September 20 & 21 - Welcome to Dallas!

      We had arrived in Texas yesterday, and settled into our campground in Burkburnett.  Little did we realize how well known this town was to our son Jeff, and his family-the town is on the annual "Hotter-than-Hell" 100-mile bike rally loop that Jeff and his son Drew have participated in several times.  The race is held in August each year in windy and sunny Texas, so one can guess where the moniker comes from. 
     It was a fairly noisy evening, as we were near Sheppard Air Force Base.  Sheppard is a major training command facility, and has T-38 Talon trainers taking off and landing round the clock.
     We drove through Wichita Falls in the morning and headed for Dallas.  As our son Jeff's family was busy all morning, we planned our arrival for early afternoon.  Consequently, we changed from the most direct route to Texas Highway 114 as we approached the Metroplex,  While living in Colleyville from 1990-97, Becky and Jim had really gotten into distance bike riding, and it was nothing to do 30-mile rides on a weekend day.  Colleyville was on the outer edges of the DFW commuter ring, and we could ride less than 2 miles and  be out in the country.  No longer!  We could have been on a different planet as we drove into the Fort Worth area.  After seeing nothing but "flat" for most of the drive, looming ahead was a huge structure that we were sure was Texas Motor Speedway.  Approaching closer, it was the Northwest ISD high school football stadium-bigger than many college stadiums!  We saw the Speedway soon after. That area was frequently our bike ride turnaround area, from where we would head back through the farmland and ranches of Roanoke, Keller and Southlake.  Southlake's population is now 27,000, and the McMansions extend in every direction for miles.  Very little looked familiar.  After lunch in the RV in Colleyville we drove by our old house that we had built in 1990.  We were pleased to see that the current owners are taking good care of it and the landscaping-and even more pleased to see that the 2 pecan trees we planted new had grown to gorgeous full size trees loaded with pecans.
     Jeff and his family greeted the travelers enthusiastically, and the dogs were particularly thrilled to be there.  Winston, their cute little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, wasn't too sure about seeing Dudley and Rosie again, but they all "sniffed" each other and things were fine.  It was another grandkids sports night, as granddaughter Beth had two volleyball games to play in.  She is quite the team sparkplug for the Lady Dragons, and we really enjoyed watching her skills and competitiveness! 
     Saturday morning was the best weather day Dallas has seen in months!  A perfect Fall day on the last day of summer - low 70's, no humidity and sunny.  After a leisurely morning, we had a special treat in the afternoon.  Jeff had bought tickets to the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science that opened December of last year.  It is a phenomenal treasure, and a paradise for kids of all ages with interactive exhibits and dozens of things to do.
     There is a whole floor devoted to space and the solar system.  Another devoted to the evolution of life from prehistoric signs, with many complete fossils found in the Texas area.  The one shown here has a T-Rex and a larger herbivore, with grandson Drew reading about it.  Another photo shows Becky opening a giant Geode.  There is a display of many of the plants and animals on the plains from this area.  Beth was mesmerized programing robots.  Then there were the competitive games, such as the one shown her where Lea and Drew were playing with other visitors. 

    
Beth and Drew have both been to the Museum before, and had a great time. 
We were just amazed at the level of knowledge that they, and obviously so many other kids, have going through a facility like this.  Very encouraging for the future!

They also had a specimen from Africa that just seems so appropriate for Dallas - an Aardwolf.  Why?  The only food it eats are termites, up to 300,000 per day - the perfect pet for Texas! 

     After a quick stop back at the house, we had some excellent Tex-Mex at their favorite restaurant in Richardson, Mi Cocina.  Lea's parents joined us, and it was a great way to finish a fun day!






         

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Thursday September 19 - We're certainly not in Kansas anymore!

