Route 66 in New Mexico

 In the spring of 2022 we completed 7 of the many New Mexico Route 66 Adventure Labs (for geocaching) as we headed back to South Dakota. Last October we completed 5 more on our travels to Arizona. On Saturday, we added 4 more of New Mexico's Route 66 Adventure Labs. We think there are only two - from Santa Fe to Albuquerque - that we have not completed.

Adventure Labs are a recent addition to the types of geocache finds. There is not a container to find, but there is a location and a question that must be answered to get credit for "finding the cache." The Route 66 Adventure Labs follow the original Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica. Route 66 is filled with stunning scenery, historic landmarks, and unique attractions that make for an unforgettable road trip.

US 66 covered 380 miles (610 km) in New Mexico and passed through many Indian reservations in the western half of New Mexico. East of those reservations, the highway passed through Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Vegas. As in Arizona, in New Mexico, U.S. 66 paralleled I-40.

Our road trip on Saturday was on Central Avenue in Albuquerque. This is the main road through and to Old Town. We found old motels, eating places, service stations that were once bustling businesses.

this was one of our location stops

we had burgers and fries at the historic Route 66 Diner

Another stop was at Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post where we saw vintage RVs and cars.

our last stop was in Grants

our accomplishment this trip

40 historic locations related to another era of road travel

Kansas Geocaching

 This trip through some of Kansas was two-fold: to see our former winter neighbors and to find geocaches in a few more KS counties.

We saw our former Canyon Vistas neighbors Thursday morning in Topeka. Sondra and Herman were the first people we met when we arrived in CV December 30, 2005. They lived across the street from us the first year and were on the lot next to us for the next 8 years. We have LOTS of very fond memories with them.

Because of health issues they live in a Senior Housing complex. Sondra is in the Rehabilitation unit and Herman is in an Independent Living apartment in the same complex. 

Then it was off to collect some geocaches.

The area in red are the counties we have yet to find a geocache. 

Guard of the Plains

Guard of the Plains was at a rest stop along Interstate 70. It was a hike up the hill to see it and find the cache.

pink flowers growing from the bark of this tree

????

cemetery caching is a favorite

no traffic

1894

this was one of the largest headstones (grave marker) I have ever seen

21 counties left after stopping in six counties on this trip.

More From Wamego KS

 As I mentioned in the last post, Wamego had more to offer than Totos and The Yellow Brick Road. They have a lovely city park where we spent time walking around and admiring and learning about the history of the area. 

representing Science

I can't imagine moving a 20 ton boulder by wagon (and horses or mules) 9 miles to the city park in 1907.

representing Art

126' circumference and 26' high

stork

Old Dutch Mill

When we first saw this title on the geocaching map, our thought was Old Dutch (chips) started in Kansas??? NOT

1879

originally 12 miles north of town, 

used to grind grain

area historic buildings moved to the park

colorful tree in the park

I reached 31,200 cache find while in Wamego

this was the third Adventure Lab in the little town of Wamego

The Land of Oz

 We spent several hours in Wamego KS Thursday following the Yellow Brick Road.

I noticed billboards along a stretch of Interstate 70 advertising The Land of OZ in Wamego KS. Luckily, we needed a geocache in that county, so Wamego became a destination.

How did Wamego KS become the Land of Oz? According to the scant info I could find on the Oz Museum web page: 

So how did it all get started? Well, as Dorothy says, “there’s no place like home”. What words could be more appropriate when describing the dream of a small community that literally built a museum out of a rainbow's notion? It took the brains of a small group of leaders, the heart for what L. Frank Baum began in 1900 as a simple children's book, and the courage to take on the task of constructing a home for over 2,000 artifacts dating from 1900 to present day.

The OZ Museum was built with a major grant from the State of Kansas and the generosity of the people of this small community, who also provided thousands of hours of volunteer time. Today, the OZ Museum still heavily relies on the support of its loyal fan base and donors. To be a part of the OZ legacy, visit the membership page to learn how you can get involved and help preserve our tribute to the legendary world of OZ.

We did not visit the museum, but I wish I had stopped in the gift shop...

murals and info along the alley walls of the Yellow Brick Road

Toto did not really care if he was in Kansas or The Land of Oz so long as Dorothy was with him.

for brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the world.

Tin Man and Cowardly Lion were also featured in murals

There's no place like home.

our geocaching reward for exploring downtown Wamego

another Wizard of Oz character in mural format

The town (population 4846) has 18 Toto statues. We found maybe 10 of them. Each was named and uniquely painted. Some were along Main Street and others in the nearby park. Several were placed at businesses.

and our second geocaching reward related to 

The Land of Oz

If you are near Topeka or Manhattan KS, I highly recommend a short drive off Interstate 70 and a visit to Wamego, because there is even MORE to attract tourists!

McBe's Special Night

 Not to be left behind, McBe tested and passed to another belt level in Martial Arts. We were invited to the ceremony last Friday night.

the banner for the ceremony

the bridge for the green belts 

he was awarded the third level green belt

after testing and passing on Monday of last week

he and other green belts participated in the bridging for the other levels

And we are very proud of our grandson and his commitment to Taekwondo!