wow, huh, and why

So I’ve spent almost a week in Kansas now and here are some of my general conclusions. Under the wow heading… I took a drive straight south in the western half of Kansas (which by the way is much different than the eastern part). My drive took me through Greensburg, KS. For those who don’t remember, Greensburg was just about wiped off the map a couple months ago by a tornado. All I can say is wow. The farms and fields surrounding the town looked like the rest of Kansas, except they were littered with debris – crumpled metal, hunks of wood, or random items like a garbage can or other household items. Driving into to town the first thing I noticed were the huge piles of rubble; then the trees which looked like fuzzy sticks as they had been stripped of their branch, but were starting to grow again; next were the street lights and stop lights that were just poles with wires hanging down – the lights were gone. The row of emergency tents was especially humbling. There really is nothing left of the town. And structures left are random walls attached to nothing. But the best part is that the town is going to rebuild!!


These pictures are pitiful in terms of capturing anything. If you want to check out some real pictures go here.

As I drove farther east, I kept passing these signs to come pet the pigs and see the world’s largest prairie dog. Clearly, I had to see that. So I pulled up to the bright red shack/trailer in the middle of nowhere. This place was definitely a scratch your head, huh, kind of place. Behind the trailer was a dusty dirt field with prairie dogs running allover.
I would step over a hole in the ground and a little prairie dog head would pop up under me. But sadly the world’s largest prairie dog is cement. But this place didn’t just have a cement prairie dog, it had goats roaming around, snakes, pigs, and the strangest cows you’ve ever seen or ever want to see. Yes this cow has five legs.

Notice the fifth leg hanging from its neck…hoof and all. Now there was a six-legged cow, but she never got up for a photo-op. But her extra lags were coming out her rear end. All this for the low, low price of $6.95. Are there words…I don’t think so.



And lastly, truly under the why question is this…
It is an 80-foot easel with a 24ft by 32 ft replica of Vincent Van Gough’s Sunflowers. It sits in Goodland, KS with not much fanfare. It is true in eastern Kansas; there are some inventive ways to get you to pull off the highway.

Gas update:
Manhattan, KS - $2.99
Russell, KS - $2.89
Denver, CO - $3.09