Oakley, Kansas

Having spent the night at Raton Pass, after driving 223 miles the day before, we headed down what had been the old Santa Fe trail along the eastern edge of Colorado and spent one night in Lamar, at an RV and Horse campground.

In Kansas we usually pass mile after mile of agricultural land, cattle, granaries, some old barns and hardly any traffic. There were ten of these machines, possibly combine harvesters, on their way to their next job followed by several campers that we assumed were for the crew, a bit like bunk houses. 

one of hundreds of Co-op granaries

We loved the tee shirt we saw - it said something like "we drove past miles and miles of wheat fields (picture of a wheat stalk), then past miles and miles of cattle, (picture of a cow) and mile after mile of telegraph poles (picture of same) - next time we'll fly!"

On most days that we’re towing the RV, we have to stop for diesel at a truck stop or other large gas station for fuel.  The amount we paid here was $107 where diesel was $4.19’9 for a gallon. We average about 9-11 miles per gallon. Howard and I never gripe about the cost of diesel because we know how much more it costs in the UK and other places in Europe.  If it cost over $7.00 a gallon in the USA, there might be a revolution here. 

wind farm from a distance - the blades and columns look so small here

The huge gas station opposite “High Plains” campground in Oakley where we’ve stayed  before, just off the I-70, seems to be one of the few that is big enough to allow enormous, extra long, extra heavy loads to fuel up and the photos show exactly what type they are.  The top one is a rotor blade from one of the gigantic new wind mills that have sprung up over the land and the other is part of the column. One of the drivers told Howard that his truck and trailer were 178 feet long and his load was over 200,000 pounds.

It’s always windy at High Plains (well, it is Kansas) and people are advised never to put their awnings out but it’s a great spot and Mary is a delightful owner and has free coffee in the morning.