Blue Goose ~ Day 148

October 24, 2014 ~ Emporia, KS to Pratt, KS

Relatively early this morning, I went to the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve but the road through the refuge (which used to be drivable) got washed out, so now all exploration was restricted to walking, with advice and warnings about maintaining distance from the free-roaming buffalo or elk. One could, however, see the lay of the land from the highway. There were 6-8 buses of high-school kids here for a educational day, waiting to be rounded up for various activities, full of teenage energy when they weren't on their cell phones.

near Emporia, KS

Of the 170 million acres of tallgrass prairies, only 4% remain. Today, there are efforts in all the states that historically had these prairies to restore what they can. Agriculture was an ecological disaster for this land, arguably necessary or not. Perhaps a better balance will someday be achieved. The issues are entwined with the Native Americans and buffalo and the military and ordinary citizens and Manifest Destiny and the Homestead Act:

EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

The first of the acts, the Homestead Act of 1862, was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on May 20, 1862. Anyone who had never taken up arms against the U.S. government (including freed slaves and women), was 21 years or older, or the head of a family, could file an application to claim a federal land grant.

It was Friday, and I used points to stay in a Best Western in Pratt. It took a phone conversation with their customer services to guarantee this and, even though I was still charged an inexplicable $35 on checkout the next day, I received a call a few days later front the manager who deleted the charges and apologized. Why, oh why does this type of offer so often have to be proactively managed and doesn't just fall in place smoothly.

But before Pratt, I went to Quivira NWR. The name Quivira is Spanish and was given to the region by Coronado in 1541. I took back roads to get there, stopping to watch a Red-tailed Hawk eat a small snake. It was a warm sunny day; the refuge was just lovely as so many are, with Big and Little Salt Marshes and 14 miles of auto route. This is obviously snake country, and I did see some on the roads and thought about their presence whenever I got out of the van. About half our country has poisonous snake populations. People apparently adjust to that fact but it would take me awhile. Still, I would never run over a snake on purpose and did in fact swerve to avoid a couple.

The marshes had birds....many American Avocets, strikingly handsome even in the nonbreeding plumage of grey, white and black, peeps (small sandpipers), dowitchers, yellowlegs, grebes and ducks and herons.

American Avocets at Quivira, NWR - KS

The marsh grasses were gorgeous: golden and brown and rust-colored in the strong sun. It was a relatively wild place, somewhat remote, but with a sense of perfect natural harmony.

I wanted to get to the VC but misread the directions. I was worried a little about the red warning light for low gas so didn't turn back to find it and instead headed for Pratt. At one point I saw a farm machine approaching on the two-lane, taking up both lanes. The driver pulled to one side and I pulled to the other side so I could pass.

I had Mexican food in Pratt and then tried to work and watch game 3 of the World Series simultaneously. Of all major sports, I only like baseball. There is such elegance in the way the outfielders and basemen catch and throw the hit balls. I know the interest and emphasis this season has been on Madison Bumgarner, and usually is on pitchers, but I find the base hits and amazing outfield work thrilling with its moments of perfection and precision.

Kansas, between Quivira NWR and Pratt