We headed out this morning following Hwy 160 west. We left the trees behind and were in farm country before we knew it.
Neither of us knew cotton was grown in Kansas, but it is. Mile after mile of it, as well as sorghum.
We spent a good deal of time spotting hawks on the telephone and fence posts. It was really fun to see.
The Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway is approximately 42 miles in length and extends from the western city limits of Medicine Lodge to the junction of U.S. 160 and U.S. 183 at Coldwater. It bisects the beautiful Gypsum Hills. We were lucky enough to see flat mesas, deep canyons, sharp high hills, red soils and caprock formations. Both of us said it reminded us of Wyoming or Arizona!
Abandoned farm buildings were along the route, along with lots of cattle!
About 35 miles east of Dodge City, M.T. Liggett's Political Sculptures at Mullinville warranted a small stop. The welded metal signs created by folk sculptor and activist M.T. Liggett certainly make a political statement! Since this is an election year, you can make up your own mind which way his political view leans!
From Dodge City, we took Hwy 283 north to Hwy 24 on our way to Colby. It is part of the Smokey Valley Scenic byway was marked with these signs “Wildflowers”. It is the wrong time of year for us, but in the Spring, the route is a showplace of native grasses and wildflowers like purple and bright-yellow coneflowers, red-and-yellow Indian blanket flower, sky-blue pitcher sage, and cream-flowered yucca, as well as big and little bluestem and grama grasses. I think I would like to come back in the Spring!
We are staying in Colby, Kansas tonight and will be home tomorrow afternoon.
No comments:
Post a Comment