Manhattan, KS to Colby, KS

I started this morning with a 3 mile hike at the Konza Prairie nature trail. This trail is a part of a larger operation that is a biological research station co-owned by The Nature Conservancy and Kansas State University. In fact, I ran into a group of students from K-State in the parking lot. This is very beautiful country and one of the last remaining areas of Tall Grass Prairie. In spite of some high winds at the top, it was a very pleasant hike.

After the hike, again at the suggestion of my Kansas friends, I stopped by the Call Hall Dairy bar at K-State for some of their locally-made ice cream. As part of their Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, they retail diary and meat products. I can recommend the pumpkin ice cream. And - as I have been tracking ice cream prices across the country - at 3.49 for my standard small scoop, the price was right.

I then drove the 4 hours westward to Colby. The winds were definitely increasing, and will likely continue into tomorrow. Upon arrival at my hotel, I stopped at the gas station next door to fill up as I knew I wanted an early start the next morning. I saw that I had been charged $150.00 for 15 gallons of regular gas that was advertised at $3.49 per gallon. When I inquired, I was told that this was a hold because this is an unincorporated area literally in the middle of nowhere, and apparently they have experienced a lot of credit card fraud. Supposedly the extra 100 will disappear in the next few days. Stay tuned. I have purchased gas in many out of the way places during this trip, but this was a first.

Tomorrow I plan to visit the Little Jerusalem Badlands.