Great Bend to Cheyenne Bottoms; Distance = 13 Miles; People Met = 7
The day got off to a rocky start, with some technical difficulties posting to the web. Hiking is only half of what I do on this journey; reporting on it and giving talks are the other half. I left my computer in the First UMC office to do a virus scan while we put our miles in that day.
We were coming back to Great Bend because Pastor Stan Crawford of the UCC in Great Bend offered to take us out to supper and lodge us in a motel that night as well. That was an offer we could not refuse. Ky picked us up at our destination, Cheyenne Bottoms, and brought us back to the Best Western where we were to stay.
Pastor Stan met us around 6:30 and chauffeured us to a Mexican Restaurant, Playa Azul. Pastor Stan and I have in common a history of changing jobs. Some of his jobs included electronics, deputy and restaurateur. His calling to ministry came later in life, when he was close to 50.
We met up with his wife Janet, their daughter Betsy, and her husband Mike. We had a jovial conversation that included speeding tickets and the history of Kansas. Betsy received a Masters in History and was not shy about sharing her knowledge. Pastor Stan shared that people had informed him they saw an old man and young blonde walking on the road.
Betsy, Mike, Stan and Janet
The highlight of the day was traveling through Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area. This is an international reserve for a major migratory route. The most numerous wayfarers are geese, both Canadian and Snow, but we encountered ducks, sandpipers, herons, pheasants, hawks and blackbirds as well. There may have been hundreds of thousands of geese on the lake as we passed by, a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle to behold. Take a listen.
I drew the short stick(ok so I was out of the office) and ended up interviewing the hiking humanitarians. So far this summer, we’ve interviewed the person dragging the cross across the US and the person walking(but riding in an RV when the camera was off). I wasn’t initially excited. However, I actually really enjoyed talking with you. And, we know at least one person read the story-or at least looked at the pic!
Would you be willing to reformat the above as a letter to the editor? We need to promote Cheyenne Bottoms in our own community. We have many people who have lived here all of their lives, and have never been out there.
Good luck, stay warm and healthy,
Karen La PIerre
Thanks, Karen, I think.
Greetings Karen,
I sent the Letter to the Editor.
It was awesome!!! Thanks. Actions speak so much louder than words. My initial impression was that you were sincere, and I now know this is true.
Thanks Karen.