nimblebee
New Member
I've been making motorized bike trips to small towns around checking out historical sites.
You wouldn't think there was that much to see? You'd be surprised, as this was "Bloody Kansas" with the State motto: "To the Stars through difficulty," where there were opposing groups attacking and killing each other, theft, arson and 4 different groups claiming to be Kansas territory's legitimate government (each group having their own laws, enforcement and tax collectors).
KKK was actively opposing the "underground railroad," political coruption abundant, church's were burned, and people were shot, killed, cut and hung.
Some say Kansas, with massacre of people living in Lawrence, was the beginnings of US Civil War, before Civil War officially began. It's easy to comprehend how a lot of history got made.
Every small town has its own history and stories to tell, it's own historical sites and remains (mostly destroyed). Sometimes all you'll find are foundation stones to railroad water tanks and their windmills. Satellite images still shows remains of fossil railroad routes and ghost towns with their cemeteries, now long vanished.
Small town in which I live, was once burned and sacked by border raider pro-slavers.
Town had 2 large wind engines as big in diameter as a Dutch windmill, water powered mills and factories, a large falls on the river once existed (interesting subplot: "flood control" commission decided it was a good idea to use dynamite and blow up the natural rock falls, destroying water power and built canal rerouting entire river).
Town had 3 different railroads with depots & steam engine water tanks. Interesting story: RR bridge across river collapsed, throwing steam engine into river, which RR then had to fish back out, rebuilding bridge stronger.
There were coal mines and steam powered machine shop, town had water powered electricity and street lights, horse race track with grandstand, huge octagonal shaped hotel, none of which has any traces remaining today.
When standing on location where once these historical sites existed, there is nothing to see, no remains, except stories preserved by local historical societies.
I wanted to go on a trip where there were still functional relics remaining, where something could be experienced and learned. Over in Golden Illinois, there is a windmill complex that still serves its original purpose. Windmill works, they give tours; also apparently for some lucky few, there are classes in learning how to run the windmill and it's facilities.
Google Maps says riding motorized bicycle at 30 mph would take over 10+ hours to go from Northeastern Kansas all the way across Missouri to Golden Illinois.
I'm thinking it's quite likely, after being vibrated and beaten about by a motorized bicycle for 10 plus hours, an overnight stay would be advisable?
Right now, weather is just about perfect for camping out. Semi-retired with part-time work, economically would be reasonable locating affordable campsite, versus hotel stay.
Not so sure I can even make a 10-hour trip? Just riding motorized bicycle "vibration machine" to the nearest Wally World, is about a 60 mile round trip, and that is all the vibration my poor old bones wants to deal with.
goldenwindmill.org
You wouldn't think there was that much to see? You'd be surprised, as this was "Bloody Kansas" with the State motto: "To the Stars through difficulty," where there were opposing groups attacking and killing each other, theft, arson and 4 different groups claiming to be Kansas territory's legitimate government (each group having their own laws, enforcement and tax collectors).
KKK was actively opposing the "underground railroad," political coruption abundant, church's were burned, and people were shot, killed, cut and hung.
Some say Kansas, with massacre of people living in Lawrence, was the beginnings of US Civil War, before Civil War officially began. It's easy to comprehend how a lot of history got made.
Every small town has its own history and stories to tell, it's own historical sites and remains (mostly destroyed). Sometimes all you'll find are foundation stones to railroad water tanks and their windmills. Satellite images still shows remains of fossil railroad routes and ghost towns with their cemeteries, now long vanished.
Small town in which I live, was once burned and sacked by border raider pro-slavers.
Town had 2 large wind engines as big in diameter as a Dutch windmill, water powered mills and factories, a large falls on the river once existed (interesting subplot: "flood control" commission decided it was a good idea to use dynamite and blow up the natural rock falls, destroying water power and built canal rerouting entire river).
Town had 3 different railroads with depots & steam engine water tanks. Interesting story: RR bridge across river collapsed, throwing steam engine into river, which RR then had to fish back out, rebuilding bridge stronger.
There were coal mines and steam powered machine shop, town had water powered electricity and street lights, horse race track with grandstand, huge octagonal shaped hotel, none of which has any traces remaining today.
When standing on location where once these historical sites existed, there is nothing to see, no remains, except stories preserved by local historical societies.
I wanted to go on a trip where there were still functional relics remaining, where something could be experienced and learned. Over in Golden Illinois, there is a windmill complex that still serves its original purpose. Windmill works, they give tours; also apparently for some lucky few, there are classes in learning how to run the windmill and it's facilities.
Google Maps says riding motorized bicycle at 30 mph would take over 10+ hours to go from Northeastern Kansas all the way across Missouri to Golden Illinois.
I'm thinking it's quite likely, after being vibrated and beaten about by a motorized bicycle for 10 plus hours, an overnight stay would be advisable?
Right now, weather is just about perfect for camping out. Semi-retired with part-time work, economically would be reasonable locating affordable campsite, versus hotel stay.
Not so sure I can even make a 10-hour trip? Just riding motorized bicycle "vibration machine" to the nearest Wally World, is about a 60 mile round trip, and that is all the vibration my poor old bones wants to deal with.
Golden Historical Society
goldenwindmill.org
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You're welcome. 
