After a week in Chicago to celebrate our granddaughter’s rolling 3rd Birthday celebrations we are back on the road. First stop, Graham Cave State Park in Missouri. We haven’t hiked in the woods during the fall season in quite awhile. It felt good. 
The view from Graham Cave.
Archeologists have found artifacts from the early inhabitants of the area dating back 10,000 years. In 1961, as a result of these findings Graham Cave became the first archaeological site in the US to be designated a National Historic Landmark.
We met this guy on the trail.
We have traveled through Kansas many times on our way West but have never tried Kansas City Barbecue. That changed this trip.
Carnivore’s Delight
After lunch we moved on to the Santa Fe Trail Recreation Area, an Army Corp of Engineers campground just outside Council Grove KS.
We shared our site with a stand of Osage Oranges. The locals call them “hedge balls” and claim when cut up and placed in the crawl spaces of old homes, they repeal crickets.
At one time a tallgrass prairie covered 140 million acres of North America. Today less then 4% of that total remains. Most of this is located in the Flint Hills of Kansas.
The dark spots in the distance are a small herd of bison grazing in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. The day we visited it was cold and misty.
The Preserve was created by Congress in 1996 when it set aside a 10,884 acre parcel for protection. These photos don’t do justice to this vast landscape.
The Preserve offers miles of hiking, interpretive programs and access to the historic ranch buildings built by Stephen F. and Louisa Jones in 1881.
Lots of impressive dry stacked walls around the ranch. All the structures are constructed with local limestone (no trees on the prairie).
No trip to Kansas would be complete without a little division.
Tincan Travels 
Great to have you back on my screen! New Trailer? We have Osage Oranges here in Pittsford, I was told they repel spiders?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love following you on your travels! Beautiful photos. Happy trails to you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Osage oranges in Ohio are called hedge apples, and they are used in houses to keep spiders at Bay. Thanks for sharing, again!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay!! Looks like an awesome start to another adventure ❤️. How was slaps? Did you go to baseball hall of game??? I mean what’s a trip to KC with it?
LikeLike
Slap’s had excellent barbecue and outstanding hush puppies.
LikeLike
Oh goodie, back on the road! We’ve not yet explored Kansas, but looks interesting from your photos. Love those tall grass photos and the barbecue. I believe I have those same striped gloves…SmartWool, right? 🙂 See you in Phoenix, we hope!
LikeLiked by 1 person
SmartWool indeed.
See you both in Phoenix.
LikeLike
Yay!!! Will be fun.
LikeLike
So happy to be on the road again…if only vicariously! Looking forward to your postings. Safe travels!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved your pictures.. could feel the chill in the air… look forward to seeing where the road brings you too..
Take care.
LikeLiked by 1 person
so happy for you both, enjoy the road, and thanks for sharing with us!
I hope you missed the game last night (haha)
travel safe
LikeLiked by 1 person
That did get ugly last night.
LikeLike
Yay! great to see and read about where you go and what you do. Beautiful photos of the prairie . I enjoy your comments and bits of history.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your email was a nice surprise. Love following your trips. Your superb storytelling is always fun.
We will be wandering throughout Texas in January and February 2019. Then heading over toward New Orleans since we’ve never been. Plan to look at your old emails for recommendations when we get there.
Happy trails! Kat and Ron
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m just a bit behind you. I leave for Kansas and Arkansas tomorrow. I’ll be gone about a month. I love your photos!
LikeLike
Lovely preserve of grasslands! David and I celebrated our 20th at the “other preserve” left in Red Cloud, NE, home of Willa Cather; very pretty and lots of great “locals” that we got to meet.
Joanne
LikeLike