Just like a "bad penny," we have returned. We arrived back at Lavon Lake at about 4pm yesterday. This time was are not at our usual spot in East Fork Park. We are presently sitting in the site for a gate attendant for Avalon Day-use Park. The park was closed for the winter on October 1, so there is no attendant. We will provide security in this park as well as helping around the lake in various capacities. We checked in with the volunteer coordinator in the office and spent some time renewing friendships, but so have have done little else. I'll probably start doing some work around the lake tomorrow. As soon as we get the hasp replaced on the tool shed for our site I'll be bringing over such things as chain saws and such to get started trimming trees. If it dries up we will probably do some parking lot striping as well.
We moved on to Wichita on Friday, once the rain had stopped. Our plan had been to come here on Thursday, but the day was rainy with periods of very heavy rain, so we chose to wait since the forecast was for better weather on Friday. As it turned out, that was a very good decision. Wichita had received more than
three inches of rain on Thursday but was pretty good on Friday.
We are presently parked at the home of our friends, the Hollingsworths. In the "Moocher's Guide to Free Camping" this is a prime site! Hollingsworth Haven rates a perfect five stars! This spot has full hook-ups with 50A power but what is really unique is the fact that we are parked under a roof, with protection from the wind. Since the weather here in Kansas has suddenly changed to winter with a hard freeze expected tonight, we are especially thankful for Neil's hospitality.
Today we are sitting in rural Kansas, located between the towns of Council Grove and Cottonwood Falls. This is the area where I spent my boyhood days. Not the same farm as it is no longer in our family, but near there and very close to where a few of my boyhood friends still reside. The picture is one taken from the window of our motorhome.
The community group of Sumner operates what they call the "Pioneer Kitchen" each fall for five weeks on Sundays for lunch as a fund raising event for their community. Local folks get together and cook, bus tables, wash dishes and all of the things which are part of operating a successful buffet. The food is wonderful and all that you can east.
Funds go to support the local church, museum, fire department and community improvement. There are many hunters in the community each fall and so the activity is very successful. There are folks who also drive to Sumner just for the meals, from other communities throughout the area.
We met people who take a nice Sunday drive and then eat here, coming from as far as two hours away. The event has become very popular and really helps the community. In addition, it is a major social event since like all small towns everyone knows each-other and all are friends. They welcome everyone and try to make you want to come again. In addition, the community museum is next door and they open it for visitors at the same time.
Today is Saturday, Oct. 3 and our next to last day here at Swan Lake NWR. It has been another good experience and we 
renewed our friendship with Steve Whitson, the refuge manager. The visitor center activity does drag at times as it is still new and so visitation is not great, but it is growing and I would recommend it with no reservations. It is a bit of a drive to shop as there is only a very small country store near us but Super Wally is only 25 miles away! The area also has a lot of different things to see if you travel a bit so we have no regrets that we came and in may ways we wish that we could stay longer.
Tomorrow we have the visitor center once more and we will finish packing for travel. On Monday we hit the road, planning to stop for a few days at my uncle's farm in eastern Kansas ant then a few days in Wichita, before we head on south and back to Texas again. Summer has flown past all too quickly!
The latest task that I have been asked to take on here was to make an entire flock of geese. Two very large ones and some 15 smaller ones. Not actually geese, but actually wood plaques that are shaped like the blue goose symbol of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. It is the time of year for recognition of the local folks who have worked to assist the refuge and it's staff in carrying out their mission. In the two years that Steve Whitson has been the manager this refuge has come back from the brink of disappearing and today is an active place with programs for visitors, habitat creation for migratory waterfowl, and
educational programs for school children. It has become a very busy place once again.
The service, like all government agencies, is on a very tight budget so there is little funds for awards, yet recognition is still important. The wood shop was pretty much my kingdom for the time and I scrounged up some lumber and went to work. Since I have always enjoyed working with wood, this was not a bad thing.
As of today, all that is lacking is a coat of varnish for each plaque and they will be ready for the metal plates to designate what each is for.
It has been quiet around the refuge lately, but we do manage to stay occupied. We went to Kansas City last Friday to visit the museum 
for the steamboat Arabia and to visit the "City Market." We enjoyed both and then ate out on our way home.
Since very few of you have probably ever been to the town nearest us, I thought that it might be well to share just a little information about Sumner. The town was once known as the "Wild Goose Capital of the World" but sadly, Canada gees no longer migrate as they once did because of farming and things which keep water open and clear of ice, so the geese that come now are very few. Back in the 60's and 70's it was not uncommon for the refuge to see more than 400,000 geese on the grounds at one time. Today a large flock to visit would be a few hundred. Goose numbers are as high as they have ever been, but food is more abundant so they just to pass this way. Ducks are 
starting to replace then, but so far Sumner has not become the wild duck capital!
None the less, the town is here and all 142 people who live in it are very proud of their home. It has three small businesses, a post office, one bar, a grain elevator and the American Legion Post. Oh and don't forget Comers Store and Bait Shop! If you do get the chance to visit, rush hour lasts for at least ten to fifteen minutes most work days.
The first picture was taken standing in the street, directly in front of the post office. As you can see it is a very busy Friday afternoon in Sumner! The fire station is the doors to the left of the intersection, then the local bar, which opens at 5pm. Farther down you can see that business is booming at the American Legion and the shop next door. Notice also that the remnants of rush-hour traffic have not quite cleared the main street of town.