Hutchinson
Cosmosphere
I wished to visit Cosmosphere in Hutchinson to approximately 280 km
away from Topeka. Consequently I left as of early dawn. After a
frugal lunch I began the visit at noon to leave five hours later
without having all considering. Lonely Planet which is not with a
panegyric close affirms: “America's Best Space Museum”. I had
visited on the 1/25/2012
John F. Kennedy Space Center in Titusville, FL, which is
remarkable. But I must concede that Cosmosphere presents the space
conquest as of its German origins in 1930 with Wernher von Braun. The
photos of the gallery thus relates to this aspect and the track race
between the USA and the UDSSR but overlooks the technological
change. To click on the photograph to
visualize the gallery
Wichita
Old Cowtown Museum
On Tuesday, August 4 I visited an old village characteristic of the
end of the 19th century reconstituted with houses of time,
transplanted and restored with their interior. All these
reconstituted villages are museums in open-air. It is located on the
banks of the Arkansas River close to Wichita, KS, which was also a
cowtown around the years 1870-90. It was a dark and rainy day. In
middle of afternoon I continued my road to Pratt on the Hwy #400
where I found a Walmart and its carpark. The temperature becomes
more bearable at the altitude of 500 meters. The landscapes are
characteristic of the Great Plains of the west American, flatness
crossed by a rectilinear hwy.
Dodge City
Le mercredi 5 août
j’entrais dans Dodge City vers 10h00. L’entrée est caractéristique des
villes de la Great Plains, d’immenses silos à grains, des quartiers
dépeuplés et délabrés, la railway omniprésente supportant des convois de
plusieurs kilomètres tractés par quatre montueuses motrices diesel
vrombissantes et hurlantes à chaque passage à niveau non gardé. Par
contre le centre-ville est exigu et bien entretenu. Le Old Dodge City
est quasi inexistant l’immeuble le plus ancien date de 1879, les autres
furent édifiés au début du 20e siècle. Muni du walking tour
du Visitor Centre je le parcourais en deux heures me concentrant sur le
trail of Fame. Les trottoirs son parsemés de médaillons des notables de
la ville dont Wyatt Earp et Doc Holliday. Je déjeunais frugalement dans
le camion avant de reprendre la route pour Lamar, CO, où, Oh bonheur, je
trouvais un bivouac au bord du mythique Arkansas River.
Old Town
On Wednesday, August 5 I entered Dodge City around 10:00. The entry
is characteristic of the cities of Great Plains, immense grain
silos, depopulated and dilapidated districts, the omnipresent
railway supporting of convoys of several kilometers tractor drawn by
four huge motor coaches diesel humming and howling at each level
crossing. On the other hand the downtown area is exiguous and well
maintained. Old Dodge City is quasi non-existent the oldest building
goes back to 1879, the others were built at the beginning of the
20th century. Provided with the walking tour by Visitor Center I
traversed it in two hours concentrating me on the Trail of Fame.
Pavements its strewn with medallions of notable of the city of which
Wyatt Earp and "Doc" Holliday. I lunched frugally in my truck before
taking again the road for Lamar, CO, where, Oh happiness, I found a
bivouac at the edge of mythical Arkansas River.
To click on the photo below to visualize the
photo gallery.
Bivouac
 |
 |
| Bivouac at the edge of Arkansas River |
Howard, CO
On Thursday, August 6 on the way towards Howard I visited
Royal Gorges Bridge in Canon City with two
spectacular attractions, Cloudscraper by ZipRider and Skycoaster
whose photos are given by the gallery below. After lunching I
traversed the road along Arkansas River to go to Pleasant Valley RV
Park where I had appointment with Olivia & Fred of whom I had become
acquainted on May 30th, 2012 at the time of my first journey into
the USA. The camp-site is located at 2029 m of altitude (GPS), I
remained four days there to have rest and acclimatize me to altitude!
To click on the photo below to visualize the
photo gallery
Royal Gorge Bridge, Canon City, CO
Pleasant Valley RV Park
 |
 |
| Bivouac at the edge of Arkansas River again |
 |
 |
| Olivia & Fred |
Hecla Junction, CO
Olivia & Fred proposed to me to walk on Friday, August 7. I accepted well
readily. We left in the morning to attend rafting the Arkansas River in
white water which is the most popular in the USA. Its traverses
approximately 20 miles with difficulties From Class I to Class V. We saw the
rafters at Hecla Junction. It was a charming spectacle. Further on an
activity is proposed to the young people to be driven in space. Olivia &
Fred invited me to lunch in Salida. It was a day very enriching by the
comments by my hosts.
To click on the photo below to visualize the
photo gallery
Hummingsbirds, Stellula calliope
Farmer Market
On Saturday, August 8 I accompanied Olivia
& Fred to the Farmer Market in Salida then in other stores of which
Gunshop for my pleasure. We returned to the campground by a
road going along the Arkansas River.
To click on the photo below to visualize the
photo gallery
Guy by Olivia with her smartphone
 |
 |
| Pleasant Valley |
At Gunshop |
 |
 |
| At the Farmer Market |
By the means of Fred I became acquainted with a camper-driver, who
could make me mosquito nets for the doors of the cabin. I gave him
the occlusions by Nouvel' Air as model. Thus the ventilation of my
vehicle was improved to refresh the cell during the night. On Sunday
morning I was invited to a drink offered by an inhabitant of
Pleasant Valley. Of course I was interviewed by the participants.
 |
 |
| Making mosquito nets |
 |
 |
| The hostess of the reception on Sunday morning |
 |
 |
| Morning visitors |
