TRINIDAD, COLORADO

On June 2, 2020, I left Albuquerque and headed north to Colorado. I would just be passing through the southeast corner of the state before driving across the entire length of Kansas so Trinidad was chosen simply because it was within the 4- to 5-hour time frame I like for moving days. As it turned out, Trinidad offered a spectacular scenic drive in the southern Rocky Mountains and it also had a top-notch walk-in clinic that I needed for the removal of an abscessed cyst on my back. I extended my stay here from 7 to 9 days to allow for surgery and 3 follow-up visits. It took about a month to heal.

Tower 64 Motel and RV Park would not make anyone’s list of top RV parks. It was full of very run-down, derelict campers and somewhat sketchy residents but it served its purpose for the time I needed. There’s a very nice state park campground nearby but it was closed because of Coronavirus.

I stopped for a glamor shot at a scenic overlook on I-25 in southern Colorado.

A storm rolls in over Trinidad, Colorado.

The view from my doorway with the nearly-full moon rising over the hills.

The 19th century Bloom Mansion on Main Street in Trinidad is a museum but was closed due to Coronavirus.

I had a small cyst on my back for several years that suddenly became abscessed, requiring surgery.

I needed to change the dressing every day, which was really hard to do by myself.

The scenic byway, Highway of Legends was recommended to me by my doctor at the clinic and it was a wonderful drive into the southern Rockies. I spent several hours driving to Cuchara and back, stopping frequently for photos and had a picnic lunch at a beautiful mountain lake.

The Highway of Legends scenic byway in southern Colorado.

Snow-capped Rocky Mountains.

I had a picnic lunch on my tailgate at North Lake State Wildlife Area, a popular site for fishing.

A panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains.

GARDEN CITY, KANSAS

After my final check-up with the doctor, I moved east into Kansas, traveling mostly on US-50. Of all the states I’ve visited so far, Kansas has the least to offer in the way of tourism and I had to work at finding things of interest. But, as always, I found something. I made three stops, staying 5 to 7 nights at each only because I don’t like to pack up and move more often than that. First stop was Garden City and RJ’s RV Park with its scenic view of the windmill factory next door.

My campsite at RJ’s RV Park in Garden City, Kansas.

The view from my site overlooking the windmill factory.

Garden City proved to be the least interesting place I’ve been so I spent my week doing some home decor projects. First up was wallpapering the hutch backboard and the stove surround. I bought peel and stick wallpaper at Walmart that looks like beach-y ship lap. It went up pretty easily and I’m really happy with the results. That project got me in the mood to finally alter the bedroom curtains. They match the bedding—all of which came from my house in New Jersey—and had been previously altered for use in my old motorhome.

Its has proven convenient to have a sewing machine onboard.

I altered the curtains to fit the bedroom windows.

There was some excitement at the campground one day when police showed up in tactical gear searching for a fugitive hiding out in the windmill yard. They searched for over an hour and I have no idea if they ever got their man.

Police in the campground looking to gain access to the windmill yard.

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, KANSAS

In mid-June, my next stop was Lighthouse Landing RV Park in South Hutchinson. Those who know me know why I chose this spot to stay. Besides my passion for lighthouses, I was curious about a business with this name at the center-most spot in the United States and far from any navigable body of water. As it turns out, it was named this in honor of the pioneers who traveled across the state in covered wagons, often referred to as Prairie Schooners because the canvas tops looked like ship sails above the sea of waving grass. There’s no lighthouse here but the owners are planning to build one this year to greet guests at the entrance. I gave them one of my calendars.

My spot for a week at Lighthouse Landing RV Park in South Hutchinson, Kansas.

As I said before, I can usually find something of interest everywhere I go and South Hutchinson did not disappoint. I discovered that Kansas has one of the world’s largest salt deposits and the mine here is still active along with an underground museum and tour in the oldest part. Salt was discovered here in the 1880s while exploring for oil and the salt mining business began in the 1920s.

Visitors to Strataca don hard hats and descend about 650 feet in one of the original elevators that took miners to work each day. Much of the tour is a self-guided walking tour with informative displays and signs describing the geology and mining technology. The salt here is used for industrial applications and road salt but in the early days Morton mined here for table salt.

The mine is still active but they’ve found a great use for the areas already mined. Besides the museum, they rent space for storage of climate-sensitive archives consisting of everything from government records, old data discs, original film reels and even movie memorabilia like costumes. The space is a constant 68 degrees and the salt eliminates humidity, creating a naturally ideal environment for preventing decay.

The above ground entrance to the salt mine museum.

A chunk of pure salt on display before descending into the mine.

Hard hats are always a stylish choice when entering a mine.

The original elevator that transported workers 650 feet down to the mine is now used to give visitors a “real-feel” experience.

As you exit the elevator you see 8-foot walls of salt. The stripes are thin layers of dirt and rock.

Large deposit of pure salt exposed in the wall.

Mike Rowe filmed an episode of “Dirty Jobs” here 2006, riding through the mine in this modified vehicle. The mining company buys junk cars then they remove the roof and glass, along with anything else isn’t need below ground. They are then cut up so they can be brought down in the elevator and reassembled. They are then modified to run on battery power and used to get around the 150 mile network of tunnels.

Mine trains similar to those used in coal mines are used in the salt mine.

There is also a train ride that takes visitors deeper into the mine.

On the train ride, the driver describes mining methods and everyday life for workers underground.

There are miles of storage areas holding important documents and other items that benefit from the climate here.

Numerous iconic movie costumes are stored here.

TOPEKA, KANSAS

After all that fun in the mine, it was time to move farther east to Topeka, the state capitol where I stayed at Topeka/Capitol City KOA, just south of the city. Here, I enjoyed the Topeka Zoo and Gage Park. This is all one large, 160-acre park in the middle of the city that offers a community pool, carousel, miniature train ride, formal gardens and a two-mile fitness trail.

My site at Topeka KOA.

I timed my travels across Kansas to avoid the height of tornado season and these storm clouds had me a little concerned but proved to be just your ordinary thunderstorm with plenty of lightning and rain but luckily, no funnel cloud.

The giraffes where fun to watch as they loped around their enclosure and sometimes came in for a close-up.

This beautiful mountain lion reminded me of what I need to be careful of when I’m hiking out west.

The reflecting pool at Reinisch Rose Garden in Gage Park is surrounded by rows and rows of roses.

Well, by now, it’s nearly July and I want to fly to New Jersey to celebrate July 4th with family and friends so I’m heading to Omaha, Nebraska where I can get a direct flight to Newark airport.

My 4-week, 800-mile travels from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Topeka, Kansas.

Next post: Omaha.

My name is Lindsay Reed and I’m a photographer and retired graphic artist with a passion for both lighthouses and road trips. I am living as a full-time solo RVer in my 33 foot Grand Design Reflection Fifth Wheel trailer and plan to spend the next few years traveling the U.S. and Canada photographing not only lighthouses, but everything else there is to see in this wonderful land. I hope you enjoy my blog and will follow my adventures in the months and years ahead.