( October 8th, 1980 to November 8th, 1980 )

The route for Kansas passed through or near: Syracuse Garden City Dodge City Pratt Kingman Belle Plaine Elk City Coffeeville Refueling October 13, 1980 -- Day 185 Q: Does Kansas have any trees or hills?? A: Yes, 3 of each, and we are taking side trips to see one of each. Dinner at Caleb's Lake October 14, 1980 -- Day 186 For the most part, we traveled on dirt roads through Kansas, located about a 1/2 to 1 mile, south or north, from the main highways. Carrying a lot of food in the backpack was now eliminated due to frequent stores ( see previous photo) near our route, making for more varied and enjoyable meals. Dodge City Historical Marker October 15, 1980 -- Day 187 Dodge City October 16, 1980 -- Day 188 Street view of the stagecoach building mural. Stagecoach October 16, 1980 -- Day 188 Front Street, Dodge City October 16, 1980 -- Day 188 Our camp was located in front of the main tourist attractions of Dodge City: Front Street and Boot Hill. Another Front Street view October 16, 1980 -- Day 188 Gunfight October 16, 1980 -- Day 188 Homecoming Parade October 16, 1980 -- Day 188 Dodge City High School Homecoming festivities. Homecoming bonfire October 6, 1980 -- Day 188 mmm...fire...good...warm Lunch October 17, 1980 -- Day 189 A welcome windbreak October 18, 1980 -- Day 190 In addtion to corn and wheat, hay was plentiful in Kansas. Even though temperatures were nippy, lunch breaks were windless and warm to due windbreaks such as this. Milo Field October 20, 1980 -- Day 192 Somewhere before Pratt, the challenge of this campsite was to pitch a tent without a corn stalk sticking through your tent and into your back. Cunningham, Kansas October 23, 1980 -- Day 195 a very cold day Bleak and cold October 28, 1980 -- Day 200 13 miles west of Belle Plaine, Ks, temperatures dropped to single digits at night. Belle Plaine "Coleman" breakfast October 29, 1980 -- Day 201 mmmmm....pancakes and bacon and .... The youngest participant October 29, 1980 -- Day 201 Halloween October 31, 1980 -- Day 203 Mrs. Davis' hayfield/campsite November 2, 1980 -- Day 205 Fall colors November 3, 1980 -- Day 206 A few fall colors remaining, and a few hikers in the middle of the road. Condemned bridge crossing November 4, 1980 -- Day 207 One of the more exciting things to traverse in Kansas----a minor balancing act on exposed steel girders. TV -- PM Magazine November 4, 1980 -- Day 207 A television crew visitied the Oak Ridge Campground for interviews and footage. Rex being interviewed November 4, 1980 -- Day 207 Nathan November 4, 1980 -- Day 207 The son of our Kansas state coordinator, Stan ??. Elk City Lake Trail November 5, 1980 -- Day 208 One, and maybe the only hiking trail in our Kansas travels. Another Elk City Lake Trail view November 5, 1980 -- Day 208 Although it was less than a one day hike on this trail, we were finally able to hike off of the dirt and paved roads of Kansas. After sunset November 6, 1980 -- Day 209 Elk City Lake Campground Last day for one November 8, 1980 -- Day 211 Willie, at the Kansas/Oklahoma border---he had hike the entire Continental Divide earlier this year, joined HikaNation afterwards, and was leaving for home today. Kansas -- Oklahoma border crossing November 8, 1980 -- Day 211 A rock cairn and a paper "Welcome" sign marked the entry into Oklahoma. ...on to Oklahoma

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