We left home about 9 AM Sunday, May 30
th heading for Wichita to
visit Connie and her family. We listened to "Careless in Red" by
Elizabeth George. It's a murder mystery, and as such, quite
good. Not our usual "read," but it was on sale at Books on Tape
for a price I couldn't resist.
As we approached the Kansas-Colorado border we witnessed a
dramatic highway accident. Suddenly, as we traveled east, on the
other side of the highway, traveling west an SUV was air borne.
It flew through the air, flipped and skidded along the highway on
its roof. I saw it start to fly, but saw no reason for that to
have happened. The assumption is that the driver suddenly braked
to exit, there was an exit there, and was going too fast. We
continued on our way since there were plenty of cars and people
on the
other side of the highway to lend assistance, including a
hitch hiker. Perhaps the SUV was braking to pick up the hitch
hiker. It took a while for us to continue on with our book. To have
something so dramatic happen takes your breath away.
Later, we stopped at a Rest Area in Kansas to have our lunch. As
we were lunching a State Patrol car rolled by, then braked quite
suddenly and backed up. As we were walking through the Rest Area
we noticed the cop had stopped a Colorado car and was searching
it. That gave us a start and we decided we'd leave the area.
After we'd left we surmised that the cop rolled past the Colorado
car and just as he was about to leave he realized that the
license plate number was one he was looking for.
Fortunately, that was the end of the excitement for this trip.
About 4 PM we arrived at Scott Lake State Park near Scott City,
Kansas. We had overlooked the fact that today was Memorial Day
and remembered when we saw the line of cars trying to get into
the park. It seemed unlikely we'd get a place, but we soldiered
on and into the line. When it was our turn and Robert told the
woman at the gate that we didn't need utilities she took our
$12.00 and assured us we'd find a place....somewhere...not to
worry. We ventured in. The place was a mob scene and cars,
tents and campers were parked everywhere and every which way.
We traveled to the far end of the park and back again. We found
a place that was right by the lake, a way from all the others
and, perhaps, was meant to be a picnic only place. There were
no signs saying anything and there was a picnic table and a small
parking space, big enough for us, but not big enough for either
an RV as big as our old one nor big enough for tent and car.
For us it was perfect. The weather was cool and we had plenty of
electricity for one night. There were broken down steps near our
campsite that led to the lake and they were used by a young
couple and there son. The son was about 7, I would guess. He
was happy to fish, but he didn't want to touch the worms. "I
don't want to get my hands dirty," he said. We walked from our
end of the park through the camping-on-the -lawn area and the
RV-with electricity area and back, enjoying the scene and being
happy we'd found a place quite far removed from the noise and
smoky campfires.
We arrived at Connie's about 4 o'clock on Monday afternoon. It
was great to see everyone and have a family dinner together.
Alan will be a senior at the U. of Michigan this fall and Meara a
freshman at Maryland Institute of C. Art..I don't know whether
the "C" is for commercial or contemporary or something else. In
any case she is looking for a career as an illustrator. Alan is
getting a degree in engineering in the air and space fields. He
had just returned from Washington State where he and his team
(about 10 guys) had raced in the Annual
Baja race. They had come
in 17
th out of more than 100 entrants. Each team makes their
race car from scratch, milling and machine parts they have
designed. It is quite a project. Each team uses the same
engine design, but other parts are improvised.
While we were there Connie took me through the steps of setting
up her loom and it is really quite a chore. At least it seemed
like a chore, to me. It also would take quite a learning curve
to learn how to do that. She has woven some very interesting
fabrics including one that is double. That is, different
front to back. I was very impressed and delighted that she has
gotten so much into it. Alan has made some new parts for the old
loom and Connie has replace a couple of wood parts for metal.
My dad would be so very pleased. This loom was delivered to my
parents house in Rochester on the day my eldest was born, 1/5/51.
The weather was hot while we were there and I was tempted by the
pool, but it has been open only a few days and it hasn't been hot
until we got there. Since the pool isn't heated, I decided
against trying it out. I also understand there is still some
adjustment in chemicals going on.
They have a large yard and a stream and pool adjacent to the
yard. They have many geese and ducks, goslings and ducklings.
Also a
Chinese Swan pair of geese. Actually, two of them, but
they are not a pair. Each hangs out with a different group of
geese. They are definitely geese, but when they swim the back
half looks like a swan back end.
We had an enjoyable time there. As we were preparing to leave,
Connie's expertise with camping gear came into play. We had
never used our awning before and were happy to have her help. It
is really quite a simple design where you see just how it works.
Our drive home was uneventful. We finished our book. We camped
overnight at Scott Lake again. This time, because it was hot, we
did opt for electricity. The park was almost empty. What a
change from the
previous weekend.
