Laid Back Laundry Day

October 26, 2026

Day 26 of our journey started way too early. . . with the roar of Topeka rush hour!! UGH!! After a while we were able to go back to sleep for a bit.

And since we weren’t going to be home for a few more days, we decided to do some laundry. Since the campground only had 2 washers and 2 dryers, we chose to just do the basics.

I proposed to fold it all when it was done if Terry would whip us up some lunch. Thankfully he agreed and made us a fabulous tuna mac and cheese.

That afternoon I wrote while Terry read and then we started a new Netflix series, Ripple. We both really enjoyed the show even if it did make me cry a couple of times.

We didn’t take any pictures that day so I’m sharing one from a year ago taken at sunrise at the lake near our cabin. Isn’t God’s handiwork so amazing!?!

 

Another Travel Day in Kansas

October 26, 2026

After a quick breakfast of biscuits and gravy at our Harvest Host location we popped across the street to Eisenhower Park to take in the Iwo Jima Memorial and view the restored F14 Tomcat on display. What a beautiful sunrise backdrop!

We then continued east down Interstate 70 to our next resting place for the next couple of days, the Topeka KOA. On this drive I was able to finish reading my latest book. I then came to the conclusion that not all New York Times bestsellers are well written.

We arrived at the campground where we realized we were surrounded on 3 sides by interstates and a turnpike. It was going to be a noisy stay.

And then I went to take a shower where I found that my choices were either to have a mist-like spray (which would take forever to be thoroughly rinsed) or be practically sandblasted by the showerhead. Hmmm, no happy medium? But that’s life on the road. I was thankful to have a shower.

We were also thankful for the beautiful weather. The temperatures were as close to perfect for the both of us. . . cool in the morning, and warm but not hot in the afternoon.

That evening we watched a couple of YouTube videos and played 12 games of rummy, with each of us winning 6 games. We were too tired by then to play a tie-breaker!

 

A Little Kansas Treat

October 26, 2026

One last sunrise in Colorado, Day 24 of our western trip this year. What surprises would Kansas hold for us this year?

It was a travel day, and we were grateful for clear weather. But we were not so much looking forward to driving through Kansas. Let’s face it, it’s pretty flat.

For the past couple of years when we’re on the road, we have checked off state names when we see their license plate on a passenger vehicle on the road. The rules are that it can’t be a moving van or semi, and we both have to see it.

Since June 26 of this year on our trek home from Gulf Shores, we had seen 48 of the 50 plates. Vermont and Hawaii being the only holdouts. And then we saw Vermont that day!! So we decided to start the list over again. Because what are the chances of seeing Hawaii?

That kept us occupied for a while, but I did finally have to resort to reading a bit!

We finally arrived at our Harvest Host site for the night, Rosie’s Bar & Grill in WaKeeney. We ate a late lunch there, Terry enjoying a catfish basket and me a grilled chicken sandwich.

They also have a small “Top Gun” museum inside the Inn portion of the building which was interesting.

We got parked and settled in and then went back inside the bar to watch the Chief’s game and the Bill’s game on a split screen tv. How fun! Especially since both teams won!!

As we were leaving, we asked for a brownie to go. I thought we could share it that evening before we went to bed. We didn’t look inside the styrofoam container until later.

Let’s just say we were both highly disappointed in the size of this brownie and poor Terry only got a small crumb—which was his decision as he knows how much I love my chocolate!! He’s such a sweetheart!!

A Day of Rest at the Buffalo Ranch

October 24, 2026

We decided to stay a second night at the ranch since we weren’t in any hurry to get home. So we took our time getting up and emerging from our cozy van on Day 23, especially since it was a nippy 29 degrees again!

Terry read while I wrote and we enjoyed the slow morning.

We decided to head into Limon for a late lunch at El Paso, a delightful Mexican place situated next door to Taco Bell, which we thought was funny. Terry enjoyed a plate of enchiladas while I had a huge steak quesadilla.

Feeling the need for some souvenirs, we stopped at a gas station that had a wide variety of tee shirts, sweatshirts, and any other kind of memorabilia you can think of. I got a new hat with a horse on it—look for it in a later post and let me know what you think of it.

We then headed back to the ranch to nap and read.

And then there was the glorious sunset.

Psalm 113:3, “From the rising of the sun to its going down, the Lord’s name is to be praised.”

 

 

Prairie Ridge Buffalo Ranch

October 20, 2026

We awoke to the coldest morning in the van on Day 22, a frosty 29 degrees outside! With no heater and only a comforter and one extra blanket, I think we did okay. My shampoo seemed to be quite thick, but it still worked!

It was a travel day, so we decided to eat a hearty breakfast at Denny’s before hitting the highway. After a bit of discussion and checking the weather forecast, we agreed to start heading home. Still taking our time and enjoying the adventure but in an eastwardly direction.

And so, we said goodbye to the Rockies until next year and headed to one of our absolute favorite Harvest Host locations from last year, Prairie Ridge Buffalo Ranch near Limon, Colorado.

We were so happy to be back on that great expanse of Colorado prairie! Our only regret was that Baby Bruce (the bottle-fed buffalo with a huge personality) had been moved to a different ranch. We picked up some more PRB souvenirs and in the twilight, we settled in for a quiet peaceful night’s rest.

 

Cold Colorado Rain

October 20, 2026

And then it got cold and rained. . . for two days. At least it wasn’t 40!! It was so rainy and foggy we couldn’t see the mountains, which was very sad. But I was thankful it didn’t snow where we were, only in the higher elevations west of us.

Days 19 and 20 were spent inside the van except when we scurried to the bathroom/shower house behind our site. And when Terry dodged raindrops to pick up our Domino’s order at the main office! Boy was that pizza good! Especially when accompanied by a little Netflix!

Day 21 it stopped raining and we got the laundry done.

And that was the day the Brewers SWEPT the Dodgers to punch their ticket to the World Series!!! Yeehaw!!

I kicked myself for not purchasing a Brewers shirt when we saw them play back in August. I should have known better!

 

Maramec Spring Park

October 20, 2026

The photos above are from October 2025, taken at one of my favorite places in the world, Maramec Spring Park near St. James, Missouri. Do not confuse this place with Meramec State Park because they’re totally different, in spelling and overall atmosphere. Terry and I spent the last night of our last Western trip there simply because we weren’t ready to go home yet.

AND this is where we went on our very first camping trip together three years ago. . . in a tent! And I came down with Covid in the middle of the night! Poor Terry had to pack everything up that morning as I watched in a feverish daze, too weak to help.

I’m including the photos in this post as neither Terry nor I took any photos on Day 18 of this trip. And it’s fun to reminisce about all the fun times we’ve had together.

But the only exciting thing that happened that day this year is that the campground hired a company to trim all the dead tree limbs on the property because there was a big storm system coming through the next few days. So it got kinda noisy.

But I wrote and we both read and relaxed.

And the next day we regretted not doing more!