      Dudley decided man should not sleep past 6am, so he let Jim know in his persistent way (loudly whining!) that it was time to get up and take he and Rosie out.  Jim dutifully complied. The temperature was nice, low 70's, and we broke camp and departed around 9.
     Our 2 main goals for the day were to see the Oklahoma countryside and to visit the historic town of Guthrie.  The countryside in Oklahoma, at least when one is traveling on I35 or I44, is vastly different from the beautiful and colorful topography in Kansas.  Primary characteristics are: flat land, few rolling hills; an abundance of scrub trees; acre upon acre of brown grass, flecked with low lying scrub and plants.  The countryside, at least north of Oklahoma City, has numerous oil pumping rigs, generally rust colored and just plain ugly! There are grazing herds of cattle, and the same kind of farmhouse "clusters" that appear to be in the center of most ranges.  Overall impression is that the ranchers in Oklahoma weren't as prosperous as those in Kansas. 

     Historic Guthrie is a good place to stop and visit.  It is an attractive, turn-of-the-century town populated with friendly people and lots to do.  The main street Is typical southwestern in appearance and variety of stores.  The Guthrie Museum Complex is a good place to start enjoying the town.  It contains the Carnegie Library and the Oklahoma Territorial Museum.  Out in front of the Museum is a beautiful statute built to commemorate the coming together in 1907 the two territories, "Cowboy" and "Indian".  This marked the admission of the new state of Oklahoma into the United States as it's 46th state.

 

Becky is shown sitting on the wall in front of the Museum and reference library, soaking up the sun.  The photo on the right depicts the coming together of those who had previously faced each other,  primarily as enemies.  
     The Museum is well worth a visit.  It's not particularly large and flashy, but it does an excellent job of explaining the major events that shaped Oklahoma; they are (1) the relocation of Indian Tribes from around the US to Oklahoma, and (2) the Land Rush of 1989 into the "previously unoccupied lands". 
     The Territory of Oklahoma, with the exception of the panhandle, came to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase.  The Panhandle came when Texas joined the United States.  The territories had been predominantly open range, perfect for the nomadic Indian tribes that were in the region.  The U.S government and many state governments, mostly made up of white men with European ancestry, exhibited a nasty distrust and dislike of the native tribes.  Andrew Jackson, the 7th President, formulated a plan approved by Congress to relocate all Indian tribes to territories west of the Mississippi.  Oklahoma got the majority of these relocated tribes.  The story how all this occurred, and the tragedy of what the U.S. government did, is sobering to read; the Museum does a very nice job explaining it all.   

     The second major "story" told by the museum is the Land Rush of April 1889, when the government opened the "unoccupied" lands to homesteaders and speculators.  These people lined up for the rush at Guthrie and other places, and with the starting gun hundreds of people rushed forth to claim their share of this "free" land.  This photo, which is a huge wall painting in the museum, measures roughly 15' x 25'.  An interesting fact we found our was the origination of the word "Sooners".  The term was applied to people who were able to claim their stakes in the land rush "sooner" than the "hoi polloi"; generally politicians, army personnel, or other "favorite sons".

 

     There are a lot of other artifacts and photos throughout the museum, and we quite enjoyed it.  We had originally planned to visit some of the other sites in Guthrie, but after re-reading some of the brochures decided to head on to Texas.  Guthrie was the original state capitol for Oklahoma when it was granted statehood, but was moved shortly thereafter.  Other major sites of note in the city are the Carnegie Library, which is a large research facility; the State Capital Publishing Museum; the Oklahoma Frontier Drugstore and Apothecary Garden; and the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame Museum. 

     Shortly after leaving, a tremendous thunderstorm blew through the area.  We drove right through it, with some heavy buffeting and more leakage onto Becky's lap.  Here's a photo she took as we drove right into its path.

     Fortunately the rain only lasted for an hour or two, and we apparently missed the worst of it.  We drove straight through to Wichita Falls, and crossed the Red River.  The River, which is the dividing line between the two states, is so named because of the Red sand and dirt that make up it's bed and banks.  Because of the draught conditions, the water level is real low and one could almost call it the Little Red Stream!

We arrived at our campground around 4:30, and were surprised to find we're the only overnight transient campers here at KOA Burkburnett/Wichita Falls.  There are a lot of folks here that apparently are here for a long stay. 

  

 

    

Wednesday September 17 The Flint Hills National Scenic Byway

     It felt like it was going to be another hot, sticky windy day, and it was.  After a leisurely breakfast, we set off at 9:30 and headed north from the campground.  One of the biggest pleasures of RV'ing to us is having the ability for amble along on little used rural roads and avoid the interstates.  This was a great day to do this, as our goal was to explore seldom used roads and stay off of I70, which is undergoing heavy construction in this area of Kansas.  Like in most states, warnings are posted "Fines doubled in Construction Zones".  Here in Kansas, this means slowing down to 65 on with one lane open and traffic cones placed within that lane!

