Thursday, 26 September
Estes Park, CO to Goodland, KS
We left Estes Park around 9:30 a.m. MST and headed to Goodland, Kansas, 258 miles away. When we left, the temperature in Estes Park was only 54 degrees, while the high in Goodland, KS, was 85 degrees. Winds were primarily from the south at 10-18 mph with gusts up to 28 mph.
Estes Park is at an elevation of about 7,500 feet and is dominated by rugged mountains, dense forests of pine and aspen, and steep, rocky inclines. As we headed east, winding mountain roads took us through the foothills to rolling plains. By the time we reached Limon, we were well into the Eastern Plains of Colorado, which was primarily flat with grasslands, fields of wheat, corn, and sunflowers, as well as scattered small towns. There were few trees, mostly limited to areas near farms and along rivers.
We stopped at a Sinclair station in Limon to get some gas and stretch our legs.
As we crossed into western Kansas, the terrain became even flatter. This area is part of the Great Plains, with its characteristic vast, open landscapes. The elevation was still relatively high (Goodland is at about 3,681 feet), but the terrain appeared primarily flat, with occasional rolling hills. The land is predominantly agricultural, with large-scale farming operations and fields stretching toward the horizon. Wind farms and grain silos became familiar sights.
We arrived at Goodland KOA Journey around 2:30 pm CST.
Goodland KOA
We were only here for one night, but we were given one of the few spots near a mature tree that could actually provide shade. Most of the trees looked newly planted. The office, store, and grounds were well maintained. The staff gave me a friendly, warm welcome.
Our site was level and long and we had water and electricity. I did not have a dump, but their dump station was near their office, and it was convenient to access the following day. They had recently quit providing cable service but their old coax cables dangled near the utilities.
Goodland, KS
Goodland is a small city in the northwestern part of Kansas with a population of around 4,500 people. It is known for its agricultural industry and its position near the Kansas-Colorado border. After we got the trailer set up, we drove around the town.
Our first stop was The Big Easel, an 80-foot-tall replica of a Vincent van Gogh sunflower painting installed by artist Cameron Cross. The artwork celebrates Kansas’ agricultural connection to sunflowers and has become a tourist attraction. We stopped at the Visitor Center next to it, which did not have much but travel brochures, and then wandered over to look at the painting briefly. We had been here before, so we did not spend much time there.
We then wandered by the large grain silos near the train tracks and down Main Street. The size of the silos always is fascinating. The downtown area was a mixture of old buildings, with a lot of them abandoned, which was typical of these small towns. There were a few faded murals.
We then drove a short distance out of town to a grasshopper sculpture. Lloyd Harden (1927-2012) took apart worn-out machinery and created what he called “Creative Art from Used Parts” or “field art”. The giant grasshopper was one of his first creations. His collection grew to include a roadrunner, cowboy, and cowgirl supporting a sign for Harden Farms, a palm tree, and more. His collection was broken up when Harden died, but the grasshopper and palm tree remained a few miles south of his home.
The grasshopper faced toward a corn field, which was an ironic choice since grasshoppers can do major damage to grain crops. The palm tree was placed in a bricked-in sand area with a folding chair and a sign that stated, “It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere.”
We drove back into town intending to eat at a Mexican Restaurant because we craved margaritas, but we found it closed. Instead, we bought some food at Qdobas at the local truck stop, filled up the gas, returned to the camper, and relaxed.