Gosh! Can it rain anymore? Does the word “torrential” mean anything to you?
We left Paducah KY rather late this morning, with breakfast, my time, about 10am (late for me). Adjusting to time is not easy. Cutting across the country rather that using the interstate is not easy, but it definitely isn’t as boring. Our roads are total country, but we’re running about 65-70 just about all the way. We saw huge barges on the Mississippi River.
Our destination was originally Wichita KS. I kept looking for Glenn Campbell’s lineman for the county. Instead I saw the Race Across America team, sporadically dispersed across MO and KS. These crazy bicycle riders, with their follow vehicles were, luckily going in the opposite direction. Unfortunately for one of them, we learned after getting to a TV, that he’d been run over and air-lifted out. That’s were that fire truck had been!
We stopped off for a break at the Fantastic Caverns; their wonderful tram ride inside a huge cave with a rather colorful history was great for me – I didn’t have to walk! We met a couple on their way to CA where the man will be stationed. Navy guy…when I asked if he’d been in Norfolk, an older man spoke up saying he’d been there, probably during the war. I took pictures, but the storms are coming back, and we’re not going out again. Maybe tomorrow. The cave, discovered by a hunting dog and later investigated by 12 women in 1867, had been used during the civil war; as a speak-easy in the 30s, a music hall hosting the likes of Buck Owens, and a meeting place for the KKK. 60 degrees constant…the host cut the lights off and I’ve never experienced a blacker moment. You couldn’t see your hand, for real.
After that we headed along 54 towards Wichita; I’m thinking heartland tornado land. It got black ahead of us and we turned the radio on, learning that Joplin, that we’d changed our minds about in the morning, was getting nailed with storms. Kansas City was getting hit. So far, so good for us; but we were heading towards black, with the sun still above.
Then we caught up with the rain, and finally gave up, pulling off the road until a Walmart truck went by and we joined the line. It was so bad…lightening in any direction, winds outrageous. The wipers will never be able to go that fast! Running out of the rain, we saw ponds in fields, waterfalls in people’s yards. Glad we didn’t get there earlier now!
We gave up on Wichita when the last gas station told us it was 2.5 hours away when I asked how many miles. Never did get the miles, but we started hunting for one of only two motels in Iola. We booked our room, went to Taco Bell down the road and got 2 tacos and a handful of eating utensils so we could eat our delightful leftover Italian from last night. We’re so smart!! Taco Bell told Dan that the storms were doubling back.
I have lots of photos I’ll work on tomorrow – I’ve got to go check the weather to see where things are – If a serious (you know what I mean) storm comes up I’m gonna wear my shoes to bed! :)
So we’re in IOLA, Kansas in case you’re tracking. We’ll be aiming for Dodge City tomorrow!