     Kansas is a truly  beautiful state when one is not racing along at 75mph.  The undulating hills, the well laid out and maintained fields, the streams lined with hardwoods and ponds everywhere make for a beautiful mosaic with the colorful agricultural fields.  Our route of choice today took us down the Flint Hills Scenic byway, Kansas Route 177.
      One of the most common sights to see is the way the farms are laid out.  The photo at the right is a prime example.  The main farmhouse, barns, silos and other out buildings are generally located in the middle of the property, frequently 1/4 to 1/2 mile from the highways.  The cluster of buildings is surrounded by a copse of trees.  The fields surrounding the cluster are a mix of different grains in varying degrees of growth or getting ready for replanting.  Its almost like watching one landscape painting after another.
     The Flint Hills area was formed 250 million years ago.  The area was under an inland sea that evaporated, leaving alternating layers of limestone and chert (see yesterdays blog!), and very mineral-rich soil.  As a result, this area is used not only as for agricultural, but also for grazing cattle.  The Flint Hills area was the destination for many of the huge Texas cattle drives in the 19th and 20th centuries; the cattle were brought to this area of Kansas, fattened up, and loaded on trains to be shipped to meat processing areas.
     Along the Scenic Byway is the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, owned by the Nature Conservancy but run by the National Park Service.  It consists of a visitor center manned by Park Rangers and offers a variety of experiences for visitors.  The property was once known as the Spring Hill Farm and Stock Ranch, dating back to 1878.  Through the years, the fortunes changed for the owners and in 1935 George Davis bought it and combined it with his Z Bar Ranch; when he died in 1955, it consisted of 11,000 acres, and it became the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in 1996.  Visitors can visit any of the buildings, and walk miles of trails around the property through pastures, along creeks, and just experience both how beautiful and unique a tallgrass prairie really is, and how the land is cultivated and used.
     There is a great short but informative film in the visitor center that explains what the area is all about.  We found the discussion of how valuable fire is to be most interesting.  As far back as the nomadic Indians that inhabited the area, prairie fires were (and are today) deliberately set to kill off all the vegetation and dead scruff that has accumulated.  The burned matter enriches the soil, and allows healthy and abundant new growth to appear that is invaluable for grazing animals (buffalo then, cattle today!).  In this photo Becky took, one can see the dark newly-ploughed earth that had been burned from the center of the photo to the right in a triangular shape.  The white-ish area bordering it on top, up to and including the line of trees, is a burned area with new grass growth coming forth.  The green field beyond that is a field of vegetation that has not been burned.
     Because this was the area for cattle trails and the land where Indians ranged widely and hunted buffalo, there are large metal cutouts (for want of a better term) on the tops of hills in various places overlooking the highways in this part of Kansas.  This is what they look like from a distance, and close up.
     We took a detour during the trip east to the city of Emporia, which is notable for a several important events past and present.  It is where Veterans Day was founded after World War II, replacing Armistice Day that honored only the veterans of WW I.  It is the home of the National Teachers Hall of Fame, which each year selects five teachers nationwide to be recognized and inducted for outstanding service.  It is the location of the home of William Allen White, the famous newspaperman and author (unfortunately it's Wednesday, and it's only open Thursday to Sunday). 
     Emporia also features a Historical Society  research center along with a historical museum.  Finally, it is the site of the Soden's Grove all-veterans memorial, America's first ever.  There are monuments throughout this interesting and bustling little city, including this strange one on the outskirts that resembles Stonehenge!  We have no idea what it is!  We ate lunch in the RV, stopped at a Braum's for ice cream cones, and backtracked to K177 to continue our ride south.  We eventually linked up with I35, as we wanted to get to the campground in Wellington KS by dinner time.  It was not a good day for speeding, and we plodded along at 50-55mph on the 75mph highway due to the very heavy winds.  It was a tough driving day for Jim and uncomfortable riding for the others with all the buffeting from the crosswinds. 
     The KOA campground in Wellington is nicely run, clean, convenient to the highway, and has great internet reception!  A plus in our book!






