Eastbound!

After leaving Great Sand Dunes National Park, I spent a little less than a week driving 1,400 miles east to get to the Great Smoky Mountains! I traveled through 6 states, 3 times zones, and a heat wave. Descending from high altitude to the plains of Colorado, and then Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky brought me to 90-100 degrees days and humidity. Oh the humidity! I’d forgotten what it was like to feel sticky and wet. And I did not miss it! All was not boring and bad though. I came across the neat attractions along the way.

First, after leaving Great Sand Dunes, I went just a few miles down the road to Zapata Falls. Natasha, my friend from Guadalupe Peak in Texas, had recommended the short and rewarding hike. Although when she visited a month ago, the water was still partially frozen! That was not the case any longer.

After a few slow miles down a bumpy dirt road, Sunny and I arrived at the trailhead. A short hike up dusty, path brought us to the stream flowing through the woods. Plenty of people were around, but most were figuring out how to get to the waterfall in their shoes. You see, to actually see Zapata Falls you need to hike up the stream and around the bend, into a small canyon. I came prepared with my Chacos and stepped right in. And while the water might not be frozen any more, it certainly still is icy cold! Brrrr.

Carefully upstream I went, taking one step at a time to ensure my footing was solid. The current was brisk, but not dangerous. The rock wall provided good support as I went.

As I approached, the first part of the fall came rushing toward me. White water bubbling over rocks and running away downstream. At this point I was all alone to admire the power of the water. Then a little further ahead and I could see the source of the roaring sound. Zapata Falls fell from above, crashing down into the canyon, misting me as I stood in its flow. I stayed long enough to enjoy, to relish the moment, and then headed back before I was crowded in and couldn’t feel my feet!

Back at the path, I sat to warm my feet in the sun, red and cold from the water. Then a snack and we were on our way back. I stopped to talk to a solo traveler from New Hampshire for a bit, a lovely surprise, and continued back to the van. From there I packed up and headed out for the first leg of my journey east.

The next day I crossed the state line into Kansas, and continued east. Most of the day was consumed with driving, but before hitting my campsite on the lake, I pulled into Wilson. It wasn’t a planned detour, and not too long ago I probably wouldn’t have given myself permission to stop, but I’ve grown and today I stopped. I’m pretty glad I did!

Wilson, KS is somewhat of a ghost town today, but it was once home to a large population of Czech immigrants. Considered the “Czech Capital of Kansas”, people began migrating here in 1871 as the area was near the Pacific Railway and had good land for farming and good stone for building. Many relatives of these immigrants live in the area today and continue the Czech traditions and culture the area is known for. Each year there is an After Harvest Czech Festival and in near the old opera house is the World’s Largest Czech Egg! This is what initially drew me to the area.

The egg is 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide, painted with traditional colors and symbols. Each have a distinct meaning and importance in Czech culture. You can read about the below!

I wandered around the town a bit, checking out smaller painted eggs on the street corners and spotted examples of Czech influenced architecture. It was a very quiet main street, just a single restaurant open and one gift shop. A heritage museum was in the corner, but not open. Maybe another time!

That night I slept nearby on a lake, enjoying the view and sunset. It was an incredibly windy night, the van rocking a bit, but we made it through. The following morning I enjoyed a run around the nature path while I chatted on the phone with a friend. Yay for full cell phone service!

Then back on the road! Sunny got a wash, vacuum, and new windshield wipers in preparation for the arrival of my friend Kristi when I made it to the Great Smoky Mountains. We made a pit stop for ice cream thanks to a billboard ad, and landed in Missouri for the night.

Next up was a long drive, all the way to Kentucky! I stayed at a Harvest Host spot for the night, a quaint farm where I had the hillside all to myself. I stocked up on fruits and veggies at the farm stand and settled in to watch the fireflies as the sunset. It was still hot and sticky, but we were making it through. Tomorrow another national park before Great Smoky Mountains. Any guesses?