Great Bend, KS

We drove to Great Bend this morning and picked up a plant to place at the gravesite of my grandparents. We found Great Bend to be a nice small town. The downtown area is still vital. The old movie theater is now a community playhouse, and the marquee has been restored. It must be a sight at night with all the lights on.

Very few shops were closed down, which has not been the case in many of the small towns we have visited. It is the county seat, which likely helps.

There were enough things to do in the area we decided that a return trip would be in the cards. They actually have a nice zoo with tigers and lions!.

We found the family plot and placed the flowers. It is sad that there is no longer family in the area to visit, but we are spread, literally, across the globe.

After the cemetery we dropped by the small home my grandparents lived in from the early 40’s until my grandmother’s death in 1973. It still stands, but has not been updated like many of the homes in the area. In fact, the old residential area of Great Bend has held up very well and is a very inviting place.

We returned to Russell, checked out of the campground, and headed to Topeka. The rolling countryside was green with spring foliage and it was a pleasant drive. Somewhere along the line a vehicle sprayed us with tar. At first I thought it was a lot of small bugs when I tried to wash the front of the coach. It turned out to be a real pain in the neck to get off. Once that chore was complete we had a moment to sit and enjoy the nice campground for a few minutes.

This campground seems new and has to be the cleanest one we have ever been in. Like most parks near the interstates there is considerable traffic noise, but it is still a nice place. Too bad we are only here one night.

Tomorrow we continue to Moscow, IA for our Monday appointment at the HWH Corporation to have the slides and jacks worked on.