Howdy folks!

We tore across the wide open spaces at such a rate, that I’m posting a few days behind 🤠 so to catch you up briefly:

Kansas was wonderful. We drove along and farmed the entire route. Wheat harvest is in full swing, and we are keeping a running tally of combines spotted. Several of the ladies with me can spot a machine a mile away 🙂 We understood the urgency as the farmers hurried along in front of a big wall of thunderheads. We cheered when we spotted a young lady running a grain cart. And if the farmers happened to notice the white ford full of fascinated ladies smiling from ear to ear will remain a mystery. But these are our people.

Boot Hill Musuem was full of history and transported us back to the era where Wyatt Erp ruled with an iron hand. We grieved over the graves in the cemetery that stated “unknown cowboy” and wondered at his family  that never received answers. 

We came acosss the most beautiful scene and stopped and feasted our eyes. We were even graciously given rides. Usually Friesen Harvesting runs four S670s but this day they had a machine and operator giving a hand to a neighbor who’s 15 year old son had been killed in a car crash. They were hitting their harvest with 10 machines, multiple trucks, and grain carts. What a neat way to offer encouragement! Isn’t the farming family a powerful gift? And we all smelled like chaff when we left. Oh beautiful harvest 😍

Yay Texas!!!

We visited several dairies in TX and were again impressed by the management. It’s hard to fathom the amount of book work it takes to keep up with a 3,750 cow dairy. They sort cows every Friday, and can have 300 cows sorted into new pens in about 2 hours! This herd was doing really well with milk production at 68 lbs/cow. Also Jersey calves are the cutest

The feedlots are another source of fascination. So many thousand of cows! Notice the grain bins in the background? When we drove a little further, the middle rings of the main bin looked like someone had stuck a giant knife in it. There were still telltale piles of corn around the footer of the bin.

Rain had shut down Jason’s (Becky’s bro) crew, so we were honored he was able to join us for supper. We tried some local flair-Texas Roadhouse 🙂 

The road stretched on and on as we left our beloved farmland and traveled along the less travelled parts. 

Extra time allowed us to check out some random things we stumbled across-like the Billy the Kid Musuem. Clearly Deborah has practiced her tough face more than Lois. 😝 

This stop made me sad -a kid who got off on the wrong foot, made some bad choices, hurt a lot of people and eventually was shot the night before he was planning to elope to Mexico. There was a poem written about his kind polite gentle nature which I thought was sweet. Somehow when I learned that it was written by the Bonnie of Bonnie and Clyde- my view changed a little. But I guess they saw each other as people not just wanted criminals.

We didn’t count the freight trains on our route. But I had to laugh at Lois “I keep thinking I need to say ‘”look another train’, but I’m afraid that it’s getting boring!” I don’t think it’s exaggerating to say we saw 30 trains in less than 4 hours.

Yes what a beautiful land! 

And the most exciting part of New Mexico- (who am I kidding-each part is exciting. If these ladies keep up the current level of enthusiasm for each new adventure… ☺️)

Click here for singing road
The singing road in Tejaras, NM on historic Route 66. I was really nervous when we didn’t see any signs anouncing this marvel. But someone had left a detailed review in the internet and we followed it exactly. And sure enough-2 Little blue signs with a music note and “slow down to 45 mph”.

If you notice the notes go a little sour part way through the song… I was listening instead of driving and got below 45 mph 🙈 so so neat!!

Anyhow, we are now breathing fresh Rocky Mountain air and have traded the 100* desert air for 60* freshness. 

And we are off to wander along the mountain streams and pretend that we are ranchers of this vast land ☺️

You see, you can get the farmer off the farm, but it’s hard to get the farming out of the farmer 👨‍🌾 

See you down the trail, 

Kendra 

P.S Farren Foto: #minime