Sunday, September 30, 2007

Heading Southwest

Well I am back on the road again after two weeks off. While I was off I put on two new tires, front brake pads, changed the oil and filter and changed the final drive gear lube. I was glad I had on new tires today because the wind was terrible.

I went to 7:30 Mass and left home at 8:45 with the temperature at 70 degrees. I took the Auburn road south through Burlingame and then west on hwy 56. I entered the Turnpike at Admire and went to Emporia in Lyon County for my first stop. A young man was walking his dog and I asked him if he would take my picture and he did.

I continued on south on hwy 99 to 54 hwy and into Eureka in Greenwood County. It was starting to warm up there and was 80 degrees.
I went west out of Eureka on hwy 54 and the wind was terribly strong out of the south. I was riding next to center line and it would blow me across the lane to the shoulder. There was a time or two I wasn’t sure I could hold it. The speed limit was 65 so I slowed to 55. My big concern was a truck coming from the west. They pack a lot of wind but I was fortunate in that none came. The wind was so gusty it would lean me over then back up. I made the 30 miles to El Dorado in Butler County and was glad that was over.
Now I took hwy 77 south to hwy 400 where I started back east. This didn’t seem to be quite as bad. I came across some wind chargers and they were making electricity. It is surprising though that they always seem to turn about the same speed, or so it appears. I met an oversize load today that had two wind charger blades on it. I’m not sure how long these trucks are but they appear to be over 100 feet. I came to hwy 99 and turned south again and came to Howard in Elk County.
I continued south on hwy 99 to Sedan in Chautauqua County.

Then I headed west on hwy 166 stopping once to take a picture of a cotton field. I stopped in Winfield and ate some lunch about 2 PM and then the rain clouds were coming in. I needed gas so I pulled into a Casey’s and waited for most of the rain to let up. I put on my rain clothes and went and took the picture of the Cowley County courthouse.
I headed on west on 160 hwy and only went a few miles and the road were dry and the temperature was climbing back up so I took the rain clothes off. The high temperature was about 89 degrees with lots of humidity. I went to Wellington in Sumner County.

From there I went back east 3 miles and got on the Turnpike headed north to Wichita. The wind was strong here. I got off on I-135 to Kellogg where I went west to downtown. Wichita in Sedgwick County has both an old and new courthouse with the old one being my favorite.

I continued west on 54 and shortly after leaving Wichita the wind came out of the northwest about as strong as earlier in the day. There was blowing dust. I made it to Kingman in Kingman County.

From there I headed back south on 14 hwy to Anthony in Harper County. They have a pretty courthouse.

I went back north on hwy 14 to hwy 160 where I headed west to Medicine Lodge in Barber County. By now it was starting to cool off and the temperatures were falling so it was comfortable.

I went north on hwy 281 to Pratt in Pratt County and am spending the night here at a Super 8 motel and arrived about 6:30. I rode 488 miles today and made it to twelve counties.

Friday, September 28, 2007

Jerrod & Jenny's 11th Anniversary


Last year one of Mary’s friends at work said they were going to have a garage sale and that they had two grandfather clock kits they would sell. Upon inquiring the price I found out they only wanted $20 for all of it so I drove the pickup out to their place near Perry Lake. I paid him the twenty dollars and found out his dad had purchased three clock kits in 1972 and had finished one and started another before giving up on them. He inherited them when his father passed away and did not want them.

The kit that wasn’t started was cherry wood which I like to work with. So I began a year or so process of cutting the pieces to proper length and fitting them together. I would lose interest in it and Mary would ask when I was going to finish it. I finally decided I would give it to Jerrod & Jenny for their 11th anniversary so I had a target date of September 21, 2007.

I had glass cut for the two doors, sanded everything good, wiped it down with mineral sprits and finally applied the Watco Danish oil finish and two coats of varnish. I put in the German made clock works and then realized I needed weight for inside the three cylinders. The company still exists but had moved from Alabama to Amherst, Virginia as I found out on the Internet. The clock company was Emperor Clock Company. I called a technical person there and he said they each needed 6 pounds of weight in each cylinder. I tried sand but it was not near heavy enough so I rode the motorcycle to Cabela’s and bought a 25# bag of lead shot. By filling each one full of shot they weighted 6 pounds exactly.

Now I began the effort of getting it set to the correct time and adjusting the chimes. It chimes 4 times at 15 minutes after the hour, 8 on the half hour, 12 on 45 minutes and 16 on the hour and then chimes the hour. The moon dial is set for the full moon. I checked the prices on a new clock cabinet kit and the floor model is $800 and the moon dial clock movement is $380.