  
    

  

September 16 & 17 - exit Leawood, back on the Presidential trail!

     Monday the 16th was a "wind down" day after a busy weekend with the Palmers.  The boys were all back in school and Tom was off to work.   The three of us basically lazed away part of the morning and then went grocery shopping at the local chain market, "Price Cutter".  It's a nice chain with good fresh vegetables and fruit, a necessity for us.  We took Jenny out to lunch at a new upscale restaurant she had wanted to try, "Ya Ya's", a European bistro kind of place.  It was excellent, and well worth a visit.

     The afternoon was spent relaxing, doing computer work, and reading until the boys came home.  Jenny made another terrific dinner!  She is quite the cook, and every meal she's made for us on this and other trips has been creative, tasty and healthy!  The boys had homework and music practice to do; afterwards, they lounged around doing their favorite things - here's a typical photo of what they like to do in "down time" - computer games or TV!
     This morning was rainy and just plain ugly - we finally got the weather that we were supposed to have had the past two days.  Tom, Cormac and Colin were off by 7, Jenny took Bennett to school at 8, and after she returned we loaded the dogs in the RV, said our goodbyes, and set off in the downpour.  Our persistent and pesky leak from the roof dripped on Becky, but other than that all was fine.  Our first destination was Lawrence, KS, home of the University of Kansas Jayhawks.  It was a pretty town to drive through, with lots of large, well appointed parks.
     33 years ago we drove on I70 going west through Kansas, when oil shortages had the speed limit (as best as Jim could recall) at 55mph.  Remember those days?  Things have changed - speed limit is now 75mph!  Didn't really make any difference to us, though, as the rain, wind, construction, and driving a Class C RV kept our speed down around 55mph anyway.  Ah well, progress!

     The first stopping point on today's journey was the new Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan, KS.  The city, by the way, is host to the "other" Kansas team, the Kansas State Jayhawks!  The Flint Hills are a geographic region in the Eastern part of Kansas that has been mined for centuries and is technically called "chert".  The Museum is new, having only opened in 2011, and is very modern and well done.  The lobby is pictured here.  They have quite a few interactive exhibits, and do a great job of describing the history, "the science", and what makes the Flint Hills so unique and important.  It's relatively expensive, and one can go through it in an hour, so we wouldn't recommend going to Manhattan just for the museum.  If, however, you're there to see something at K-State, or visiting Fort Riley (Home of the Big Red One, the First Infantry Division and the Cavalry Museum, it's worth a side trip.
     Oh, a little sidelight on the name Manhattan.  The city was originally named "Boston"! Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your perspective, 2 groups of settlers heading west from Ohio and New York State got stranded in "Boston"; they settled there and renamed the city "Manhattan."
     Our final destination, and reason for heading west in Kansas, was to visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library, museum and Boyhood home in Abilene, Kansas. It was sunny, hot and humid when we got there; after opening all the windows and vents for the dogs, we went inside the welcome center and gift shop.  As with the other Presidential museums we have visited, this one had an opening film on the life and accomplishments of the President.  This one, in our view, was too long (28"), not particularly well done, and too much of a "rah rah" film that just didn't leave us with a sense of who "Ike" was and what he had accomplished.
     A tour of his boyhood home is the first stop, which he and the Eisenhower family (he was one of 6 sons that grew up there) lived in.  After Ike went off to West Point, he never lived there again; it remained his mother's home until she passed away in 1946, and her sons opened it to the public.  There is a guide who tells the story, but visitors are restricted basically to the hallways of the first floor and half the dining room/kitchen from which one exits.
     The Museum is next, a large and impressive building with a lot of displays-too many, in our view.  We were really disappointed.  One gets the feeling that one is a World War II history museum, following the timeline of the war, and not a Museum about Eisenhower.  The War is very well covered, and we understand how important Eisenhower's contribution was in the European Theatre, but why spend time on the war in the Pacific?  It also seemed very dated, not comparable at all to the Lincoln and Truman Museum's we've been too.
     After what seemed way too long, we finally got to some exhibits other than World War II.  In the photo above, Becky is in a hallway that tells some of the story of the 1952 Presidential Election, with the Iconic slogan "We Like Ike!.  There was also a very nice section of the museum devoted to Mamie Eisenhower, and her contributions both as a support to Eisenhower the person and also as First Lady.
     We enjoyed the reproduction of his office at Gettysburg.  Before he was elected President, he and Mamie bought a farm in that Pennsylvania town to retire to (their first permanent home, ever!) and after his two terms he really did retire there.  As some of the readers may know, Becky and Jim both attended and graduated from Gettysburg College, and her Freshman dorm was next to his office building!
     There are other buildings and items to see at the Eisenhower complex, including a huge research library (which we didn't go in), his tomb (which was closed today), and this impressive statue with 3 large (we think marble) panels in the background.  Unfortunately, we had just lost interest at that point.
    Abilene Kansas, by the way, is not the Abilene most of us have heard of - the Texas one.  That one is a city.  This Abilene is truly small town mid-America, just as you might picture a small Kansas town to be.  There are a lot of local shops, not a lot of chain restaurants; there are grain silos on the outskirts, and 3 main line rail tracks with multiple sidings.  It looks like a nice place for someone to grow up, and it certainly was the right one for Dwight David Eisenhower!
     We stayed at a nearby campground that took forever to get to because of construction on I70 and entrance/exit closures.  The 4 Seasons RV campground is apparently attached to a dealership, and caters primarily to long term workers.  We were one of only a couple "one-nighters" staying there, but the price was right!

