Hope beyond Little Sweden

Stone bridge at Lake Wabaunsee - July 2020

The final leg of the return route from Colorado, crossing the eastern Great Plains and Flint Hills of Kansas.

Launching down the road, headed for home on this final day of the expedition.  Everything was left to chance.  Brief pauses at random small towns turned out a few amusements.  There were not as many displays of patriotism as one might expect on this Fourth of July. 

Hoisington offered up a few artistic renderings.  Urban landscapes covered a few nearby buildings, and in place of flags that eventually fade and fall apart, the town put up metal designs by a local artist.

Stepping back in time further down the road, Claflin presented an entirely different take on art.  One full city block appears restored to a certain time period.  Which in particular is not entirely certain, as one or two of the structures appear to be different era.

The navigator missed out on the initial Coronado Heights expedition a few month ago, but got another chance to survey the situation.  Lying in the path as it was seemed sufficient reason to pause there again.  The view from mountain offered as many amazing scenes from the surrounding prairie as before, and will always be a good respite from the road.

In the shadow of the majestic swell in the middle of the savanna, a lonesome painter toiled away, turning out an array artifacts to ensure the little town of Lindsborg remained solidly branded as Little Sweden USA.  Very few others could be found out and about otherwise.  Masked hysteria still held a firm grip on the community.

There is hope just beyond that.  A Michigan immigrant and merchant wandered through here a hundred years or so ago, likely thinking the very same.  Numerous years of successful business in the spot convinced him there should always be "Hope" in Kansas.

Cruising through White City found tributes to the rails that founded many of the towns in the area.  A tribe from Chicago immediately named this junction in honor superintendent of the Neosho division of the Katy Railroad, likely to ensure appropriate compensation from the same.

Dwight also swelled from the crossroads to offer support in exchange for stops along the Rock Island Line.  Established about the same time as the rail began to pass through, this town showcases a local namesake instead, that of one that donated the land for a church.

Perched at a lofty height 444 meters, the history of Alta Vista is similar to the remainder of towns dotting this stretch of KS-4.  Traffic is not quite what it was in those days, and population tends to have diminished in parallel sequence, and only local stone buildings remain from the glory days gone by.

KS-4 stretches on, seemingly forever.  It is a long straight shot from out west, and even the road begins to get bored with itself finally, turning this way and that, as it rises into the Flint Hills.

The last excusion to Lake Wabaunsee only explored the waterfalls below the spillway.  Encountering this quiet little resort community again, a desire to see a bit more urged a brief detour around the site.  Fireworks stood at the ready, though a more retardant site platform might be preferred by others. 

Eskridge yielded little more than on the last visit to this booming metropolis.  Affording little more than a passing glance at a few of the historic local stone structures, it stands much as it did on the last round, in varying degrees of decay.  

Drifting north through Dover only found Topeka lurking on the other side, full of impatient drivers.  Everyone seemed to be going in every direction in pursuit of various confined and localized celebrations planned for the evening.  

The homing beacon appeared near Kansas Speedway, glowing softly and colorful against a horizon full of storm clouds.  Chasing them across town, bringing a bit sun along with us, we landed safely amidst a partly cloudy evening. 

. . .

Further Reading

B&B Metal Arts
BBMetalArts.com

Lindsborg, Kansas
City of Lindsborg

Hope History
City of Hope

White City
KansasTown.us

Dwight History
City of Dwight

Lake Wabaunsee

Wabaunsee County

Eskridge History
City of Eskridge