Wabaunsee County Exploring, Part 3

On Monday March 23, I left Salina intent on another exploring day in Wabaunsee County. First though, I drove 100 miles east to Topeka to pick up another accessory for my digital SLR at Wolfe's Camera Shop. I picked up an Expo Disc white balance adjusting tool. More about this in a later blog when I learn how to use and have some experience with it.






I entered Wabaunsee County near Dover and travelled the back roads up to the Maple Hill area. Here, I found the Old Stone Church and cemetery and also the twin bridges over Mill Creek, with an Iron Truss auto bridge and steel railroad bridge.





Leaving Maple Hill, I zig zagged across the northern part of the county near the Kansas River (the northern border). I stopped at the beautiful Immanuel Church of Christ and cemetery, then headed southwest to the town of Wabaunsee. I visited the Wabaunsee Cemetery east of town with elegant stone entrance gate.






Entering Wabaunsee, I visited the Beecher Bible and Rifle Church, dating back to 1862, and the memorial plaque in town. Then, I headed south thru the hills to I-70 and on back to Salina for the night. I fought 50 mph wind gusts all day and a couple of thunderstorms on my way back, but had a great day.









In three (3) trips to Wabaunsee County this year, I logged 157 miles in the county, most on unpaved roads. I visited seven (7) cemeteries and the towns of Alta Vista, Alma, Maple Hill, Volland, and Wabaunsee. I did not get to explore the southeastern part of the county near Eskridge and Harveyville, but I'm sure to return at a later date.



Links:


Wabaunsee County: http://www.wabaunsee.com/

Beecher Bible & Rifle Church: http://www.wamego.org/beecher.htm

My photo gallery of Wabaunsee County: http://ke2013.smugmug.com/gallery/7428748_fYUea#478843009_WGWR2

Cowley County Geocaching & Crabby Patty's

On Saturday March 14, I spent the afternoon in Cowley County, always one of my favorite places to visit. First, though, I went to the city of Douglas in southern Butler County, where I enjoyed a good lunch of roast pork and dressing, mashed potatoes, corn and tossed salad at the Triangle M Restaurant. I also had a piece of sugar free chocolate cream pie that tasted every bit as good as regular pie.

Then it was on to northern Cowley County,where I located geocaches at two (2) stone bridges in the Rock area. After that, I travelled south to the Floral area. I found a geocache in the cemetery there and another at the stone bridge over Timber Creek just south of town.

Next, I went on southwest to the area just north of Winfield. I found a geocache at the beautiful McKnab pony truss bridge over Cedar Creek, then drove 1/4 mile west to find the geocache at the Elrod stone arch bridge over Timber Creek. The Elrod bridge is nearly abandoned, and the last section of "road" back to it from the east is only suitable for high clearance vehicles, and then only in dry conditions.

I finished my geocaching for the day by travelling east to the Timber Creek stone bridge southeast of Atlanta.

Having some daylight left, I determined to head to eastern Cowley County into an area I had not yet explored. I headed east across the Fox stone bridge over Grouse Creek on 62nd Rd into the ranch lands near the Ferguson Ranch. The winter grasses were golden in color with the low sun behind me. I then turned south for a look at the Grand Summit railroad depot area just north of US160 near the Elk County border. In it's heyday, Grand Summit was a busy livestock shipping area.

Finally, I travelled back southwest to Dexter for supper at Crabby Patty's, the town gas station, grill & deli, grocery, bait shop, etc on K-15. This place is currently featured as a special support project of the Kansas Sampler Foundation. The goal is to have at least 1000 people go there and spend at least $5.00. I had a good cheeseburger and really enjoyed chatting with both the owners and the local people who had come in that evening.

Then I had a pleasant evening drive back home to Wichita. Another memorable day!

Links:

Triangle M Restaurant

326 S. Forrest

Douglass, KS

746-2071

Crabby Patty's

K-15 in Dexter

2 Galleries of my photos of Cowley County:

http://ke2013.smugmug.com/gallery/2679160_CsG2e#141826040_mo9Nf

http://ke2013.smugmug.com/gallery/238464_4PxH6#9284151_bLKHX

Shopping at Wolfe's Cameras - Exploring Wabaunsee County

On Saturday Feb 21, 2008, I had a fun afternoon shopping and exploring.

I headed to downtown Topeka, to make my first trip to Wolfe's Cameras , and it most certainly will not be my last. I had been looking for a good tripod for sometime to replace one that was stolen a few years ago.

I looked at Wolfe's online store to get some ideas. When I got to the store, I found a great selection of tripods. The sales person spent 15-20 minutes working with me, and I finally decided on a Manfrotto leg assembly, Promaster 3 way head, and Promaster bag to carry it in. I was very pleased with the whole experience and was truly amazed at the variety of photo, computer, and camcorder equipment along with photo finishing, frames, and more in this store.

Wolfe's has been in the retail photo business since 1947.

Wolfe's Cameras

635 S Kansas Ave

Topeka, KS 66603

785-235-1386

Open 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM Daily, Thursday till 8:00 PM

Closed Sundays

http://www.wolfes.com/

I left Topeka on K-4 heading southwest thru Dover and stopped at the Echo Cliff area. It appears as though the pony truss bridge over Mission Creek will not be there much longer as the concrete bridge is almost finished. The cliff was illuminated in the late afternoon sun.

