This weekend  our closest immediate  family spent some quality time

together in an unbelievable place 120 miles or so from here; a place that

I was aware of but hadn't once been to in my life. Located 20 miles west of

Emporia, Ks. lies Chase County, the heart of the Flint Hills of Kansas. The

picture below is on the old bridge over the Cottonwood River in 

Cottonwood Falls  (but the trees in the background are NOT 

cottonwoods... I think).  From left to right is JLynne, Asometimeyankee

(Mom), yours truly TP, Nanatehay, TrigX, Pablo Escobar Jr., and

Tony Montana Jr. (Shhhh, Jlynne doesn't tell everyone about this but her

oldest is half Colombian and the youngest half Cubano: don't let the 

reddish blond hair and fair skin fool you). White and black dog is Leon

Trotsky. Black Dog with white paws is Heinrich Himmler. And that's 

Triglet, my head security officer in my right hand ( I've been told you

have to be VERY secure in your own manhood to own a dog the size of

a toaster).

 Here (below) Friday evening, setting up camp. TrigX in the foreground and Pablo just behind. This is at Chase County Lake, a rather smallish but picturesque lago, only about 3 miles down the road from Cottonwood Falls.

The atmosphere law enforcement wise was totally relaxed at this place. One rule only which was take out your own trash/clean up after yourself. Parking on the grass for a little while....no problem. Staying up late and playing guitars and singing and joking around by the lake while fishing late into the night......no sweat!

 In fact we never once saw a sherriff or a park ranger or any "authority" type person at all. The people that used this park were/are left to police themselves... like adults. There were no problems at all with camp neighbors. No need for hassles or arrests. Having a good time was NOT PROHIBITED as it is in similar places nearer Kansas City.

Cell phone signals were however a small problem. In the below picture I had climbed to the top of one of the surrounding hills trying to get a text through. The message wouldn't send, even from up there, but the view was great and I snapped this picture.

 As the sun started to set last night Nanatehay snapped this picture below (I apologize for stealing your pic dude... you have plenty more). A storm was blowing in. The moon was a perfect half of a pie. There turned out to be lightning and thunder, but all while the moon stayed out. All seven of us humans and all three dogs were gathered around sky watching and enjoying each others company. It was a night I will not soon forget. Never actually...

 Once again near the Cottonwood River in Cottonwood Falls. These ARE cottonwood trees. Amongst the largest I've ever seen no less.

This was just before we headed back this afternoon... In the background is an old mill that was converted to a hotel. Just below is the Cottonwood River and the old mill dam. Directly after this pic was taken by Jlynne we vamanosed for KC.

 One more pic down by the lake where we camped. Does anyone recognize this plant in the foreground?