Retired and Trippin

I really cooled off overnight. It was 32 degrees this morning and the car was covered with frost but there were blue clear skies. Our route today was 99 north; 56 east; 59 north to Lawrence; and 10 east to the KC area. The first stop today was one of those spur-of-the-moment deals. As we drove through Sedan, KS we spotted an interesting looking area just off the road. It was called The Hollow and it included an old school house, a gazebo and a wooden boardwalk through the area. They had it all wired for Christmas lights and we agreed it would be pretty lit up after dark. We did take one detour off 99 at 160 to drive about 5 miles east to Elk Falls, KS. The Elk River flows through Elk Falls, KS where there is Elk Falls (waterfall) with an old 1893 Pratt Truss bridge over the River. Also in Elk Falls is an Outhouse Grove with a sign advertising an Outhouse Tour on the Friday (tomorrow) and Saturday before Thanksgiving. In Olpe, KS we enjoyed a LARRAPIN good lunch at the Chicken House. We

It cooled off overnight. Temperatures were in the low 50's and it was cloudy when we woke up this morning. After breakfast at the Mercantile we departed the cottage at 8:45. It was still cloudy and 54 degrees. As the day progressed the sun came and went but the temperature never topped 58 degrees and the wind really picked up. My plan was to drive through the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve just north of Pawhuska and photograph the bison said to be there. I envisioned a nice paved road weaving through the Preserve with bison grazing along the road. The reality was 12 miles of nasty, dusty, washboard, gravel road each way. The scenic viewpoints did provide decent views. When we arrived at the visitor's center it was closed and we had yet to see any bison. A sign on the door advised that this was bison roundup season and to see the bison we could drive two miles north (part of the 12 miles of gravel) to see the bison in the coral. Ends up the bison were about a half mile away from the

 The town of Pawhuska, OK is named after Paw-His-Skah (White Hair), chief of the Thorny Valley People, one of five divisions of the Osage Nation that lived nearby. Pawhuska is also know for the Mercantile, opened by Ree Drummond of Pioneer Woman  fame. Pioneer Woman also has a hotel and event space. We have been wanting to eat (Charlie) and shop (Chris) at the Mercantile so we made a two-night trip of it. We left at 10:10AM under clear blue skies with a temperature in the high 50's or low 60's. Our route today way: I-35 south to Ottawa; 59 south to Garnett; 169 south to Chanute; 39 east (construction detour); 59 south (still on the detour); 47 west (more detour); 169 south (back on track); 160 west; 75 south; 166 west; 99 south into Oklahoma; and 60 west to Pawhuska. The detour added 22 miles or so to our trip. After stopping for a bathroom break in Chanute, KS we put the top down because it was 70 degrees. Chris forgot her doo-rag so she used one of my caps. We arrived in Pawh