What a week! After wrapping up the State Fair, I parked the MVC in my driveway for a bit of downtime. We both needed a break (me, for obvious reasons; the MVC, because apparently hauling me around is hard work). But the road was calling, so we packed up and headed north to Nebraska City for the Applejack Festival!

First stop: Topeka, to grab some travel guides and maps—because what’s a road trip without 18 different ways to avoid getting lost? Then I rolled into Mayetta, KS, and guess what? Closed. Typical. Seems like every time I want to stop somewhere cool, the “Closed” sign goes up the minute I arrive. Mayetta, you’re on my list for a do-over!

Next up: Holton, where I hoped to visit the historic Hotel Josephine. But, surprise! It was closed too. At least I had lunch to look forward to. Trails Café didn’t disappoint with fried chicken, a salad bar, and a baked potato—always a winning combo.

We made a quick detour to see a historical marker for the "Battle of the Spurs." No shots were fired here. John Brown, the famous abolitionist, was leading 11 escaped slaves toward freedom in Iowa when a posse of 45 men tried to stop him. Brown’s reputation as a fearless leader freaked them out so much that they ran off without a fight. That’s how you win a battle without lifting a finger. He basically scared off a posse without breaking a sweat. That’s the kind of energy I try to bring to road trips—intimidating without doing much.

Then, I veered off down a dirt road to Schlaegel’s Popcorn. And finally, success! It was open! I bought four bags of flavored popcorn. Two were meant to be gifts, but I couldn’t resist devouring the rainbow and white chocolate cherry flavors. Let’s just say, they didn’t make it out of the trip.

Sabetha was my next stop. I had no idea how to pronounce it (Sa-beth-a? Se-beth-a?), so I asked social media, and they set me straight: Sa-beth-a. I popped into the post office to check out a New Deal-era mural, “The Hare and the Tortoise”, painted by Kansas native Albert T. Reid in 1937. It was commissioned as part of the Treasury Department’s Section of Fine Arts initiative during the Great Depression, designed to bring art into public spaces while supporting artists.

I also wandered into a store selling Sabetha Bluejays gear, where the guy at the counter asked if I was someone’s dad. I said no, but offered to be a cool distant uncle. We shared a laugh, and he gave me a free toy football. Guess I haven’t lost my charm!

An unplanned stop at Pony Creek Lake turned out to be a gem. The lake was gorgeous, and I snapped some great pics. Definitely one of those detours you don’t regret.

By late afternoon, I arrived in Nebraska City and checked out the Arbor Day Farm and the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. Though the weekend weather was mixed, I still managed to chat with about 200 people, promoting Kansas road trips with travel guides and brochures.

Next up: Kansas Speedway for some NASCAR action. If you’re in the area, swing by the vendor market and say hi. The MVC and I will be there, wheels spinning and ready for action!