After Nancy left me, I visited Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. It was hot, but I did get in a short hike.
(Compass plant and Gayfeather)
Then I stopped at Fort Larned, which I honestly don't even remember because all forts are the same and I hate even going to them. Those are the days that I feel like a "stamp whore." I'm only there to collect my stamp and I don't stay long at all.
Nicodemus National Historic Site was really interesting, although there wasn't much to see. In 1877, 300 African Americans left Kentucky to escape the oppression of the South. They established the town of Nicodemus, which was difficult in the beginning but became a success. Only about 30 people live there now, but they were preparing for their annual Emancipation Celebration, when descendants of the original settlers arrive from all over the U.S. to reminisce and celebrate.
I passed through a town with this intriguing sign:
But I opted not to visit the barbed wire museum. I was actually near the world's largest ball of twine, but the timing just didn't work out for me to see it, much to my disappointment. I had to rush through Kansas. Vagabonding in the midwest is tricky; there's not really any free camping. My options are state parks, which often cost $30 a night for camping. (And that just seems ridiculous to me when all I really need is a place to park my car.) Or I could stay at a small town Motel 6 for about $40 a night. Might as well pay the extra $10 for a shower and wifi, but that adds up quickly! So I needed to get to Colorado and didn't have time for the ball of twine.
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