Wandering in a 10 mile radius

We have been randomizing our dining delights lately - trying to find something new. We like locally owned and so our new ventures are geared to local owned places. Friday we ate at The Big Grill & More on 6th and Sandusky in Kansas City Kansas. We had lunch -  pork sandwich and potato salad for Ric and Ham sandwich and baked beans for me. It comes with fries and a pickle spear.

The building alone will draw you in. The friendliness at the counter will keep you smiling but the food will make you close your eyes and say YUM!

The sandwiches were triple decker so no shortage of meat on old fashioned white bread and slathered with just enough BBQ to be good. Meat is good quality and smoked to perfection. And while all my major meat eating friends will find that alone to be exquisite - you have not got to the best part - the baked beans. We pride ourselves on making baked beans to die for at home - these were just as good. They were sweet, and smoky and delicious. They were the best I have ever had outside of my own kitchen. And then there is the potato salad - it was made with potatoes! Not lots of onion and eggs. The creamy mustardy base was perfect.

This is not fancy - this is the way BBQ should be. Home cooked and delicious!
If you have not been there - you have not had great BBQ in Kansas City. I know, some of you have your favorites - and we have probably been there too but we were very impressed with The Big Grill and will be back! I think their special on Thursday is slabs!

Lifes Small Adventures

We have survived the heat and lived to tell August to chill. In any other year, this would have sounded silly, this year, I think August might seem mild compared to July! And even though we are not traveling as such, we are still trying to find minor adventures here at home.
Lately, the only thing that has seemed possible to do is eat someplace new. So here is your updates.

 

 We tried the Freebird World Burrito which has just opened in Mission, KS. We had actually driven by and seen tents outside a few days before and had no idea that anyone, would wait for the opening of a restaurant like that. Still think they are crazy but - that is their adventure. So, we went at lunch and waited in a pretty long line. It is small, clean, and serves beer and margaritas. And the food is pretty inexpensive by the usual standard. You get to choose whatever they have to put on your burrito or taco.

We were surprised at the quality and flavor and will eat there again!

Next up - Quicks BBQ. We have told you about this one before - it is a sleeper here in KC. It is what a BBQ should "feel" like. Homey. The food is good, the beer is cold and it is a concealed carry friendly restaurant. Posted on the door. Kudos big time to the owner!

If you have not tried it - be sure and drop by - it will feel like home!

Tonight, we headed out to Gardner, KS to Stricker's Auction. It was "warmish" Sad, that 90+ seems managable because it is not 100+! Anyway, it was packed. They had 2 rings going. One outside and one inside. We didn't see anything worth waiting around for but things were going very reasonable! But we stopped at Blazers Burgers and BBQ right down the street and it made the drive worth it!
It is a restaurant built around what looks like a walk up drive in. Burger was good. Pulled Pork sandwich was good. They have sweet potato fries so you know I was happy! And the people were interesting to watch. This close to KC it felt small town comfortable. Right next to the Johnson County fair and kids were coming in to get ice cream. For some reason, it reminded both of us of how it felt in summer when we were kids. Can't explain it - but the simplicity was remarkably comforting. On the menu it lists Beer Bottle. No type - we didn't ask, but wish we had!

Portia got a good report today and she looks so much better. Another quality day! I have realized I am starting to understand life. Mine anyway. It is about the day to day quality. Not the highs, or the lows, but those defining moments that are just simply good. Heres to many more!

Back in the Saddle

We started out this morning heading back toward the heat of the midwest. Can you tell I would like to keep suffering int he cool dry air of the northwest?

We headed north and drove through Yellowstone from  "West Yellowstone" to the East and into Cody Wyoming.

We grabbed a bite at the cafe in west Yellowstone - pancakes! and then headed into the park. It was an overcast day and crowded. Cool enough that no ac was needed. Except for some buffalo the animals were in hiding. Can't blame them!

 found this in the park

When we reached the East side of the loop in the park the lake was astounding. The park has so many personalities. It is rugged on the West but the lake is almost haunting.

It was cool and dark and deep. And looked like it held too many secrets to give up in one lifetime. The silvered trees that stand watch over the waves - held no birds or animals. They just swayed slightly in the breeze. I call them the Bones of the Forest. They are a graveyard to the trees that once stood so proudly. The lake almost felt like the Northeast US. There were only about 4 boats on it. Quiet by Yellowstone terms.

 Two different falls we came across as we headed toward the East Gate of the park.

We saw the "perfect" truck - at least by my standards - and it was red. It was fixed up with cubby holes and packed to travel a long ways.

 Slowly we wound our way around and exited the park. Within just a few miles we found another new world.  The rock formations were almost alien. Another planet could have formed them. I thought of Edgar Rice Burroughs science fiction when I saw them. Spires reaching into the sky. Rocks that were rubbed and worn away by years of water - the soft washed away the hard stands tall.

 The sand here was almost black like that on Hawaii. It sifted through your hands like silk. The sound of the water and the smell of the sage was intoxicating.

Ok, I fell down on my listing - this is before you reach Cody and I am sure it has a story - a good excuse to come back through and find out!

