holland

I'd be down for Jack Stack on Thursday night as well. Have any firm plans been made?

holland

I can host again Saturday night; looks like the rain forecast drops off that afternoon, so we can run a fire pit if anyone likes. I also have toddler toys for CoffeeTraveler (we have a 14-mo old granddaughter). I'm also interested in the ghost towns. Lived here all my life and never knew about this!

GW McLintock

You are welcome to join us on Sunday! I am planning to visit Saint George, Bala, and Volland (not to be confused with Holland ). Elmdale is a little farther but is not completely unreasonable.

In March I visited Silkville, Walnut, and Cato. Cato is partially preserved. Walnut is a semi-ghost with a current population under 200 and a really good bar and grill.

-J.

holland

Funny! I have an old college friend from St George.

Hopefully the water has receded down by Cato; this is a photo of Hwy 7 between Harding & Devon, just north of there, yesterday:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid...28270885767416

I'm guessing US-69 is clear, but with the creeks down there, the back roads to Cato might be a bit treacherous for a 2WD rental car.... depending on how much more rain we get between now and then.

CoffeeTraveler

People might be interested in Kansas City Tap Tour pass, which for $5 gets you beer deals at 22 breweries around KC, including $2 off pints at Casual Animal. Hat tip to Mrs. CoffeeTraveler for finding this.

ChrisFlyer66

How late in the afternoon on Sunday? My flight home Sunday leaves at 5:20. I wouldn't want you to alter your plans on my behalf, but I'd be interested in seeing the ghost town if you will be back in time.

GW McLintock

Woah Back in March it was pretty dry. Next to the old schoolhouse is a stone bridge (the restoration of which was someone's Eagle Scout project) and the water was at a reasonable level. A number of roads east of Chanute and west of Walnut were closed due to flooding. I was in a Dodge Challenger and didn't take many chances beyond gravel or dirt roads.

Anyway on Sunday if you'd like to join, I'll probably pick up my car then pick you up before going back to the The Westin. We can coordinate on Friday or Saturday, since I'm still deciding when to go home.

IIRC some of us did that (or something similar) last year. We (somewhat spectacularly) did not hit all of the breweries. I'm down to try again or at least finish the line if you or anyone else is interested.

My car will be ready at 9am (though I could make it 8am... but I would like to get breakfast at the hotel before heading west). Just putting everything onto the map, if we do the three ghost towns I expect it'll be around 7:15 round-trip with 15-minute stops in each ghost town, though this does not include lunch (and I drive pretty quickly so it might be faster). If holland joins us that will add some time to the trip, though I can stop at the airport first on the way back if needed. However it's still a pretty tight schedule. I was not expecting to get back until 5pm. We can discuss more this weekend. Additionally, I have already asked the Avis manager for a sedan (though I am sure they wouldn't mind giving me an SUV, given how many of them they have). If everyone who expressed interest joins, we're at five people including myself.

-J.

Zorak

Same.

holland

I got a bit confused on the towns and thought you were doing St George, Walnut, and Cato. lol

I went to school in Manhattan (EMAW!) and am pretty familiar with that area; we go 4-wheeling at Tuttle Creek up by Randolph quite a bit. Beautiful views and lots of fun.

Using the Westin as "home base", it looks like a 5.5 hr round trip, plus any rest stops.

On your way to or from, it looks like you'll go right through Alma, KS (close to Volland) which has some amazing cheese (https://almacheese.com/) and is worth a brief stop. Wamego and Paxico used to have (may still) some cute antique shops, and smack in the middle of the loop is Pillsbury Crossing (do a google image search for pillsbury crossing manhattan ks). Kind of cool to go through if you've got something other than a sedan and some extra time; it'd add about 15-30 mins to the overall trip depending on the routing (or a bit more if it's flooded but I can ping some locals about the conditions as it gets closer).

I could also potentially drive; I have a 3500 Duramax that comfortably seats 5 (and has plenty of dry space under the tonneau for luggage if we needed to do any airport drops on the way back.

Given the 5pm departures of a couple folks, and the fact that most of the drive is interstate, what if we got an early start, e.g. 6-7am? That'd put us back to MCI by 2-3pm and allow +2 hours for stops, meals, gas/bathroom, etc.

Do you get out and walk through any of the ruins, or just do a drive-by? I've never been to visit ghost towns before, so not sure what the protocol is.

cocobird

My flight on Sunday is at 7:20pm, so would be interested in the Sunday drive if I can get back in time for the flight.

GW McLintock

You would put us at 6 people. That means I need a bigger car [or] we take two cars. There might be another car available already so stand by. Though I do kind of want one of the Durango R/Ts I know they have

ETA: I see others have expressed interest now too. And some good ideas from holland though would definitely require an earlier start (which is potentially doable, though 6am is early ). Maybe I'll take the points instead of breakfast at the The Westin, lol. Anyway stand by while I try and come up with a plan. @holland, I appreciate the offer for your truck but we're talking 350+ miles and I don't know if you want to do that with your big diesel truck. @cocobird if you join, you'll definitely be back in time for your flight.

Anyway I am coming up with an itinerary. Stand by.

It depends. If places are accessible then we can get out and explore. Much of these places can be viewed at least 90% fully from the car, though. I will also read up on them and will hopefully be able to share some history. We also never trespass since that ruins it for everyone.

-J.

susiesan

Another event going on this weekend is the Brookside Art Fair. It starts Friday evening and runs through Sunday afternoon. Mostly local and Midwest artists showing and selling their artwork. You can get some nice items for fair prices.

susiesan

Since we changed our trip to Gatlinburg from driving to flying and we have a 5:00am flight Sunday morning (ugh) Bob and I will have to pass on the bonfire 🔥 at your lovely home. When you use award points you have to fly when you can.😄

GW McLintock

Here is the proposed itinerary for Sunday. It is jam-packed and very little margin for error, but I think we can pull this off. The start time is 7:30 because that's when Avis opens; I have a minivan rental (which costs a little more, but if a couple of people buy me a beer over the weekend then I'll just call it even ).

0730: depart Avis MCI
30 mins
0815: depart The Westin (I need to check out and would like to get breakfast to-go)
7 mins
0825: depart Hotel Kansas City
2 hrs 6 mins
1030-1045: St George
42 mins
1125-1140: Bala
1 hr 6 mins
1245-1300: Volland
13 mins
1315-1345: lunch in Alma
38 mins
1425-1430: group photo at the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka (in memory of CMK10 Z"L)
1 hr 31 mins
1600: arrival at MCI

Google Maps source

I drive quickly so this should be doable. If I pick up holland at his home, that would add about 25 minutes to the schedule so we would forego the Topeka stop (unless time permits) and maybe get lunch to go. Either is fine with me. jackal may have his own rental car which would mean those who aren't in a rush could continue to explore on their own; for this reason I've not yet canceled my sedan rental.

Here's the list of people who expressed interest:

• GW
• Majuki
• Jackal
• holland
• cocobird
• ChrisFlyer66
• Zorak

-J.

HPN-HRL

Sorry for not responding sooner!

When I arrive at MCI Thursday afternoon I plan to stick around to pick up cocobird (bdnyc also if he so desires), which should get us to Hotel KC around 6 or so. Does 7:00 or 7:30 work for folks? I haven't tried to make a reservation yet. I see a maximum of 5 currently interested (me, cocobird, bdnyc, susiesan, and Holland).