June 7 and 8, 2017
Virtual sight-seeing: When we see something along the highway that piques our interest, we check it out on the computer.
First, Fort Riley and Marshall Army Airfield. It was a cavalry post during the campaign against the Plains Indians. Custer was stationed here. Claims are that in 1912 it was the site of the first experiments in directing artillery fire from an airplane. It opened as an air base in 1921. Today it provides fixed base helicopter operations. We were disappointed not to be quick enough to get a photograph of the helicopters on the field–Blackhawks, Apaches and Chinooks.
The next virtual tourist stop was the Flint Hills, named by explorer Zebulon Pike. The area runs about a hundred miles through Kansas and Oklahoma and features layers of flint that stand out from surrounding limestone. It’s also called The Osage. It is also the most dense coverage of tall grass prairie in North America.
Flagler, Colorado was our last virtual visit on this leg of the trip. The question that came to our minds was whether or not the town was named for Henry Flagler who played such a prominent role in Florida history. Turns out the town was most recently named for Henry Flagler (previously it was named for Bowser, the dog of the owner of the general store, and Malowe, for a railroad attorney) to honor a request of Flagler’s daughter who liked the area. Flagler has had a population of around 500 since its founding in 1920 as a settlement on the Rock Island Railroad. Wheat and corn are raised in the area and the town is the self-proclaimed “Birdseed Capital of the World”. It’s offering free land to businesses and industries who will settle there. We were tempted by the sound of the town–interesting and friendly–but a little put off by its isolated location on the plains. We imagine winters there are long.
Our last night on this leg was in Siebert, Colorado. We had supper in the town’s only restaurant, a truck stop on the interstate and shopped in the small but well-stocked grocery. The owners of the Shady Grove (what dulcimer player could resist that name?) Campground were wonderfully friendly and helpful.
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