Day 2 - We ARE in Kansas!

The times I've driven across SW Kansas over the years have left one main impression: Hwy 54 and the adjacent RR track are like the strings in a necklace. The beads, or baubles, on this necklace are the wheat elevators. You pass one, and its accompanying town, and there in the distance is another one, and after that another one, and another ... . How long can this last? you think. Finally, you come to the big knot - Wichita!

Hwy. 54 is big in Susie's history -- 'twas the route her family took on summer trips back home to Indiana.

I had one destination in mind along this stretch: Greensburg. Two years ago it was nearly wiped out by a tornado -- it was in all the papers. Video here. And here's a picture a few days after the tornado, from the Wikipedia website:

But, resolutely, the good citizens are rebuilding. Better, stronger, greener! is their motto. Also, son, Jeff, tells me, they're incorporating state-of-the-art tornado-resistant architecture, too.

And none too soon: As I'm writing this Susie is watching the 10 o'clock news. A tornado touched down tonight 4 miles from Greensburg. Wonder what was going through the townspeople's minds. When we were in town the noon siren went off and we nervously checked the clouds.

Prior to this, Greensburg was known to me as the site of the world's largest hand-dug well. So, I wanted to see the town and the well again.

First pass through town, looking mostly at tornado-cleared lots, boarded up buildings, temp buildings, and newly built residences and businesses, we didn't see the sign for the well. On east side of town, went into the John Deere dealership and got directions. The sign was blown away and has not been replaced yet. The well is at the base of the water tower. It's a new water tower, though, 'cause the tornado got the old one. This picture shows the storm-demolished water tank and somewhere under the debris is the World's Largest Hand-Dug Well.

Here's tornado sculpture at the well today.

And, here's looking down into the well.

Some well statistics: 109 ft. deep. 32 ft. diameter. Well, well, well, you say. Susie asks why they built one that big. I, smart-aleckly say, What else was there to do in Greensburg in 1887?

Real estate is cheap in Greensburg.

Build here. Basement free.

The county courthouse was damaged, not demolished, and is being refurbished.

Somewhere along the way today, Susie espied a cornfield. Starting to feel midwesternly.

Got to Eldorado, KS, for the night. Butler, MO tomorrow!

Cheers,

Susie and Rob