By the time we reached Cody Wyoming, I felt like I had traveled through worlds.  Cody is quite a little town. The west end is mostly new - keep driving. The old downtown is quaint and active. We ate at Irma's. Bill Cody's youngest daughter's place. Buffalo burgers and Irma potatoes. Good and not overcooked. The decor and atmosphere is worth going in for!

This town is a place we would like to come back to and walk the whole street!

 We said goodbye to Wyoming and headed back towards the midwest. Over the mountains and through the woods and spend our last night in Gillette, Wyoming. Dark rain clouds were hanging in the rear view mirror.

Until we meet again! - Found this old photo today - this family traveled to Yellowstone Park in 1924. I think it was us from a different time!

 And . . . this was the weather today in our backyard. Yep, it hit 109.2 with a heat index of 122.3.

How Far Would You Drive for a Margarita?

I would love to hear just how far you have driven for a margarita. Today, we drove about 375 miles round trip for the makings. Well, for the tequilla. It is a long story. You see, we ran out of tequila and well, it is 4th of July - in Idaho. No liquor sales. None in Montana either. But, Wyoming - now that is a different case. So, we found tequila at Old Faithful store in Yellowstone. Who knew?

Actually, Bill and Vicki have been showing us some of the most beautiful areas of the country. Everyday we have seen another great place that it would be nice to have weeks to explore.

No matter which direction we have driven they are all beautiful.

  Sunday we spent in Jackson Hole, Wyoming enjoying a fantastic lunch of elk burgers. Visiting and spent the day with a great group of pets! And people!

"And then the cowboy said to the rabbi . . . "

 "Come on dogs, just try to take this ball"

 And, Lander - who I short changed with a wiggle in the focus! A beautiful water dog - who does not like water!

This was the view as we ate -

Monday we went to an Army Navy Surplus here in Idaho Falls. We could have spent days there. Each day has lead to another place that we want to go back and visit again.

Tonight we set off a few fireworks in the back yard to celebrate 4th of July!

 Afton guarding his bones

 You woke me for this?

 Shadow with his new hair cut

 Butterfly on Delphinium in B&V backyard - Idaho Falls

Leaving tomorrow in the morning heading for Kansas City!

From the front seat of the truck

We headed out from Prosser with more sunshine and warmer temps than we have had for a long time. Across 82 to 84 - the grapes and horses gave way to plains and hills and vistas. The starkness of this land is almost hard to absorb. It is both empty and full. Harsh and soft. The golden hills with charcoal and green rocks that form short ledges jutting out like chins as if to say we have been here long before you and we will be here long after you are gone. Even in the truck it seems quiet. When you stop - if not for the sound of the wind it would be quiet. Not silent, just smooth. The short stout grass blows as if in a stiff salute to the forces of nature around it. The sage brush scents the air with an aroma not even close to that found in a bottle. While it is not someplace I would want to live, I see much to explore and capture in photos.
This vista shot was just East of Prosser.
Oregon has a law. It is that you cannot pump your own gas. This was something we didn't know. Supposedly it is because of jobs. It keeps more people employed. Felt strange to let someone else do it but they are adamant about it.

We traveled through Washington and into NE Oregon and saw the changes from those around Seattle. Here there are glades and valleys of grass in between the trees. Great open spaces surrounded by pines. I looked for a great bear to walk out and stare at me. But, we have not seen many animals this trip. A pheasant almost crash landed into our windshield but I don't really think that counts.

As we were coming down out of the mountains we came around the curve and this stunning site greeted us. I think these are flax (suggested by Vicki)  very sweet smelling and filled with bees doing their level best to gather pollen. From this location you looked west into these craggy peaks and turned to the East and had smooth hills covered with wind turbines.

 

 I napped after lunch and awoke to what looked like the same place. Who knew there were this many thousands of acres of grassland? Then we turned off  and headed to Craters of the Moon. At first glance it looks like millions of oreo cookies all crumbled up and laying on the ground. Then you get out and look at it - you can't look away. It is seeing something 2000 years old in detail. The rock on top that looks like a pebble is melted into and stuck to the one below it. And over the years bits of moisture and dirt have settled in and plants have grown. But, it is a barren wasteland in so many ways. The color just looks DARK like the most fertile earth on the planet until you realize it is lava/stone. It has oozed up out of the earth and spewed down on it's self.
We arrived at Bill & Vickie's about 9pm and after a great home cooked dinner crashed! Headed out today to Warm River - the HUGE trout sat there looking like you could reach down and grab them.

  

This was our view of the Grand Tetons from the west - did you know that Tetons translates as "breast"?

Then off to Mesa Falls. in the Targhee National Forest - the upper falls. This is just a gorgeous place!

Original early 1900's cabin restored - gorgeous inside and out and fun to see all the exhibits.

This is a a stunning view!

Ric caught these on the porch of the cabin. The trilling sound could be heard even above the falls for many feet away.

Shadow and Baetis giving Ric some help on the sofa. They said he was moving his lips when he read!