Friday, November 18, 2011

Pawnee City to Pawhuska

Out side of Pawnee City the sun was setting, the road was narrow and where there were guardrails there was no room should I have been caught in the dark like a raccoon destined for slaughter. Sure I'd be able to time it right and make it through alive but when the sheriff stopped and asked if I was alright I hinted strongly that it was in her power to insist I take a ride into town on the back of a pickup truck. She called her deputy and as Barney Fife used to say they nipped it in the bud. They arranged for me to stay behind the fire station there in Mayberry, I mean Pawnee City and in the morning made sure I had my van at the Kansas state line so when we walked to the border I could have it there. It was down one of the last gravel U.S. Highway roads in Nebraska. It led to another gravel road on the edge of nowhere surrounded by stubblefields and distant farm houses. I have walked in Kansas before so my plan has always been to skip over it like a video game when you have completed a task you are able to leap to the next stage or chapter. It was so peaceful at the quiet crossroad I sat down in the Kansas grass and we ate. Nice (the dog) had his food I always carry and I had trail mix. I sat there for over an hour before I walked back across the road into Nebraska to pull the plug on the World, drive Kansas City and stay with some dear friends for a rest before bouncing into Oklahoma. It looked to me that a town named Elgin was as directly south as any from where I touched into Kansas so I went there. Elgin was miles along twisting gravel but to my delight Elgin has some history. At one time it was the biggest cattle town in the world according to the old hunter and his son who had there campers set up for deer season on the lots they had purchased, not leased,for less than a song on Elgin's main street. The town in it's hay-day had nine railspurs and eleven houses of ill-repute. A few of the original buildings are still standing, the broadway and side streets still paved with brick are all that is left of it's glory days. Under one hundred live there now and the hunters told me the reason they hunt from there is it as far from nowhere as you can get. It was the first area I have been where my phone had no signal, my phones GPS lost it's bearing. I followed the brick road out of Kansas to the edge of Oz, er Elgin down the swirling and winding roads to the Nearest town directly south where I would not be mistaken for a dear in the morning for the season opener. When I made my way to an area where I had coverage. I had the GPS lead me to the nearest Walmart but it Led me to Pawhuska which has no Walmart. It led me to an abandoned storefront on Pawhuska's Main Street. With the sun setting I made my way to the fire station and let them know what I was doing. And after cooking some chicken soup for the evening meal( I volunteered since they hadn't decided what to make) have the World inflated across from the Pawtuska Community Center in Oklahoma. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Or Tulsa, here we come.
Walk to prevent and control Diabetes.

2 comments:

Mary L said...

I read your blog daily and pray for you in your venture. I have started walking more now partly becuz of your influence. I truly admire your dedication to this cause.

Anonymous said...

Howdy! Not knowing of your cause, I was startled today on Hwy 99 as I rushed to Pawhuska, late for a family thing & saw you, your dog & the World rolling along. I thought, "that guy must have a cause" & I looked for you a couple of hours later when I left town, heading back to Tulsa. I will try to find you tomorrow. Otherwise, PEACE my friend! A noble cause. Glad our local breezy day didn't blow you away! This is where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain, after all!
catburton13@yahoo.com