Photos: Kansas Trip Summer 2003

School's out. I've been job hunting, and haven't landed anything officially yet. I've been getting one question consitently all summer: "When are you coming back to Kansas?" In my Inbox was an e-mail about a 75th birthday party for my Grandfather. That was reason enough for me to go ahead and plan a quick trip back to Kansas. For variety, I decided that I'd try a slightly different route than normal and stop at my Grandparents in western Kansas on the way - and so people wouldn't yell at me for driving so far straight (even thou it is only 17.5 hours or so). I ended up staying for July 4th, which was a blast. I followed my cousin to Tulsa after the July 4th celebration, and left for Phoenix from there, again taking a new route.






See those two specs in the sky? The one in front is an Apache Longbow. I'll be working on software testing for them soon!


This is I-25 north of Albuquerque NM. Definitly much prettier scenary than I-40, and a ton fewer semi's too.


Another view of the scenary. It kept getting prettier all the way to the Colorado border.


And then you get to Coloardo and you can tell it. This is just past the border on the way to Trinidad.


These mountains are just North of Trinidad. I'm not sure what they're named.


This is highway 350 from Trinidad northeast. As you can see I'm definitly heading away from the mountains.


Skipping ahead a few hours, I've arrived at my Grandparent's house in Lakin Kansas. This is their backyard. Please, be careful when viewing this picture, the amount and brightness of the green may be too much for any desert living human.


This is my grandmother with her huge flowers. They're huge!


Even thou cacti are native to Arizona, this one seems to be having a lot of fun growing in Kansas. I don't think I've ever seen something with so many blossoms.


On the road again... Stopped on the road again, due to construction. While I wait, I watch some farmers with this hay bale shreader. The tractor lifts it into this big funnel like device which spins it around and the shreaded hay comes out the conveyer into the truck.


Beautiful Kansas countryside. Perhaps you have to be from Kansas or another plains state to appreciate it.


It looks like a storm is brewing! I'm almost home to KC now.


After spending a day in KC, it was on to Topeka to surprise my Grandpa on his 75th birthday. As it turns out, I got to surprise my Grandma too, who was unaware of my visit to the state. My grandpa seen here, clearly not anticipating a picture being shot.


Down this row is my cousin Anna & her fiance Fred, Sarah and Uncle John.


My Grandma, Deloris and Harry my great uncle, also celebrating his birthday.


Sharon & Ed, and my Dad on the right.


They trusted me with a knife to cut the cake.


That night we all (well, my immediate family & my Aunt/Uncle cousins) went out to the farm to spend the night. My Grandpa had previously been expecting a surprise party on Sunday, but given the birthday dinner Saturday he was not suspecting anything anymore. Anyway, that night was an awesome thunderstorm. Lightning, and thunder oh my! As shown here, lightning struck this tree. That building behind it, that's the house. After that bolt struck nobody was sleeping, not even a mouse.


Here's little Rosy. Still my favorite dog of all time :).


What trip to the farm is complete without the farm kittens?


Master Chef JR. Beer & Brawts are the items on the menu today, along with chicken wings and other sides & appetizers.


Every Chef must have his trusty assistant.


Here's the ladies table


And here's the guys table. It's ok to mix, really!


Here I am talking with Gene, probably about cars.


The Birthday cake proudly wears the number 75.


Here we have the Birthday boy with his wife, son, daughter, son-in-law and daughter-in-law.


And with the "good" grandchildren.


And lastly, the obligatory group photo. Can you squeze together a tiny bit more? :)


Skipping ahead fo July 4th. Having never shot a shotgun, I jumped at the opportunity to learn. Ok, you know me better than that. After a little coaxing, I decided it might be fun.


Just aim at the clay pigeon, and fire... it's easy... right? Well, 24/25 ain't bad. Too bad I didn't hit that many.


Staying cool in the shade.


Anna and Fred help the little ones with the snaps.


This is the trap house, the building that holds the clay pigeon shooting machine. Perfect for stargazing, and sleepable too.


Here's US60 somewhere in New Mexico. I decided to take I-25 south from Albuquerque and then US60 over from Socorro. I do recommend taking a map along if you ever decide to take this route, or any long distance trip for that matter. I only missed one turn, so that's not too bad.


Once in Arizona, I took the scenic route instead of going thru Payson. This part of the highway went down into the canyon and crossed that river down there. Hair-pin turns, 25 mph, etc... But what a view!