Stephen H. Long Trail 1819 — 1820

Day 21: September 13th, 2008 Wichita (River Walk, Old Cowtown Museum)

Map Wichita, Old Cowtown Museum

Today I totally slept in. It is already 8am when I eventually wake up. Slowly, my lack of sleep becomes noticeable. It is almost 10am until I have everything stored in my car and finished my checking out. For breakfast they recommend the IHOP, the International House of Pancakes. Is this really the best choice for my diarrhea?

Anyways, I drive over to this place. But the people are already lining up outside the front door. This is way too much for me and I drive on. But I am not able to find anything else. Therefore I stop at a gas station to have at least this done. Because I also need an oil change I was looking for an oil change station. But I was not able to find the one I have seen in the phone book. So I drive back to IHOP and I realize that the waiting has reduced significantly. Therefore I give it a try.

After almost a quarter of an hour I receive my table. The breakfast is really huge and for the first time I must return some of the hashbrowns because I am totally full. But the crêpes are absolutely great!

Then I start again my search for an oil change station. As alternative to Jiffy Lube I find the Rock Road Quick Lube. As I don’t want to search around any longer I pull in their driveway. There, everything runs smoothly and quick. But even though it takes almost until noon before I am ready for departure!

W Lewis St, Arkansas River, Wichita, KS

At least the weather seems to hold up. Because my trip would start in Downtown anyway I drive down to the Arkansas River. There I see that the river has already flooded the area. There is also a parking lot, where I am able to stop.

Flooded River Walk, Arkansas River, Wichita, KS

Flooded River Walk, Arkansas River, Wichita, KS

Flooded River Walk, Arkansas River, Wichita, KS

Flooded River Walk, Arkansas River, Wichita, KS

Flooded River Walk, Arkansas River, Wichita, KS

Museums On The River, Wichita, KS

Flooded River Walk, Arkansas River, Wichita, KS

Flooded River Walk, Arkansas River, Wichita, KS

Flooded River Walk, Arkansas River, Wichita, KS

Flooded River Walk, Arkansas River, Wichita, KS

Flooded River Walk, Arkansas River, Wichita, KS

Flooded River Walk, Keeper of the Plains, Arkansas River, Wichita, KS

Flooded River Walk, Keeper of the Plains, Arkansas River, Wichita, KS

Flooded River Walk, Arkansas River, Wichita, KS

Keeper of the Plains, Wichita, KS

Keeper of the Plains, Wichita, KS

Flooded River Walk, Arkansas River, Wichita, KS

At the River Walk I am able to get some nice shots from signs, which are half under water.

Statue, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Then I drive on to the Old Cowtown Museum. There I meet Catherine who is very interested in history and especially the old cattle trails. So we chat for almost an hour before I enter the museum.

Wagon, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Broken Wagon, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Wagon, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Church, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Church, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Stable, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Coach, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Storage, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Station, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Station, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Station, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Main Street, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Scale House, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Scale House, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Blacksmith, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Blacksmith, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Blacksmith, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Reenactor, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Reenactors, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Main Street, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Turnverein Hall, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Turnverein Hall, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Turnverein Hall, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Southern Hotel, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Southern Hotel, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Southern Hotel, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Southern Hotel, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Saloon, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Pharmacy, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

Pharmacy, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita, KS

There is so much to see that the remaining three hours are simply not enough. There is also a brief shootout happening for the tourists. Finally, the reenactor in the pharmacy tells me a lot about the medical situation in former times.

Highway 54/400, Wichita, KS

Around 6pm I am back at the Visitor Center and chat a bit with Catherine. Finally we decide that she, David, who also works here, and his wife Melanie will join me for dinner. We agree to meet at Logan’s Roadhouse. But first I must drive back to the motel.

There I am able to receive a room. Funnily enough, it is again room 211 like last time! Also the employee at the reception remembers me and of course asks what I am doing around here. I tell her briefly about my historic trails. But unfortunately I don’t have much time for talking, because the other guys are already waiting for me. So I quickly put my stuff into the room before I hit the road again.

To my surprise I find Logan’s Roadhouse without any searching around. There is only the road construction where you must circle around before you finally arrive at your destination. We have a nice evening and David is an absolutely funny guy, where you can laugh a lot.

Around a quarter past nine we say good–bye. The two are taking Catherine back home and I am driving back to my motel. There, I first write my diary. Then I continue with the video taping of today. Around midnight I slowly finish my work to eventually be able to go to bed…