6/17-6/19, 2024

 

6/17/2024

 The Truman Presidential Library was excellent.  It was renovated over the last couple of years and they did a great job.  Interspersed with the wall displays were short videos.  There were lots of places to sit if you chose to do so.  After a couple of hours on our own, we joined a docent and his group.  This was, by far, my favorite Presidential museum/library, and we've been to Bush (in Dallas), Reagan, Kennedy, Hoover, Garfield, FDR and Teddy Roosevelt.  Did you know that Truman was the first president who left his papers to the government?

Tonight we are staying at a Corps of Engineers lakeside campground west of Kansas City (Bloomington

East).  $11 included tax.  That's cheaper than a free stay at Cracker Barrel since we always buy a meal there.

6/18/2024:  It is windy.  Gusts of 40mph. After a 2 hour drive, we arrived at the Eisenhower Presidential Museum.  Upon entering there was a receptionist and a security guard.  I asked if he wanted to search my purse.  He looked dumbfounded and asked if they had done that at other museums.  I told him we can't even enter our town's hospital without a search.  He was shocked.  Abilene, KS is a town of 6500 where they still trust strangers.  Storms are expected tonight so we are heading to our campsite early.  We are settled in at Kanopolis Corps of Engineers Campground below the dammed up lake.  Signs say if you hear sirens, EVACUATE.  (the dam has broken)

 Typical road in Kansas

The farmer must be an artist.  There were several decorated fenceposts.

    Eisenhower's Childhood home

Ike's father, mother and 5 brothers

Ike and Maime

Ike's philosophy after WW2

I remember Ike coming through Pekin

1858 First Settlers" home

6/19/2024:

Storms with 60-80 mph winds and heavy rains are predicted so we are staying put.  We did move to a different campsite so that we had a clearer view of Starlink for internet access. 

Free firewood.  Unheard of in the camping world!