Kansas called... They want their topsoil back.

One time playing golf I completely missed the ball and, instead, sent an exceptionally large divot soaring down the fairway.  Before I had time to react, Amanda responded with, "Kansas called.  They'd like to have their topsoil back."  She's mastered the art of sarcasm.

I know a little more about Kansas now.  We spent hours driving across it to get to Colorado.  People warned me that the trip would be brutal.  I laughed at them.  "They don't understand.  I won't mind it.  I like to drive.  I've been to the KCK suburbs several times... Kansas is nice."  Being from the level plains of central Illinois, I really didn't expect Kansas to be much different.  It's not, except the speed limit is 75.  Thank God.

I left work a little early on Thursday so that we could make it to Topeka to spend the night.  Breaking up this trip is a good thing.  We had a late check-in at the Courtyard Topeka about 11:30 p.m.  They actually had a sign welcoming "Mr. Brent T." as a silver elite member.  I thought Amanda was joking when she pointed this out.  But it's a true true story.  Only in Kansas are we treated like royalty.  A reason to like the state.

We started day two of the journey by cruising by the Westboro Baptist "church" - those sociopaths that picket the funerals of military personnel and spew anti-American messages at the mourners and list the dates people "entered hell" on their website.  We despise them.  The building is located in a residential area.  A large sign stating "God hates America" is pasted on the side.  I'm sure that has done wonders for real estate values of their neighbors.  Anyway, we didn't picket, but we did give them the bird on the way by - a slightly immature, but gratifying experience.

Back on I-70.  We broke up the trip across Kansas by stopping at the Oz Winery in downtown Wamego (www.ozwinerykansas.com).  It was about 10:00 a.m., so we didn't try the wine, but their labels were worthy of an eight-bottle purchase.  My favorite label was the Angry Trees.  Amanda's was The Squished Witch.  The winery is in a downtown row building and full of, not only wine, but other Wizard souvenirs as well.  Wamego is also home to the Oz museum, but we didn't attend.  The town is what I picture the Midwest to look like 40 years ago, which was a refreshing change to what we see today in our small towns.  Being only an 18 mile round-trip detour from I-70, we recommend a trip to Wamego when you're soaring across the Kansas plains.

The last of entertaining sights in Kansas was a large, to say the least, windmill farm.  Each of the three blades per windmill is about the size of a semi and trailer.  It's pretty impressive to see them whirling and generating energy.  For several miles, windmills are all that's on the horizon to the north of the interstate.  I'm sure more farms of this magnitude will be popping up across the country to provide us with clean electricity.  But for now... "Thanks Kansas!"

A state that gave us its namesake musical group, Oz, and Kathleen Sebelius has to have some good qualities.  And it does.  To everyone who told me the drive would be brutal, well, you just need to be a little more appreciative of what Kansas has to offer.  And while I am glad that I made the drive, next time I come to Colorado, I'm flying.