Old Town , Witchita, Kansas

Old Town which we have visited before, was born during the 1870s as a collection of warehouses that used Atchison Topeka, Santa Fe, and Frisco rail lines that ran through Old Town, connecting Witchita to St Louis, Chicago, and other points east.  By 1911, Witchita was the nation's second largest distribution point for agricultural implements.  Over time international higways took over distribution.  For some years the warehouse were boarded up so in 1991 this area was opened up to the community however, they found that the goundwater was contaminated over a 6 mile strip including Old Town.  Instead of asking for Federal assistance Witchita took finacial responsibility for the cleanup by creating an environmental Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district.  No other US city had used this approach.  This earned Witchia the 1992 Innovations in American Governments Award from the Government Innovation Network at Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.

Today it is provides many fine restaurants, shops, a park, a movie theatre and so much more.  The square is a busy place on the weekends and this Saturady there was a Mexican market .

We opted for luch at River City Brewing Company.  It had been an old warehouse in its day.

In its previous life it had been the Issa N. Hockaday Building.

We opted for the Brewer's Plate.

Then it was off to see Downtown Abby at the Warren Theatre.  It was a great movie.

We treated ourselves to a magaretta and popcorn.  

The RV Park we are staying in is very close to several restaurants and yesterday we had dinner at Applebees.  This was cagun chicken with shrimp.

This is a combination platter which has a selection of goodies.

We do eat mostly at home and for lunch today was our version of a cheese and meat platter.

 They have some interesting skies here. 

 Cheers,
Ross and Beverley 

Garlic Festival - Witchata, Kansas

One of our RV neighbours mentioned that there was a Garlic Festival so being garlic lovers we decided to check it out.   We were not disappointed.  It was held at Eberly Farm which was some 21 miles from the RV Park.  The Festival was a 2 day event and on Saturday it rained so hard we went to the movies to see Downtown Abby and it was great.  Fortunately Sunday was a fine day.

It was set up as a Farmer's Market.

There were rides for anyone who wanted one around the farm.

Of great interest to us was a cooking demonstation.  Chris who is an engineer by profession is also an enthuastic chef and was co oped by Maggie who along with her husband own Orie's Farm.  They raise grain feed beef and lamb and produce a range of seasonings and sausage.

This is the Ories's garlic steak seasoning which was placed on the the grainfed beef.

There was lots of music.  This was a Celtic band called the Knocknasheega and they were very good.

Well you could try garlic in many ways such as garlic ice cream, roasted garlic, raw garlic and garlic flavoured foods throughout the many stalls.

We tok home some black garlic and a plain garlic.  Black garlic is roasted and it good to use on pizza's, in stews, on steak and anything else that takes your fancy.

As a working farm they also have goats which are very friendly.

Also cute donkeys.

It was a fun day.

Cheers,
Ross an Beverley 

Hays, Kansas

Hays is a city in Kansas and located in the northwestern part of the State. It is a college town with a population of some 21,000 people.  We stayed here for a couple of days and took the oportunity to enjoy the sights.  We started off with lunch which was our first ever Chicago pizza which is an upside down pizza for ease of explanation.  Hence the tomato is place on top.  It was delicious and feed us for 3 days.

Our first stop was to Boot Hill.  This was the original Boot Hill where between 1867 and 1874 more than 80 persons were buried here.  Many died with their boots on as victims of knife, gun or rope.  Many well known persons lived and died in Hays including Wild Bill Hickock, Buffalo Bill and Clamity Jane and many others.  Many bodies have been relocated however about half of the bodies still remain in this grave yard.  It is located on a hill.

Then off to visit Fort Hayes which was established in 1867 and became the supply depot for all Forts of Western Kansas.   

The Fort was located on a sight rise for increased visibility and protection against suprise attacks.  It covered some 7640 acres of which 65 acres was used for placement of 45 buidings.

This is the blockhouse which is a hexagonal building made of native limestone quarried 3 miles west of Hays and was the first building constructed at Fort Hays.  

This was the Guard House  It included a room for non-commissioned officer of the guard, the guardroom, and military prison, which included 3 solitary cells.

Here are some of the original soldiers' carvings in the limestone blocks of the guardhouse which are still visible. 

This is an Officer's house on Officers' Row.  A series of 10 houses on the south side of the parade ground was built between 1867 and 1870.  The partial duplexes still stands today housed 2 officers and their families.  Each family had their own parlor and one bedroom.  They shared the dining room and kitchen.  Families supplied their own furnishings and could hire servants to assist with cooking, care of the children and cleaning.

Views from the inside of the the Offercer's home.

From 1865 to 1869 was a period of intense railroad construction and hostile indian activity.  It was during this period the fort reached its height with 565 troops being stationed here in August 1867.  Normally the garrison consisted of about 3 companies averaging  55 men per company.    Some of the more notable men accociated with Fort Hays included LTCOL George Custer, Gen Nelson Miles,Gen Phil Sherdan ,"Buffal Bill: Cody and "Wild Bill" Hickock.
By 1889, Fort Hays was offically closed and by 1900 most of the dilapitated buildings were dismantled. Some buildings were moved off the property intact.  In 1963 the Kanas State historical Society began administering the property as a state historic site.

Cheers,
Ross and Beverley 

Pot Luck

A Pot Luck is what the Americans call "bring a plate".  So Liza the lovely young lady and her husband suggested that on Friday that the residents of the RV park meet at 7 pm and get together.  Well nothing ever goes to plan.
We made a big pot of sphagetti bolonase and took our red wine to the designated place and ended up being the only ones there.   Its the first Pot Luck that has ever turned out this way.  Now we have lots of frozen SB.

We were fortunate to enjoy some pretty hibuscis.

Life never turns out how you expect.
Cheers,
Ross and Beverley 

Return Visit to Claremont Inn, CO

We enjoyed our last experince at Claremont Inn so much we retuned for another enjojable evening.  We were not disappointed.
We skipped the cooking class and decided to just enjoy the wounderful evening meal.  We decided to explore some more of the Inn before eating.  Every nook and cranny has something beautiful to see.

This painiting is done in oils and the instrument used was the back of a butter knife.  It was done by the sister of one of the Inn owners.

There are magnificant paintings throught out the Inn.

The lower floor provides a full  movie theater and there are elegant halls through out.

 Our table was very nicely set and this was light came on as the sunset.

 From 5 - 6 pm appetizers are brought to your table.   This was a sweet potato empenada which is a Spanish dish.  It is wrapped in puff pastry and very tasty.

Next were spicy nuts.

Followed by ficcarca bread with bluberries.

Throught out we were provided with wine.  The appertizers were delicious however, some what filling.   Our main dinner consisted of a carrot salad, with goat cheese and cranberries.

The main was pork tenderloin wrapped in procuitto and servide with a roasted bell pepper sauce accompanied by the best mashed potatoes and sauteyed brussel sprouts.

Dessert was milk cake with marinated strawberries and cream.  We shared one and took the other home in a to go container along with most of the pork.

Breakfast started with fresh fruit and orange juice.   Fresh coffee was seved in our room at 8 am so no room for coffee at beakfast.   On offer after this  were several other dishes however, this was as much as we could eat after the huge meal last night.

We may never get to this place again however, we are so pleased we had the oportunity to stay and enjoy this magnificant Inn.

Cheers,
Beverley and Ross