In order to haul the clock to St Louis in our Honda Civic the seats had to be moved way forward, like knees in the dash close. The back seat folds down and we put the clock in through the trunk to the front seat of the car. It was a tight fit. I removed the pendulum and weights and tied the chains so they wouldn’t come loose. I had to place a towel around the chimes otherwise every bump made a chime. We arrived in St Louis with everything intact and surprised the kids who did not know anything about this. It does match their antique furniture and is much the same color. I am sure Jerrod & Jenny will get many years of enjoyment out of this clock. I had fun making it but am glad it is out of my life. I will probably sell the other clock works on E-bay.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Touring North Central Kansas

September 13 & 14

I left Topeka at 8 AM heading west on I-70. My first stop was Junction City in Geary County. They have a very pretty limestone courthouse.



Further west on I-70 I came to Abilene in Dickinson County and their courthouse is downtown by the Eisenhower Center.
I fueled up there and then went south on 15 hwy and “Lola” was having a fit because I didn’t go back to I-70 like I was routed. I took the Marymount road west into Salina and came out in downtown Salina in Saline County at the courthouse in spite of Lola. Most men have a metal plate in their nose and know how to find places regardless of the nagging we receive from women!

I went back to I-70 and headed west again to 156 hwy, then headed southwest to Ellsworth in Ellsworth County.
Next I headed back to I-70 and west to Russell in Russell County. I ate lunch at a Subway.

I turned the routing off and headed north 27 miles out of Russell on 281 hwy, then east on 281 and 18 hwy to Lucas in Russell County. I had to make a stop in Lucas at the Garden of Eden where I took some pictures. I didn’t go in as it was closed at the time and I didn’t want to be tempted with an apple anyway. I continued on east to Lincoln in Lincoln County. They have a pretty courthouse also.
Then it was on east on 18 hwy to 106 hwy where I went north to Minneapolis in Ottawa County. Along 18 hwy there were several places where there was field art like the dragon I took a picture off. The farmers must have some spare time in the winter and their artistic talents thrive.

I fueled up again and went on east to 81 hwy then went north to 24 hwy where I made a 60 mile round trip to Clay Center in Clay County. I couldn’t find a closer way to get there as it was about 30 miles coming in from any direction.
After getting back to 81 hwy I went on north to my birth place in Concordia in Cloud County. From here I had planned to go on north to Belleville but since it was only 3:30 I decided to head on west.


It was another nice day to ride with temperatures ranging from the upper 50’s to upper 80,s and then falling back to 70 by days end with the passing of a cold front. I hit the cold front just west of Concordia and the wind picked up out of the north. I took 9 hwy west to Beloit in Mitchell County. They have a very pretty courthouse. These Kansas farmers have a good sense of humor as you can see by the picture of the stool I took west of Concordia.
From there I continued west on 24 hwy to Cawker City and the “World’s Largest Ball of Twine”. I went on west to 281 and dropped south a few miles to another gorgeous courthouse in Osborne in Osborne County.

I went north on 281 and came across smaller version of the Statute of Liberty near the junction of 9 hwy. It was placed there by the Boy Scouts. I went to Smith Center in Smith County and viewed their courthouse.
Then it was on east on 36 hwy to Mankato in Jewell County.

I went north on 14 hwy past a farm where dad farmed in Jewell County and where he met my mother, Dorothy Marcotte. They were living there when dad was drafted into the Army September, 1942 during WWII. I rode into Superior, NE where my grandparents, Fred & Nellie Marcotte, lived for many years and are both buried.

I stayed overnight in Superior and the next day I visited my grandparents graves then headed on north on 14 hwy going past the Nuckolls County courthouse in Nelson, NE so I stopped and took a picture of it also. Went to Edgar, NE and attended a funeral for my uncle Bill Marcotte, mom’s youngest sibling. He had leukemia for the past ten years and after a long battle succumbed to it. I did get to visit with aunts and cousins that I hadn’t seen in some time. It usually takes a death to bring a family together.

I headed for home about 1 PM going south and then east out of Edgar to 81 hwy where I went south to Belleville in Republic County.

All along US-36 were garage sales in the towns and at homes along the road. It was an advertised scheduled event. My next stop was in Washington in Washington County.

Next it was on east to Marysville in Marshall County where they have the new courthouse and the historic courthouse. I filled up with gas and found the address of my uncle Lloyd Gerstner and I stopped to say hello to him. He lived two bocks from where I stopped for gas.