Weekend with the Grandkids - September 14 & 15

     The autumnal weather was perfect for a day outdoors watching the grandkids.  Jenny and Tom Palmer, our son-in-law, live in the beautiful suburb of Leawood, KS.  The town is located about a mile from the Kansas-Missouri line, and just south of "KC-K" and "KC-Mo", as they call the two Kansas City's.  They have 3 sons, and on Saturday Bennett, age 7 had two sporting events-flag football in the morning and soccer in the afternoon.  Jim took a number of action photos, but here are two of the best. In the photo on the right, he has just run down the ball carrier and is pulling the "flag" off his belt.  In the photo below, he's just stolen the ball and is booting it down the field.  
 After the soccer game we headed to downtown KC-Mo, for some afternoon activities and dinner.  Parking at the Union Station garage, we entered the building with the idea of visiting the Science Museum.  However, we saw that a model train exhibit was open at the end of the main concourse, and walked in on several terrific train layouts produced by different model clubs in the area.  The largest was probably 100 foot long, and encompassed cities, countryside, subways, water features, and trains in several different gauges.
  These included HO, Lionel, and "G" scale, or garden scale-the size that runs outdoors in the Singer family garden in Southport.  There were separate Lionel layouts, "N" gauge, and "HO" gauge.  The one that caught everyone's attention, though, was the special Lego train layout.  Bennett was fascinated, as he is by all things "Lego".
     We had gone there primarily to see Science City, but it was only going to be open another 10 minutes.  We went in anyway, and all the kids had a great time running around and climbing on a few things.  Actually, their father Tom did too!  Here is a photo of the three boys in a donated former Police helicopter, similar to the ones the Army used in Vietnam called "Loach's".  The last stop in the building was the Lego retail store.  You can imagine who felt he had died and gone to heaven there!
     There is a restaurant in Kansas City that is somewhat of an institution, called "Fritz's" in Crown Center.  It's basically a 50's style hamburger joint, but the uniqueness is the way the food is delivered to the patron's booths.  They have a "G" scale railroad running around the ceiling with trays suspended beneath the tracks, and the food (except drinks) is delivered on those trays.  They are lowered when they reach your table.  Food was OK, but you're there for the atmosphere!  Pictured from left to right are Jim, Tom, Jenny, Bennett, Becky, Colin and Cormac.
     High on a hill above Union Station is the National World War I Museum.  Though we didn't visit it this time, we had gone there with the family on an earlier trip, and it is really worth a visit.  It commemorates a war that is distant from the memories of most people, and provides a somber reminder of the "War to end all Wars".  The view from the tower is the best 360 degree lookout you can get, and the exhibits are very well done and informative.
     Back at the house, we were all pretty whipped; watched the new "Star Trek" movie and went to bed.
     Bright and early on an overcast Sunday morning, Jenny and Tom departed for a pre-game tailgate party at Arrowhead Stadium prior to the season's opener.  It was a tough day for the intrepid fans, as they have become Kansas City Chiefs fans.  Tough because they are both lifelong Dallas Cowboys fans, and boy were they conflicted as to who they should root for!  They wisely decided to wear Chiefs paraphernalia in red and white, and when they joined us in the afternoon they were able to report the Chiefs won by a point!
     We had the pleasure of being alone with the boys and the dogs, and spent a leisurely morning doing chores and computer work.  The boys wanted to have lunch at one of their favorite spots, a Fireman-themed restaurant called "Firehouse Subs."   OK food, but like Fritz's you go there for the atmosphere.  We had fun with them, and got to watch the beginning of the Chief's/Cowboy's game.
     In the afternoon Colin, age 11, had a basketball game about a 1/2 hour north of where they live.  Cormac stayed home to do homework, but Bennett came with us to help cheer the team on.  Here's a photo of Colin going after the ball.  He's a good, gritty defensive player and fun to watch!  Jenny and Tom joined us at the game, direct from Arrowhead Stadium.  They were whipped from sitting in the baking sun!  The weather, which had been cool in the morning, got pretty hot in the afternoon. The spectators just baked! 
     Arriving back at the house, we were all too tired to cook or go out again, so we had pizza delivered and enjoyed watching "The Life of Pi."
 
