In the “sense of adventure” spirit that my husband is so enamored with (and so am I), we decided to take a scenic drive on our way to Topeka yesterday afternoon. A map of gravel road utility type vehicle trails in the Flint Hills has been hanging on our fridge for months. I printed it from a VisitEmporia.com website in hopes that one day we could explore the beautiful area that is so visible from I-35 turnpike through the Flint Hills. So yesterday, at the last minute before leaving the kitchen, the hubby pulled that map off the fridge and said “let’s do this!!”.

Cassoday exit is the general beginning of the Flint Hills and the scenery changes dramatically for several miles. Taking that exit onto the gravel roads and trails from that map teaches you right away that the area is far more enormous than one could see from the turnpike. And far more beautiful. I’ll share a few pics, you know I will.

But first a disclaimer. The fall color is past peak. The beautiful hills are drab brown. The roads are not really two lane. More like 1.5 lane. As we drove along I initially was tempted to be disappointed. We should have taken the trip a couple of weeks sooner to see the spectacular color of the trees and other vegetation.

The first landmark on the map was Teter Rock, but we’d visited that area before on a lovely summer day so we didn’t stop. A short distance beyond the Teter Rock entrance we turned left (north) to find the next landmark which is Texaco Hill. As one might imagine, it’s named Texaco Hill because of the connection to Texaco Oil. It’s a big connection as is evidenced by oil production sites here and there. Do you find that type of stuff on a landscape beautiful? Well, no I really don’t either. But we drove on through the very narrow rocky gravel road in our quest to find the Hill Called Texaco.

We did find it. But first we found gravel windrows. Do you know what that is? Anyone from rural farm areas should know. It’s evidence that road maintaining equipment is in the area. It’s a ridge of piled up road gravel in the road that blocks a portion of one lane. So, as we traveled this 1.5 lane winding road we were certain that at some point there would be large heavy equipment ahead of us. Leaving us with no lanes. Did this make me hyperventilate with anxiety? No. Why, you may ask? Because I grew up with a daddy who drove a road maintainer for a living. It was parked in our back yard. He took me with him often as he’d work the roads in northeastern Ottawa County.

So when the large yellow Caterpillar appeared in our line of vision, my reaction was pure nostalgia. Almost to tears. The driver of the Cat pulled to the edge as best he could and stopped for us to make our way over the windrow with two wheels in the ditch and on to the ungraded road ahead. I was so surprised to see how much this Caterpillar looked like the one Dad drove back in the 1960’s. As we prepared to pass him I knew I had to look at the driver. I knew he would be looking at us, too. For crying out loud we had not seen even one other vehicle up to this point. Surely he’d be thinking “What are they doing here?” Anyway, I was kind of hoping he’d be a short bald man in his 50’s with rimless eyeglasses and a handsome face and smile and rugged tanned skin. He’d be wearing blue or grey bib overalls. Maybe he would wave us down to chat with us. His door would be wide open, I was certain. And chatting would be his forte, no doubt. And it would be difficult for me to restrain a few tears.

But he didn’t fit that description. He looked, we all waved, we drove on.

Nostalgia took me back to this long ago scene.

Nostalgia is such a unique experience. I was transported back to the days of this photo and the few years that followed. Such a sweet, warm feeling that changed our scenic drive from drab brown trees and hills into something really special. A trip “home”.

This nostalgia brightened my spirits, changed my perspective, and made the rest of the drive so much more beautiful and enjoyable.

This may shock you but I didn’t take a bunch of photos. On another day after the spring burning of the Flint Hills is done when the green vegetation is astonishing, I’ll take more pics. On another day earlier in the fall color season, I’ll take more pics. But I promised pics and here they are. The water scenes are in Verdigris Crossing. Driving through the water is required. We’re in a drought. There was water from springs in many places. Isn’t it awesome how God provides what the open range cattle need? Truth? He always provides for his creation. You and me included. Also: take note of the stone cattle loading dock (or whatever it’s called).

We meandered through the beautiful hills and near the open range cattle here and there. There were ponds here and there. Eventually we ended up in Olpe and on to Emporia which we learned is the Founding City of Veteran’s Day. Being November, the town was prepped for the occasion with lamp posts along Main Street displaying wonderful photos of veterans. Pretty cool town. Our destination was Topeka where we would watch our grandchildren play in a Jazz Band concert while their dad, our son-in-law, would be directing and their mom, our daughter, would be attentively watching with a heart full of love. All four grandparents would be in the audience with the same loving feelings.

And I wonder what will trigger nostalgia one day for our two daughters and four grandchildren? A band director holding up his directing wand? A UPS driver in his brown truck? A mom in the car line at school? A beautiful woman singing a song that their mom once sang to them? A song being played on a piano that sounds just like one from their childhood? A dad driving over the next hill looking for the next adventure?

Thank you, dear hubby, for pulling that printed map of driving trails through the Flint Hills from the refrigerator door and into my hands and saying “Let’s go!”. And I can guarantee you we’ll go again.