426 miles today and spent the night in Kayenta in the northeast corner of the state in the most modern hotel on the Navajo Reservation. Kayenta is in the heart of the Navajo Nation and surrounded by National Parks and Monuments and Gateway to Monument Valley.