Travel Tuesday: Castle Rock Badlands

I love Kansas, and fun and unique destination and am constantly trying to visit unique Kansas locations, I have the books, Kansas Curiosities, The Kansas Guidebook, and 8 Wonders of Kansas Guidebook. While coming back from the Stock Show in Denver last month we decided to take a little detour south of Quinter, Kansas to see the Castle Rocks. 


These are large limestone pillar landmarks in Gove County, in the Smoky Hills region of Kansas.
 Even before we arrived at the official Castle Rocks, you started to notice the unique rock formations in pastures. 

We drove about  11 miles south of I-70, and followed the signs. 

This was the "entrance" sign

The site has been designated as a National Natural Landmark, yet is on private range land. It takes you back in time, can you imagine riding a horse and come upon this formation? As you can see there is a simple path (on the left side of this picture). Its rather rough and some of the ruts are pretty deep. Being in a pick up was a plus. 

Taken from atop the major hill

A little history: Castle Rock has been used as a landmark for several hundred years. In the 1800s, the Butterfield Overland Dispatch followed the Smoky Hill Trail which passed just a few hundred yards north of the then larger chalk formation.

Ruts from the Butterfield Overland Dispatch trail can be found a few hundred yards north of Castle Rock. The Rock was named by Lt. Julian Fitch in June, 1865 while he was surveying the trail for David Overland's company. (courtesy of Kansastravel.org)

There are a few different paths to take, it was a cold and windy day so we did our sightseeing from the seat of the pick up. I hope to go back when its nice and be able to get up close and see the sites from angles you can only get from being up close and personal. 

 
This is cattle country, I couldn't resist taking a pictures of this fence that goes right along with the terrain. 

The last formation on our way out. 

Agriculture & Sports: A great combination

I grew up playing sports, and then when I “got old” I started coaching.  I come from an athletic family. 

My great grandpa played on the first baseball team in Manhattan. My dad as an athlete at the University of Nebraska, his dad boxed in the Navy. The list can go on and on.  All of my family appreciates the life lessons sports teach. 

While I grew up in an athletic family I also grew up in one that is deeply rooted in agriculture.  This might be why I value and get kinda excited when sports meet agriculture! 

These two articles are circulating around. 

1. These 7 Professional Athletes are Also Farmers

2. NFL Owner Stan Kroenke Buys Texas Mega-Ranch Listed for $725 Million

I am excited to read about athletes that get their workout in the barn stacking hay or those that value working with their hands in the soil. 

Then I read the article about the Waggoner Ranch selling.  I was a little…what’s the word? hesitant, nervous, apprehensive, or maybe skeptical.  I am not really sure what to say. So, let’s be positive and go for “hopeful” When I read about NFL Owner Stan Kroenke buying the Waggoner Ranch. The Waggoner Ranch has been run by the same family for over 100 years. Let's hope the new owner is a good steward of the ranch and its employees. I hope he sees this place for what it truly is.... one of the truly great western ranches of history. I hope it stays under one fence. Hopefully for the history, heritage, and employees and families of the ranch he keeps it operating as is.

Because when agriculture and sports come together it can be great!

Sore Throat Soother Tea

This winter in Kansas has been a little strange, its 32 degrees and snowing one day and the next its sunny at 60.  With changes like this people tend to get a cold and I couldn't avoid it any longer!

Just this past year I started selling DoTerra Essential Oils and I have been trying to incorporate them more into my life. I am not going all out on this Essential Oil kick, and have no plans to make this a home remedy blog, but I am getting a little more brave about sharing Essential Oils. So here goes the first post :)

Like I said I couldn't fight off the cold that people "everywhere" seem to be getting, but this "tea" seemed to ease the throat discomfort.