9/21/07 Wide Open Prairies and Huge Pecans

We got on the road about eleven this morning as we were only traveling 181 miles today to Coffeeville, Kansas.

We've decided that two hundred miles or so a day is a good thing for us. Its an easy run and gives us a chance to stop and smell the flowers if we want to. We are traveling US highways rather than Interstates because we are much more comfortable at 55 miles an hour rather trying to keep up at 70 - 75. That's just no fun. And scenery is much better!

Today we found the largest pecan in world. At least that's how the owners, George and Elizabeth James, bill it. The James' have run their pecan farm on the outskirts of Brunswick, Missouri, for nearly 60 years. In 1982 they built a concrete replica of their patented Starking Hardy Giant pecan, a tasty strain discovered by George on the property in 1947. The pecan sits in front of the Nut Hut roadside stand, their home, and a couple of outbuildings. It weighs 12,000 pounds and is 7 x 12 feet.

This is our scenery as we travel down the road.

As we drove into Coffeeville we knew right away that something was wrong. All the businesses were closed and houses along the main thorofare had big circles spray painted on them with a July date and the word OK also spray painted on. Then we noticed the water marks. Halfway up each one story building were water lines showing how deep the water was. Did I think to take pictures of this....nooooo!

We weren't sure where the campground we wanted to stay was so we called them on the cell phone only to find out it had been in the July 07 flood and wasn't up and running yet. Buckeye Mobile Home Estates and RV Parking was recommended to us. We got a number and called to check availability and to get directions. We found it with no problem.

Now don't let the word Estates fool you! The RV parking was quickly thrown together when the other three RV parks were closed due to the flood. This area is situated behind a mobile home park. This is the view out of our kitchen window. Attractive isn't it? This is NOT a place Bob and I would usually pick to stay but when the next town is a good ways down the road, you don't have a clue where you are and its only for one night, well, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet.

A view from the "yard".

Oh well, as I said, its only for one night.