Yes, ToTo, this is Kansas.

Off this morning from Independence, Missouri, on I70 west into Kansas.  The eastern part of Kansas is very rolling terrain, with some pretty steep hills in places.  We were surprised the other day when we pulled into Independence at how "hilly" the town is.  Lots of trees and grass and a whole lot of hills!  Just a few miles into Kansas, the terrain flattened out:

And eventually became very flat:

I70 is, for the most part a long, straight, uneventful highway.  The first 30 odd miles from Kansas City to Lawrence, KS, is a toll road where we lost control of $6.75.  The toll road was in remarkable condition, however, and so the cost was certainly justified.

We stopped for lunch at a rest stop and took a few pix:

We passed Ft Riley, which is still a very active Army base, and noted that it is the home of the museum of the Seventh U.S. Cavalry and the Custer home.  We'll have to come back for sure!

So, 274 miles farther west, we're escounced in the northwest corner of the Walmart parking lot in Hays, Kansas.  This is a new experience for us, but should turn out ok, as the person at the customer service desk told us that we would have lots of company before the night was over!

If you'll forgive a small rant, we were going to stop for two nights in Abilene, KS, to visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, and to support the local economy a bit.  Guess what happened to that plan.... So the local merchants lost, we lost, and the @$^! politicians in Washington lost....even more of my respect.  I think I'm down to about 2% now...