Westward Ho trip; Ogalla, Kansas

My next planned stop of my "Westward Ho" trip was the Cedar Bluff Conservation Area near Ogalla, Kansas.

I knew this dispersed campground would be hard to find. It was down several back roads and none of them were identified on my map, or the map I downloaded on line. 

Why do some maps give the number of the road, but when you get there, all the street signs give a name? 

With my amazing sense of direction, one or two wrong turns, and pure blind luck, I managed to find it, along with a couple of abandoned houses and a cool old church. 

Somehow, I didn't notice that is an old railroad stock car being used as a shed until I was editing the photos!

I finally find the campground and it was a nice wide area overlooking a lake.

Too bad the yahoos that were here last left such a mess. Trash is strewn all over the place. 

I didn't think to take a photo until after I had picked up most of it.

It’s too nice a site to just leave, so I pick up about 20 mountain dew cans, various paper trash, and a bunch of firewood logs strewn about the place. All the trash that was burnable went into the fire pit that was still smoldering and hot enough to catch fire within seconds of dropping trash into it. Smoky the Bear would not be happy.

As I am picking all this up, I also notice half cooked hot dogs all over the place. Must have been one big food fight. It’s not until just before I settle in that I start to see several places where someone lost their cookies. And I don’t mean the kind that come in a box.

Fortunately none of those spots are too close to where I had parked.

I munch some snacks while sitting on the tailgate and watched a glorious sunset over a lake with ominous dead trees rising up from the surface.  

Next Blog; Heading for Colorado.

Photoblog-A day at the beach

A day at the beach... 

Ahh, those words evoke a feeling of excitement

Myrtle beach, South Carolina

mixed with the hope of relaxation. 

Myrtle beach, South Carolina

While I no longer spend a lot of time IN the ocean (yes, blame JAWS) I do enjoy a nice stroll along the beach.  I like the feeling of a gentle, warm wind on my body, my toes sinking into soft sand, and cool water tickling my feet. I could however, do without that sand getting into places I’d rather it not.

I try to stay away from the beaches where umbrellas and tents crowd the beach like colorful, make shift ghettos.  I prefer the quieter beaches.

I never know what I may see while I walk along one of these beaches. I have seen dolphins playing just off shore, cool seashells, and once, washed up on shore, I saw what I assumed to be a piece of manta ray with a very clean (and large) bite out of it.  Usually though, I am pleasantly surprised with the little things I see.

Hunting Island, South Carolina

 

I even like visiting a pier or boardwalk on the ocean. There are usually interesting things to look at.

 



 














We all know that beaches can be particularly impressive near sunrise or sunset.
 

Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

Flagler Beach, Florida (1978)

They can even be interesting at night.

Atlantic Beach, night storm at sea.

Sometimes beaches can be downright intimidating!

 

Other times they are very impressive.

Along US 1, California

Acadia National Park, Maine

 

I think the best way to visit a beach is to stay in a condo or hotel right on the beach. That way you can see it from your room and visit it whenever the mood strikes. It’s also nice to be able to go back and clean the salty ocean air off yourself.

Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

Any day at the beach is better than any day just about anywhere else. 

Lahania, Maui

Seven Caves region Maui

Where is your favorite beach?


 

This blog was written for Focus on This

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