Don't throw me in the hooscow

July 14, 2007
Nebraska City, NE to Louisburg, KS

215.3 miles
Mostly overcast

It’s so pretty here that I asked the park owner what winters are like – which immediately made any thoughts of living in the area, even for a short time, go away! Seems it’s often below 0 degrees, as in zero, not just freezing, as in 32 degrees, for about 40 days each winter. So much for Nebraska. Sure is pretty now though!


Saturdays must be the day for mowing lawns, as I saw a whole bunch of guys and two ladies out on their riding mowers, just going back and forth and back and forth over their lovely green lawns!


And obviously one of the major events of the year in this nation is coming up because I saw at least a couple hundred motorcycles headed north throughout the day, probably for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Doesn't happen officially until August 6th, but I hear tell that people start early for the big event! Some big burly guys, some buff gals in leather, some couples, some towing the cute little trailers that hold an amazing amount of fun stuff – all shapes and sizes and colors of bikes and people. I know from first hand stories that Sturgis is an event to behold!


Passed thru Corning, MO – and all this time I thought Corning was just fancy cookware!


One neat thing about Missouri road signs – they have very visible signs posted every two tenths of a mile, showing exactly where you are! Nice touch!! Which was particularly helpful when I saw a sign for Oregon – and all this time I thought I was in Missouri!

Names are so much fun – I guess there are only so many names, and you just have to use them over and over. Like Fillmore – I mean, the Fillmore in California is infamous. Seems Fillmore in Missouri is too – they have a large antique mall which specializes in fireworks!

I know some people find the Great Plains monotonous – I’m delighted to be traveling across, and witnessing for myself, all the beauty, all the variety, all the colors, all the trees I don’t recognize, all the gorgeous wild flowers, all the sweet singing birds that I’ve only seen in books - to be reminded there’s way more than big bustling cities and angry headlines.

For instance, I marvel at simple things, like what terrific use the farmers and ranchers make from this land – they plant every contour and angle to get the most possible return. I wish it was time for the harvest, to see how they go about it – some of those contours and steps look impossible. Those folks definitely work hard for their money! Lucky for us, they do!!!

Crossed the Missouri River again at St. Joseph and spotted the Stinky Fingers Bait & Supply Store. What a picturesque spot! Crossed the Kansas River and traveled the Frontier Military Scenic Byway, which it definitely is! I do love my dotted roads!!

Passed thru Leavenworth, KS, and was quite taken with the lovely old building that must have been a courthouse or governor’s mansion or some such, until I passed in front and realized I was admiring the Leavenworth penitentiary! Wow – if I have to be incarcerated, that’s where I’d want to be forced to call home – at least it’s a handsome building!!

And I’m so impressed by the roads in Kansas – they are way above and beyond any roads I’ve seen anywhere in these United (somewhat united, but I won’t get political here) States. Smooth, well maintained, well signed and easy to navigate – they have lots of land and use it well to make interchanges easy, off ramps and on ramps allow lots of room. I’m babbling, but I cannot believe what a pleasure it is to drive here!

Arrived at my evenings RV park near Louisburg, south of Kansas City, Kansas – the Rutlader Outpost Middle Creek Theatre & RV Park. This is quite a spot – depicted as an “Ole West Border Town on the border of Missouri and Kansas. 

Between the years of 1838 and 1845, a military road was constructed through the Indian Territory to connect Fort Leavenworth, Fort Scott (Kansas), and Fort Gibson (Oklahoma). This was done to protect the western border of the United States, which was the Missouri Kansas line. The old route has been replaced by highway 69, and considered the Frontier Military Scenic Byway.”

The property includes an Antique & Trading Company, a Furniture & Carpet Company, a summer flea market, a cowboy shootout reenactment one weekend a month from April thru October, their own fishing lake and live country music shows every Saturday evening.

I went to the country show – and it was a delightful evening! They offer a little mini café for those attending the show – simple menu (hamburgers, big hot dogs, pork chops, taco salad, with sides, of course, and ice cream, homemade cookies, fresh popcorn) and the most expensive dinner is $3.50!

They have a six piece band and on this particular evening, they had two of their regular gal singers, who could sing on anyone’s stage, they were so good!, plus three other guest entertainers - one fella was a country Victor Borge, a singer/comedian/musician – playing Old Traditional country to the newest songs on the radio today. They played for two and a half hours – for a $12 ticket! I will go out of my way to visit this spot again!


Rutlader Outpost
Middle Creek Theatre & RV Park
Hwy 69 South to 335th St exit
33565  S Metcalf
Louisburg, KS 66053
866-888-6779
www.rutladeroutpost.com