Heading North part2

   After visiting with family, we continued our journey north up I-35 through northern Oklahoma and into southern Kansas.  Never been in these areas.  Not flat, not desolate.  So far for my preconceived notions.  Turned NW to end up straight west of Wichita.  The neat thing about driving in rural areas of the Midwest is that roads run east-west and north-south and there is one every mile.  So if you need to get to a place that is northwest of you, you go west for a while and then go north for a while.  By doing this zig-zag dance, you will eventually get there.  And we did.  Mel and Charlene live in his grandfather's house on land a few miles from Pretty Prairie, Kansas.  We parked the rig in their yard and had a great visit.
    The next morning it we were on the road NE and connected I-80 and headed east.  Abilene, Kansas.  Famous for cowboys and cattle.  It was the terminus for cattle drives that brought Longhorn cattle up from Texas right after the Civil War.  Meat was scarce in the north after the war and cattle that were $4 a head in Texas were worth $40 a head in Abilene.  So huge herds of cattle became very familiar in Kansas.Abilene is also the home a Dwight D Eisenhower, the 34th President of the United States.  We spent too short of a time at his Boyhood home, museum, and resting place.
     Across the street from the Eisenhower Museum we spotted the Greyhound Hall of Fame.  Of course we had to wander over and check it out.  We found out that there are over 25 Greyhound "farms" in the Abilene area.  I knew that Greyhound Pet Adoption NW drives to Kansas to get hounds for adoption in our area, but I didn't know where they went and how many kennels were available.
    Too quickly we continued on east until we arrived in Kansas City.  A very strong south wind was trying to push us sideways but the truck is very steady.  The value of a dually truck.  But the fuel mileage and speed was effected.  Just on the eastern edge is Independence, Missouri.  We parked at the Campus RV Park.  Not fancy , but nice with grass and close to downtown Independence.  Independence is the home of Harry S Truman, the 33rd President.  The following morning, we visited the visitor center (disappointing), stopped by to photograph the outside of the Truman home (it is closed on Mondays), the visited the museum.  The museum was outstanding.  Lots of data, photos and information well presented.
    We got on the road north about 12:30.  The south wind continued.  In fact, it intensified, to nearly 30 mph.  Where yesterday I had the gas pedal on the floor to keep the speed near 60, now I had to be careful for even with a lot less pressure, our speed would creep up to 70.  Needless to say, we made get time and decided to drive straight through to Minnesota.  We arrived in Fairmont and parked in front of Randa's sisters house at about 9:30.  It was a good day of travel.