    

Friday September 13 - On to Kansas!

     Dudley sounded wakeup call for Jim at 5, but after he and  Rosie completed their morning constitutionals they allowed him to go back to bed for another hour.  It was cool and crisp, a perfect Autumn morning in a nice campground.  KOA Newton Iowa is convenient to I80, has nice wooded sites, and not terribly crowded at this time of year.
     After a leisurely start, we set off for the Maytag farm just north of our campground.  Yes, it is the same Maytag that everyone has heard of, but they have a dairy division that specializes in cheese and the corporation itself is currently owned by Whirlpool!
     We drove the 4 miles to the store/factory, got a taste of their wonderful "Bleu Cheese" that they are  famous for.  We ended up buying that, some cheddar, some Swiss, and a can of Iowa popcorn.  Oh, did we mention Jim loves cheese almost as much as Becky loves chocolate?
     It was an easy but pretty boring 250 mile drive down I35 to Leawood, Kansas - the home of our daughter Jenny Palmer, husband Tom, and their three sons Cormac, Colin, and Bennett.  The only excitement, if you can call it that, came at the first rest stop in Missouri.  Jim got out with the dogs to give them some exercise, and with every step they took on the grass some 100-200 grasshoppers took flight!  Some Biblical plague to go along with the weird weather they've been having in the Midwest this year perhaps?

     We arrived at Jenny's house around 3pm, and the dogs were thrilled to be there and get reacquainted with their "cousin", the Palmer's dog Lilly. They had met her 3 years ago on our around-the-US tour, and they get along great.  Son Colin arrived soon after our arrival, then Jenny & Becky picked up the other two boys.  Colin took off to visit a friend, Cormac gravitated to the family IPAD, and Bennett led the adults to the basement to observe his Lego village and obstacle course.

     The rest of the day/evening was spent settling in and enjoying a great home cooked meal that we didn't have to prepare!

    



 

September 12 - Herbert Hoover and the Amana colonies

     After a very leisurely morning start, we headed east on I80.  It was quite windy as the RV traveled to West Branch, Iowa - birthplace of Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States.  It is a National Park Historical site, and one starts their visit in the Ranger office. A short narrative video provides lots of good information.  Becky and Jim left the RV with all screens open, as the temperature was in the low 70's and the dogs would be comfortable with the fresh air.  We walked around part of the recreated village and posed by Hoovers boyhood home, 60% of which is original structure and furnishings.  Additionally, there is a reconstructed blacksmith shop, similar to the one his father operated before dying at the age of 35.  A docent blacksmith is on site to answer questions about "Bert" and his family, a nice touch.