I headed on east on 36 to 75 hwy and arrived home about 5 PM after traveling 796 miles in two days. I now have visited 45 counties. Farmers are busy harvesting corn and the milo crop in north central Kansas looks to be a good one. Be sure to check my pictures at the link to the right.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Touring the Southeast Counties of Kansas

Tuesday, September, 11

I left home at 8 AM with a crisp, pleasant temperature of 50 degrees. This was just an absolutely perfect day with temperatures from 50 to 82 with very little wind and clear blue skies. It was a great day to tour southeast Kansas and visit 13 counties, which I did. I rode 480 miles and arrived home about 6:30 PM. As I travel I have a Garmin GPS and Sirius Satellite radio and mostly listen to 60's Rock & Roll. I have ear buds to listen to "Lola", as I call the Garmin lady.

I headed south of Topeka on hwy 75 with my first stop in Lyndon in Osage County.








I continued on south on 75 hwy and stopped just north of Burlington and took a picture of Wolf Creek nuclear power plant. Then it was on to Burlington in Coffee County and a stop at their courthouse. This one was hidden in the trees. I also took a picture of a mural painted on a building.

I continued on down 75 hwy to Yates Center in Woodson County. They have a pretty courthouse that covers a whole block.



From there I headed east a short distance on hwy 54 to Iola in Allen County. Their courthouse is a newer one and small compared to others.

I then headed south on 169 hwy to Chanute, then east on 39-57 to 59 hwy where I went south to Erie. Chanute is a much larger city, but Erie is the county seat of Neosho. I actually stopped in Chanute and took a picture of a building that I thought was the county courthouse. Two other people in Chanute thought so too because they said it was. Neosho County also is a newer building.


After leaving Erie I continued south on 59 hwy to 47 hwy where I headed back west to Fredonia in Wilson County. Their courthouse was small and well hidden with trees. As I was leaving I could see a large flag on a hill and seen a sign directing me up there. Once on top you can see for miles and I took picture of the flag. Since it was 9-11 most flags were at half staff. I also stopped at a Sonic for a burger and had a little visitor hop up on the table begging for a fry. The squirrel must hang out there and beg. I was surprised that it wasn’t fat.

I headed south out of Fredonia on 400 hwy and 75 hwy to Independence in Montgomery County. Their courthouse has a bell out front. Much of the area did not have crops planted since they were flooded out in June. I saw one pivot irrigation system with trash clinging to it near the top.


I headed east on 160 hwy to Oswego in Labette County. Their courthouse is well marked and easy to photograph. Much of the area in the south east part of the state is pasture and hay. The pastures are not pretty like the flint hills and have lots of weeds and trees growing. The ground looks very rocky.

I continued east on 160 hwy to Columbus in Cherokee County. They have a nice courthouse with a fountain in the front. Two years ago I was in Cherokee County and visited the strip mining area around West Mineral and went to the Big Brutus Museum so I included a picture for this trip. It is well worth a trip to see such a large machine.


Okay I am headed back north now on 7 hwy and was headed for Girard but a few miles before I get there the road is closed and a detour to the east to Pittsburg. So I went north of Pittsburg to 57 hwy and then to Girard in Crawford County. Their courthouse is also hard to see because of all the trees.

I headed north on 7 hwy to 69 hwy into Fort Scott in Bourbon County and about this time I could have used some. Jack Daniels and Coke, hmmm. I had to keep going though so forget that. Fort Scott has a cannon protecting their courthouse. There are many nice buildings in Fort Scott including the church I took a picture of.

I continued north on 69 hwy to 52 hwy where I went west to Mound City in Linn County. Theirs is small, but older courthouse.



From Mound City I headed west on 52-32 hwy and then took 59 north to Garnett in Anderson County to another historic courthouse. It is a very pretty courthouse covering a square block.

Well I am finished for the day so time to head home. The GPS had me routed up through Lawrence but I elected to take 31 hwy to the northwest through Waverly. There I got on I-35 headed west and at the first overpass they were cheering me on. Well maybe it was because of 9-11 that they were waving flags but I can dream. I honked and waved back. I took 75 back north to Topeka to end the great day. I have now visited 29 counties. Tomorrow I plan to head northwest and on Friday attend a funeral in Edgar, NE for one of my uncles. I changed oil and filter in the BMW today so I am good for another 6,000 miles. I now have over 42,000 miles on it. Most of the pictures on this post came from:
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/counties/
For more information about the counties go to this web site.

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Suther Reunion

The Suther Reunion was held today at Wamego. The four sisters make a quilt each year and a drawing is held for the quilt. This was the 16th quilt given away. This year Jeanette Suther won the quilt and there daughter Lauren drew her name. Since Sr Betty was overseeing it was probably legitimate. This quilt was named "Chickadee Chalet" and was designed by Mary. The last one Mary designed Jeanette's husband, Robert, won.