So looking for a place to go birding, I read about this lake that was called "Dry" but wasn't, and had a lot of shorebirds and it was only 20 miles out of Barstow. I googled it and one person posted that the last 2 miles of the road was pretty bad and not to try it in the rain.
So,this morning I head out to see this oasis in the desert and turned off the highway at the sign that said "Wildlife Viewing -8 miles". The map said the road was paved and about 100 yards in there was a sign, "Road Work Ahead".  Should have thought something was fishy cause the sign looked old and battered. But I drove on with visions of shorebirds and green. The more I drove, the worse the road became.and I was thinking about turning around but I wanted to see this lake and kept going.
I came to a what may have been a town at one time. but now the buildings were empty and forlorn looking, street signs were hand made and I didn't see anything that looked green.
Beyond the town, the road got worse, and I was reduced to maybe 10 miles per hour. But the odometer said 2 more miles so I kept going. All of a sudden I come to what is suppose to be the turn off onto the dirt road and instead I'm greeted by a newly paved road, and one of those signs, Speed Limit 15 miles per Hour and your going --" Now,there is a fence along the north side of the road and there is some building going on, but I have no idea what they are building and if I'm really suppose to be there.  About a mile further, I come to a stop sign and security guards!!!!! But they wave me on, I guess what ever it is, the little old lady doesn't look like a threat.  The only thing that I can think these things are is maybe solar panels, miles of them. 
Well, you can see this beautiful oasis!  What a trip.

 

 

 

 

 Morris County Courthouse, Cottonwood Falls. Unfortunately the sun was in the wrong spot

 

 Spring Hill Ranch.Originally this was a chicken house. All I met was a huge tabby cat that came to say hello and followed me around for awhile

 Spring Hill Ranch stonewall.

 Spring Hill Ranch Barn. It was huge.The Ranch was started in 1878 to 1986 and owned by a lot of different folks.

 

 Icehouse that sat high on the hill behind the house

 Outhouse.It was a 3 holer, 2 for adults and one for children.

 Spring Valley Ranch House

 Not sure if this ceiling was at an angle or if it was an obtical illusion.

 Wooden bannister was beautiful, but the stairs were narrow and my fear of heights kicked in at the first step.

 From the outside the house looked huge, but inside it felt cramped

 Fox Creek School House, Tallgrass KS

 Kaw Mission School.

 138 of these homes were built for the Kaw Native Americans in 1861. Unfortunately the Kaw preferred their tepees and few actually were lived in. Council Grove, KS

 The inside of the Kaw House

 

 

 I HATE HEIGHTS and I did'tl like the looks of this bridge at all. The sign warns only 3 allow at a time and not to jump. Jump, I didn't even want to talk it but if I was going to do the Konza, I had to cross the bridge. Just me, walking slowly the bridge still started to bounce up and down and I was to afraid to turn around or stop or run.

 Decided to walk the Konza Prairie this weekend and I knew it was 2.5 miles but it looked flat and easy and I really thought I would see a bird or two. As you see it looks nice and flat.