Across America

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The Long Road Takes its Toll Wichita to Topeka is a straight(?) shot along the Kansas Toll Road. You get on the toll road, you take your ticket, and you pay when you get off depending on the distance. A couple places along the way, they have service islands with a McDonald's and a gas station. It seems like a natural ploy for people coming in opposite directions to arrange to meet at these islands, exchange tickets and then continue, clocking in very short distances at their respective destinations. The pavement is very good, much better than the public roads. The speed limit is 75 and cars usually go a bit over that. I kept under the limit, still being a bit shell shocked from the hot time through the Mojave Desert. The weather today is excellent. A bit warm, but clear and very sunny. A bit of a head wind most of the way which evidenced itself only in the tail wash behind the big trucks. All in all, the traffic was extremely light particularly compared to the California standards. Last night the forecast was for thunderstorms, perhaps severe. We were able to watch one lightning storm some miles east of us from our parking lot. Watching random areas of the clouds light up was fun.
In a town called El Dorado there is the courthouse for Butler County	In front, they have a memorial to soldiers of all the services and a walk with a brick with each soldier from Butler County lost in battle.	There is a statue of a woman with a sword heavily propped up against the ubuquitous wind and rain storms.
There needs to be some place for all the thunder storm rain water to go. There is a pretty big lake that the turnpike borders.		There is far less hay and wheat in this part of the state and more grass fed beef.
The turnpike is more curvy than most of the roads we have travelled. Sometimes for reasons hard to discern. I'm thinking that the original contractor was paid by the length of the road.	Carol documents the dashboard, but sometimes the camera does not cooperate. Personally, I think she is building a case for felony speeding one MPH at a time.
Wichita, KS to Topeka, KS

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Note: It has come to my attention that some of you may not have been able to view comments entered at the bottom of some of the daily pages. It has to do with the manner in which these pages are accessed. Carol first noticed it when reading the pages from her iPad. Of course, I reach these pages through a different path so the comments have always been viewable. I think I've addressed all the different ways that people can access these pages.

Not all daily pages have comments, it is only when one (or more) reader goes through the form to add a comment that it will be added to the page. When doing so, remember that you may have to refresh the page in your browser in order to see your new comment appear. Sorry for the oversight. -- Myron