After zipping across Missouri, the choice of scenic and wild diversions in Kansas is small. I abandoned plans to check out historic Dodge City and see another minor-league game. Sure, I could have hit Russell (home of Bob Dole), or sought out one of Kansas' largest twine balls, but I think things like that are better left to the imagination. And once you've seen one prairie dog, you've seen them all.

So minor league baseball it is. The Wichita Wranglers are the AA affiliate of Kansas City, which probably means they could take the parent club to 6 games in a 7-game series. They play at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, and it appears I just missed a promotion where you can bring your dog to the game. The dogs also could make a series of it against the Royals.

Day 5: St. Louis to Wichita
Mileage Today: 443.9
Wichita Weather: 92°, cloudy
States: Missouri, Kansas
Route Traveled: I-70 across Missouri, I-435 around K.C., I-35 west to Emporia, Kansas Turnpike southwest to Wichita.