From Echo Cliff, I headed west and south passing thru the Nehring Creek valley, then south thru Hessdale and ending up at the Lake Wabaunsee area just as the sun was setting. I headed south on K-99 for dinner in Emporia at La Hacienda, one of my favorite Mexican Restaurants. They serve great Tacos de Carne Asada.

Finally, I drove back to Wichita on the Kansas Turnpike. Driving thru the Flint Hills at night is always an enjoyable experience.

Kingman County Geocaching and a Great Steak Dinner

Saturday Feb 7, 2009 was a warm day with little wind - perfect for an afternoon of exploring.

I left Wichita and headed into eastern Kingman County. I drove thru the Smoots Creek and South Fork Ninnescah River valleys, crossing each several times. Along the way, I found three (3) geocaches, one at Murdock Cemetery, another near the former town of Georgia, and finally one in downtown Kingman.

I also walked along Main Street in Kingman for several blocks, marveling at the brick and stone architecture, and taking many photos. This is one of my favorite things to do in a small town.

Finally, I went on to Turon in southwest Reno County for dinner with some friends from Hutchinson at Barb's Bar and Grill. Saturday evenings are steak night at Barb's, and I had a fabulous fillet mignon, that was every bit as good as I have had anywhere. The place sure seems to be popular as there were a number of groups there and one large group next to us. I will definitely go back.

Finally, I had a pleasant evening drive back to Wichita. What a great afternoon!

Links:

Barb's Bar and Grill: 121 N Burns Street Turon, KS 67583 (620) 497-6457

Kingman County Kansas: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties/KM/

My Photo Galleries for Kingman County:

http://ke2013.smugmug.com/gallery/2677823_L6zte#141776649_MZrT9

http://ke2013.smugmug.com/gallery/260037_AZss2#10233403_NK6E6

Exploring Anderson County

On January 31, 2009 I made a long day trip from Wichita to explore parts of Anderson County in East Central Kansas.

I entered the county in the southwest near the town of Colony. I drove north crossing several bridges over Cedar Creek, including one concrete arch bridge just east of Mont Ida.

Mont Ida is an unincorporated community southwest of Garnett. I was interested in seeing the Mont Ida Church of the Brethren there. I found an interesting peace pole on the church lot. The Church of the Brethren is one of the historic peace churches and has an active peace agency On Earth Peace.

I continued on north and west and explored Patton Cemetery southwest of the town of Harris. This cemetery is at the end of a dead end road and sets in a beautiful setting up against some hills.

Then on thru Garnett and north into the picturesque Pottawatomie Creek valley. I circled around to northwest of Greeley to view a pony truss bridge and the historic Spencer's Crossing iron truss bridge built in 1885, and left in place when a new concrete bridge was built beside it.

Finally, I explored the town of Greeley before heading back home to Wichita.


Some links:

Garnett: http://www.garnettks.net/

Anderson County: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties/AN/

My Photo Gallery for Anderson County: http://ke2013.smugmug.com/gallery/7264350_xzrkb#466974384_UEehL

Trains, Trains, Trains

I am a train railfan. For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed watching trains pass, especially freight trains.

As I've grown older, the history and influence of trains has become more important to me. Today's freight trains are mostly regional or national US oriented, and frequently just pass thru smaller towns.

However, during the earlier years of Kansas' history, railroads were a much important means of commerce. Both passenger and freight trains were important to communities. I've read of many instances of towns dying when they couldn't attract a railroad to pass thru their town. Sometimes, an entire town moved a few miles in order to be on a railroad line.

An interesting timeline of Kansas railroad history can be found at the following link on the Kansas Dept of Transportation website:

http://www.ksdot.org/burRail/rail/railroads/history.asp


Every chance I get, I am out photographing and filming trains with my camera and camcorder. I'm including a short video clip in this post with a train passing over a bridge near Matfield Green in Chase County on a very busy BNSF line. You will not hear a whistle since there are no road crossings in this area.

I have a gallery of train photos and videos at the following address which I will continue to update regularly:

http://ke2013.smugmug.com/Trains

Picturesque Cemeteries, Variety of Bridges, and Low point of Kansas

Recently, I finished a loop around the rural areas in Montgomery County on two separate trips. For some details about my first trip, see my blog entry below this one.

My second trip began with lunch at Uncle Jack's Restaurant in downtown Independence. I had a fabulous Philly Steak sandwich that I would highly recommend. The meat was high quality steak chunks. Learn more about this restaurant at: http://www.unclejacks.net/

I drove out on mostly unpaved roads to the northeast area of the county, then south to the southeast area near Coffeyville, and back west in the southern part of the county, before heading back to Wichita. Along the way, I visited 2 picturesque cemeteries, Choteau and Pleasant Dale, in the northeast part of the county.

I visited a variety of bridges, including some low water bridges, beautiful concrete rainbow arch bridges over the Verdigris River near Independence and Coffeyville, and a elegant iron truss bridge over Onion Creek southwest of Coffeyville that was left in place after the modern concrete bridge was built.

Also, near the Oklahoma border along the Verdigris River I drove in the official lowest elevation area in Kansas. The official low point is listed at 679 ft, and my GPS was recording 686 ft along the river.

I have posted some more photos and videos from my trips in Montgomery County at my gallery at the following address: http://ke2013.smugmug.com/gallery/6955802_aoRZJ#447872633_gJgkm