Stephen H. Long Trail 1819 — 1820

Day 20: September 12th, 2008 Dodge City — Wichita

Map Dodge City to Wichita

Thanks to my ear plugs — or maybe due to the change in timezone — I totally sleep in and wake up not before half past seven. Well, it was already half past one in the morning when I went to bed yesterday. Quickly I jump under the shower. Then I put my stuff into the car. Lucky me it is only slightly raining right now. So I am able to get everything into my truck kind of try.

Around half past nine I check out and drive on to the Dodge House, were I had already breakfast last time when I was here. The price for the breakfast is moderate and the food is okay. The server is pretty cheerful and makes a lot of jokes with the guests. Most of the people in this restaurant are locals and regular customers.

W Trail St, Dodge City, KS

At a quarter past ten I pay and drive over to the next gas station. Originally I planned to visit Roger & Pangie at the Sinclair gas station, who have helped me on my break issues when I was following the Zebulon Montgomery Pike Trail to Red River, Arkansas Journey. But I am already so terribly late that I am forced to directly drive through.

Highway 400, KS

Highway 400, KS

Ridge Rd, KS

132 Rd/Bellefont Rd, KS

Jewell Rd, KS

In light rain I am driving along the Arkansas River on Highway 154 and 400. Then I turn onto Ridge Road. This one is a gravel road and has some washouts due to the rain. Just to be safe, I kick in the 4WD. You can really feel the new limited slip in the rear, because the rear side is getting extremely nervous even when slightly hitting the gas pedal. Sometimes you are really busy to keep the truck within the road.

88 S10 Blazer, Jewell Rd, KS

But I think it may make more sense to skip these backroads this time. The soil is in some areas so soft that I am really worried to get stuck or to slide in the ditch.

88 S10 Blazer, 70th Ave, KS

The last stretch up to Highway 50 not far away from Kinsley definitely convinces me on this plan. Indeed, the road doesn’t look this bad — but only, because no one has driven on it yet. But this road is so extremely softened up that I am sometimes driving almost diagonally to the road — and according to this my truck is getting really muddy here. From top to bottom, everything is covered with mud. When I stop at the main road two Jeep drivers greet me when passing by. There you can see the real offroad guys…

Highway 183, Kinsley, KS

On Highway 56 I first drive through Kinsley. The car is so muddy that even the rain is not able to get my windows free. Also the mud on my hood is still there. I stop at a historical marker to get at least the side windows free to avoid driving completely blind.

Highway 56/SW Trail St, Larned, KS

Highway 56/Broadway St, Larned, KS

Highway 56/Broadway St, Larned, KS

Then I continue through Larned, KS.

Highway 56, KS

At Great Bend I have a stop over at a gas station to gas up and really clean my windows. Then I continue my journey.

Highway 56/96 Santa Fe Blvd, Ellinwood, KS

Ave Q, Arkansas River, KS

Ave Q, KS

Near Ellinwood I leave the bigger highway again and try to follow the river course on smaller roads.

While doing this I try to avoid the gravel roads and stay on paved roads. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work out always, because often the paved road turns to gravel after several miles. But lucky me it is not getting too muddy anymore.

Ave U, KS

88 S10 Blazer, Ave U, KS

Ave U, KS

Arkansas River, KS

When getting closer to Wichita, the roads are getting much worse. At one gravel road I turn around voluntarily because I already see that half of the road is flooded. This is something I don’t must really drive through. Therefore I turn around and drive back to the main road.

88 S10 Blazer, Backroad, KS

9th Rd, KS

12th Rd, Arkansas River, KS

On smaller paved roads I cross the Arkansas River.

Finally I reach Sterling and continue on Highway 14/96.

Then I continue again on smaller paved roads and drive through Mickerson.

W Clark Rd, KS

S Broadacres Rd, KS

S Broadacres Rd, KS

S Yoder Rd, Highway 559, KS

At Hutchinson I take for a short stretch Highway 50 before I turn onto the smaller Highway 559.

On this one I cross once again the Arkansas River and drive then through Yoder.

S Worthington Rd, KS

S Worthington Rd, KS

On paved roads and good gravel roads I make good progress.

W 117th St N, KS

At W 117th St N the rain catches me again.

W 53rd St N, Maize, KS

With real flooded roads I am finally confronted in Maize. One road is already closed and I must turn around. But also the crossing to Highway 96 is in some areas under water. Now I am really happy to have my high SUV. With this one I can drive into the water as if everything is fine. But I would not try this with a regular passenger car, because it is simply looking to deep…

N McLean Blvd, Wichita, KS

Lewis St, Arkansas River, Wichita, KS

W Waterman St/S Wichita St, Wichita, KS

Finally I arrive in Wichita. My GPS software navigates me a bit weird. But I arrive at Highway 54 anyways. This one takes me to my destination of today, the Motel 6. This one is in the style of the Studio 6 motels having an elevator inside and also room doors to the inside. Around half past six I check in.

For dinner they recommend the Scotch & Sirloin which is not too far from the motel. I say thank you and pack my stuff together. My room is on second floor because the third floor is reserved for the smoking rooms. To my surprise you have even free Internet at this motel. But when I try to log in I am asked for an user name and a password. So I quickly ask at the reception what to do. There I receive my access data. They have been forced to do this because there where to many people parking outside and abusing the open Internet.

I say thank you and immediately try the Internet access. This works now without any issues. However, you need once again the Internet Explorer to log in. I also take a brief look at the recommended restaurant on the Internet. But when looking at the prices of around 30 Dollar I decide to better drive over to the Outback Steakhouse. Thanks to the phone book and my GPS software it doesn’t take long to find the closest one.

My diarrhea also bothers me more and more. Therefore I take some medication before I leave. Around half past seven I depart for the Outback Steakhouse. There they are busy like hell and I must wait around a quarter of an hour until my name is called. Eventually it is my turn and I receive my table. Because I have to catch up a lot of food due to my runs I order today the 11 ounce Outback Special.

This one is pretty good and you cannot compare it to my yesterdays steak. Around a quarter past nine I pay and start my drive back to the motel. When I arrive there I write my diary first. Then I start checking my video taping. Around midnight I am eventually able to go to bed…

The next day is in preparation…