     Adjacent to the National Park site is the Hoover Museum and Library.  As we've found at other Presidential Libraries, this museum is a great tribute to President Hoover, and certainly tells a different story about the man than what we learned in school ( primarily that he was the President who took us in to the great depression of 1929).

     Hoover's parents both died in their mid-30's, and he was orphaned at the age of 10.  They were a strong Quaker family, and he was sent to live with relatives in Oregon who continued raising him in that tradition.  He went to Stanford and got his engineering degree, and clearly found his calling.  The visit to the museum starts with a 22" film about his life, and we were surprised to learn that he worked as a mining engineer for a British Company and became a very successful manager for them.  He ran their operations in Australia, where he was credited with discovering a gold mine.   That led to him being promoted to run their operations in China.  The promotion and additional money allowed him to marry his wife Lou, who came from California.  They departed the following day for China, and lived through the Boxer rebellion.  The visitor follows the path of his life by moving from room to room, where there are numerous galleries, photos, and illustrations from newspapers and magazines.  Several scenes of his life are presented as
stage sets, with life size figures of Hoover (note the scene above where he is in his office in the Outback).  What was truly amazing to find out was the scope of his humanitarian relief efforts, beginning during and after WW I.  He organized a massive relief for the people of Belgium during the war, and subsequently for the whole continent after the Armistice.  Several years late, after having been President only 8 months, Wall Street collapsed, This doomed both his Presidency and his reputation.  He had actual foreseen economic disaster years earlier because of President Harding and Coolidge's "hands off" approach regarding big business.  No friend of FDR, he went "into the Wilderness", basically becoming a political outcast until 1946.  Harry Truman asked him to repeat his WW I success in providing massive relief to the European continent.  He did, and was forever recognized for his humanitarian efforts.
     There is a special area devoted to his wife, Lou, who was a major support throughout their long marriage and a great humanitarian in her own right.
     After departing the Museum, we walked by the Quaker meeting house so important to his early upbringing and shaping of his character.  Inside, Becky got to sit in a pew and repeat one of her favorite ditties-"Quaker meeting has begun, no more laughing, no more fun......"  It was a good ending to the visit there!
     After lunch, we drove to the Amana Colonies, which Jim had never heard of.  Amana always meant to him a brand of appliances, which in fact did emanate from these communities!  There are seven towns in all, with a 17-mile loop of roads connecting them together.  The Colonies were founded by a German religious group from the Mainz area that came to the U.S. in the 1850's to escape religious persecution.  Originally settling in near Buffalo NY, they outgrew their land and moved en masse to Iowa, where the present communities are located.  They were basically a communal society isolated from the outside world and were entirely self contained.  Knowing little about them, it was most interesting to learn how different they were from the more commonly known Amish and Mennonites.  They had no problem using modern tools and techniques, did not prohibit alcohol (they had wineries and made beer), and after WW I, participated in the U.S. military.  They sent many of their sons to fight in WW II.  Yet they believed in staying apart from the world outside their colony.

    We walked through one of the towns, Amana, and visited the museum and went in several stores.  The one with fudge was quite good!  Afterward, we drove along the 220 Trail through 6 of the 7 communities, none of which are particularly prosperous these days. 
     Their way of life basically ended in 1932, when fire destroyed two of their main industries that sold products to the outside world.  The residents voted to dissolve the communal way of life.  There is still an Amana Corporation that oversees many businesses, but the members of the community have basically assimilated into everyday American life.  Oh yes - one of their businesses was the Amana Appliance company that made stoves and the first microwave over, the Amana RadarRange.  That company has since been sold off, and is now part of the Whirlpool Corporation.
     Instead of riding the 60+ miles back to our campsite on I80, we chose to follow old historic Route US 6.  It was much nicer, with virtual no traffic and a 55-mile speed limit in most places.  The only town of any size was Grinnell, home of the liberal arts college of the same name.  Undulating hills, and miles after mile of corn, alfalfa, and soybeans graced the countryside. Jim grew up thinking corn was the perfect food- ie, corn on the cob, popcorn, niblets in a can, etc. etc.  Now he knows that most of it really goes to feed animals and dilute our gasoline!  What could be more fitting than to end this days Blog than a photo of those fields!