We left Columbia this morning and drove west, rocked by strong "backside winds" from yesterday's damaging storm system. At Kansas City, we angled southwestward on Interstate 35 and, just beyond Emporia, Kansas, crossed the southern segment of the Flint Hills. Covered by grasslands and some crop fields, these hills are sculpted from Permian sediments; due to the thin soil, trees are limited to the stream valleys.
Farther south, we passed El Dorado Lake and then dipped through the Arkansas River Valley near Wichita. As we entered Oklahoma, wind turbines stretched across the southern horizon and mantis-like oil pumps dotted the rolling terrain. Great-tailed grackles and Eurasian collared doves greeted our arrival in the Sooner State and casinos sought our attention at almost every intersection (perhaps I exaggerate). Of note for geography buffs (like myself), we crossed the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River along the way.
About 30 miles south of the Kansas-Oklahoma line, we turned west toward Enid, where we will spend the night. Tomorrow we begin exploring on foot; stay tuned!
