Day Two on the Road

The second day of my road trip from the Midwest to the Southwest starts earlier than planned. A train rolls through Wilson before sunrise, pulling me awake sooner than expected. Since I am already up, it feels like the right moment to get moving.

After a quick breakfast, I gather my camera gear and step outside into the cold.

Early Morning in Wilson, Kansas

The temperature sits near 18 degrees, and the cold is immediate. Gloves, a jacket, and a hat help, but I still question my decision more than once. Still, the quiet streets and soft morning light make the effort worthwhile.

Wilson is home to the World’s Largest Hand-painted Czech Egg, and seeing it up close never gets old. The egg stands 20 feet tall and stretches 15 feet wide, making it impossible to miss.

Painted black with detailed red, yellow, and white Czech designs, the egg feels carefully considered rather than oversized for attention. Artist Christine Slechta brings the design to life, while a metal gazebo surrounds it with matching Czech patterns cut into the structure. Together, the egg and gazebo feel intentional and well balanced.

Cheyenne Bottoms and the Kansas Wetlands

As my road trip from the Midwest to the Southwest continues, I stop at the Kansas Wetlands Educational Center near Great Bend. Despite driving past this area many times, this is my first visit.

The nearby Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Refuge is experiencing drought conditions, and there are no birds present. Even so, the stop adds important context to the land around me. Learning about the wetlands helps explain how much this landscape depends on water and seasonal change.

Remembering History at the B-29 Memorial Plaza

In Great Bend, I make a stop at the B-29 Memorial Plaza near the former Great Bend Army Airfield. The memorial honors those who served during World War II and passed through this part of Kansas.

This stop feels personal. My grandfather flew missions on a B-29 as a gunner, and standing here connects family history to a real place. The plaza honors service, sacrifice, and a chapter of history that often feels distant until you stand where it happened.

Following the Santa Fe Trail

From Great Bend, I continue west to two landmarks tied to the Santa Fe Trail.

Pawnee Rock State Historic Site once guided travelers across the plains. This sandstone outcropping marked the halfway point on the trail and reassured travelers they were on the right path. Names and dates carved into the rock remain visible, some dating back to the 1800s.

A short drive away, Fort Larned National Historic Site tells another side of the story. Established in 1859, the fort served as a military presence during westward expansion. After the Civil War, it played a role in protecting trade routes, while also reflecting the conflicts that came with expansion into land already inhabited.

Dodge City and the Wild West

From Fort Larned, my road trip from the Midwest to the Southwest carries me into Dodge City. Few towns are as closely tied to Wild West history.

Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and Doc Holliday all passed through Dodge City, and their stories still shape the town today. At the Boot Hill Museum, artifacts and exhibits preserve that history, including more than 200 firearms from a collection of over 20,000 items.

Walking through the museum feels like stepping into stories I grew up hearing.

Dinosaur Tracks in Clayton, New Mexico

By late afternoon, I cross into New Mexico and reach Clayton. At Clayton Lake State Park, I see dinosaur tracks for the first time.

The tracks are more than 100 million years old and remarkably well preserved. More than 500 prints remain visible, left by at least four different dinosaur species. Standing beside them shifts perspective in a way few places can.

A Night at Hotel Eklund

I end the day at Hotel Eklund in Clayton, a historic hotel known for both its charm and its ghost stories. Tales mention a maid named Irene, often linked to creaking floors near Room 307. Other investigators claim another spirit enjoys playing jokes on guests.

If anything unusual happens during my stay, I miss it completely. After a long day on the road, sleep comes fast.

Day two of my road trip from the Midwest to the Southwest covers more ground than expected. It blends roadside attractions, history, and quiet moments that stay with me long after the miles fade.