Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, Vol. 50a, October 15, 1948

Friday Oct. 15.

Breakfast at Hotel. Ice again—Leave K.C. at 9:30.
11.5 miles Stop for devotions
50 S at Ottawa then 75. 
26  “  — Lost route 50—took route 7 to Olathe where we got 50 again.
83 mi—relaxation—ate apples. Discovered we had lost a hubcap.
? mi. Burlington — 1:00 ate lunch “smashed potatoes” B—drove awhile —
75 to Yates Center then 54 west.
Hot afternoon—strong S.W. wind, dist in the air. The first impact of the vast rolling country very thrilling—elemental. Air full of dust at times—tumble weeds rushing endlessly across the road—loneliness, no telegraph or telephone wires. The road stretching out to infinity straight for miles and miles.
Then 77 at El Dorado.
The grass colors beautiful—orange yellow, sun—lit rich reddish brown, pastel shades of pale brown pink, pale ochre, light gray creany white, and some weed that gave off a slate gray color. With the sunlit fields of dead grass against a blue—black eastern sky. I thought of “My Antonia”.
217 mi.—4:00—Stopped for gas. Augusta.
250.5  Winifield — 5:15 —
77.
Met [Mary Alice] on street in front of her home. She had seen us coming and was running, All of us to Hotel LaGonda where we checked in—across the street to the ‘Harbour” where we had dinner. A little walk about town, to hotel for a talk then [Mary Alice] to her home. 

Charles E. Burchfield, Volume 50a, October 15, 1948, pgs 17 - 18