If I Had My Way
John E. Peterson, Special to The Gazette
Originally published 01:25 p.m., March 20, 2008
Updated 01:25 p.m., March 20, 2008
Over the years, I have written many of these columns about luncheon trips. They seem to have been liked by many of you and I have received many comments about them. The lunch itself has been of interest to you readers, but the drive to and from the lunch place also seems to have been of general interest.
There have been fewer columns about luncheon drives lately. That is partly because aging reduces such traipsing. The lousy weather of these past winter months does that also. So, I have decided to share my memories of two favorite drive routes with you. I would do that right now, if I had my way.
One of these drive routes is north and south. The other is east to west — or vice versa, of course. My favorite north-south route is K-99. There are lots of other Kansas routes which run from the Oklahoma border to the Nebraska line. US-75, 77, 81, 281, 183, 283 and others all do that. So do K-14, 23, 25, 27 and some others. Interesting things can be seen on all of them, but I prefer the variety on K-99. And there is only one sizeable town on it. That, of course, is Emporia.
There are lots of possibilities in the east-west direction, but my favorite is K-4. Interstate 70, of course, goes across and has some areas of beauty and interest, but it is too busy for just a fun drive. US-36 and 24, across northern Kansas, are not bad drives, but 24 hits too many big towns. Several others, US-56, 54, 50, 160 do go across Kansas, but they angle and join other routes a good bit. For me, it comes down to K-4, even though it does not go all the way to the Colorado line. And it does go around big Topeka.
My two choices, then, have long been K-99 and K-4. Permit me to tell you why. I will, if I have my way.
One of my favorite things about 99 and 4 is where they come together. They do that at Eskridge. The most pleasant and interesting route to Topeka is via 99 to Eskridge and then 4 on to the west side of Topeka. It is not the route to take, of course, if you are in a hurry.
It amazes me how many people have never gone to Topeka or come home that way. It only takes an extra half hour or so. It is a beautiful country drive. After 99 to Eskridge, K-4 goes through Dover and beautiful hills and curves. You can turn into Topeka on 21st Street and soon be at the big mall.
If you are not going to Topeka, but want to enjoy real beauty, go out of Eskridge to the west on both 99 and 4. The 10-mile drive before 99 heads north and 4 keeps on west to Alta Vista is stunning. Lake Wabaunsee and just beautiful hills and curves. It is difficult to find a more enjoyable drive anywhere. And that is true, also, of the 10 miles on up 99 to Alma or the 14 miles on 4 to Alta Vista. They are both spectacular.
Now that I have told you about where my two favorite routes come together, permit me to ramble about the rest of the two of them. Here is 99 from the south on north.
Just above the Oklahoma line is Chautauqua, where you can see a bit of the Chautauqua Hills. Then on north to Sedan, Howard, Climax, Hamilton, Madison and Olpe, all interesting little towns. Turning off south of Howard, where US-160 crosses, and exploring Elk Falls and Moline is fun, too.
This is beautiful country, but it is not really the Flint Hills. It is the Osage Questas. We do not actually get into the Flint Hills until we get to Eskridge. Most people, however, cannot tell the two apart. Both are beautiful. And we are in the Flint Hills from Eskridge up north of Alma.
Alma is a town to explore. Lots of beautiful stone buildings and other things to see. Then, on north to Westmoreland, Beattie and Summerfield up on the Nebraska border. From just north of Alma on, we have seen the glaciated area.
So! We have seen four different geological areas and several little towns. Now, let us get to K-4. It starts in Atchison, lot of things to see there, and ambles southwest to Topeka. It is going to take us through glaciated terrain, the Flint Hills, the Smoky Hills and into the High Plains.
Not only will K-4 take us through these four geological areas, but it hits no big cities after Topeka. There are just lots of interesting little towns such as Dwight, White City, Hope, Gypsum and lots more. That is one of the reasons it is a fun drive.
There are a couple of slightly larger towns on K-4, Lindsborg and LaCrosse, and they are both worthy of a visit. Lindsborg, of course, is just full of marvelous things to see and do. LaCrosse is not only the Rush County seat and has an interesting courthouse, but it also has the Barbed Wire Museum. Very worthy of a visit.
I should also mention Marquette. It is about a mile south of K-4, but worth the deviation. Do see it someday, if you never have.
There, then, I have told you a bit about my two favorite “across Kansas” drives. I do not suggest that you drive either of them all the way, though there would be nothing wrong with doing that. I do suggest that you use parts of them when you happen to be going in that direction on a routine journey.
You would do that, if I had my way.
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