Cheney State Park
Kansas terrain – at least the route we took, was miles and miles of agriculture once again. We had no idea that so much is grown in this state, along with hundreds of cow farms for producing milk.
We recognized the huge corn fields but had to Google the other huge crop we kept seeing. They grow sorghum! Huh…. who knew????? Sorghum (a type of grain) is used in making gluten free food and syrup….
And…………. the wind in this state is no joke!! We fought it our entire drive. No wonder they have so many wind turbine fields – flat and windy most of the time. The trees along the way were shaped almost sideways because of the wind!!!
Speaking of wind – in the tiny little town of Mullinville located on Hwy 154 (US Route 400) –we came across hundreds of bizarre and abstract metal sculptures squeaking and twirling in the Kansas wind. All were made by M.T. Liggett, a native of the area. Made from road signs, car parts, farm equipment, and a multitude of other objects welded together.
The most eye-catching works are of a political nature, bashing local, national, and international politicians across the political spectrum. Other works are more personal to Liggett, including sculptures of his dogs, each of his six ex-wives, and one of a three- breasted French prostitute that he once “went to bed with.”
We had a super nice, cozy site nestled in the trees – by the lake. Very quiet and dark – dark skies.
Quiet until we heard a knock on the screen door one evening! Hum…...” who or what is that?” With flashlight in hand, we venture carefully out the door……and what do we see??? 3 HUGE raccoons eating nuts from the tree at our site. Okay – no problem – but keep your dirty paws off the door – LOL!!!! They all scattered but we managed to get a picture of one before it took off…….
The Kansas state flower – the Sunflower – fun to see on some of their road signs! But it was the wrong time of year to see them anywhere in the fields or alongside the roads.