Day 2, 9/7/13, Abilene to La Junta

A long & very hot day today - 400 miles and 99 degrees.  We took I-70, KS-156, US-56, KS-96, CO-96, US-283, US-50, and C0-194, mostly a lot of nothing but fields and pastures.  Couldn't even find anyplace interesting to eat, so ended up having lunch at Scott City DQ.

Finally, we arrived at Bent's Old Fort NHS and took a tour.  It seems small for all the people who worked & traded there - a veritable who's who of the Santa Fe Trail trade.  Took quite a few pictures, and talked with the staff interpreters, all dressed to period.  I highly recommend (when it's cooler).

Next stop was Koshare Kiva & Indian Museum at Otero Community College in La Junta.  A Boy Scout troop has been presenting authentic dances for 75 years (obviously not the same kids).  The art collection is excellent and somewhat eclectic - lots of kachina/katsina figures, paintings from the Taos school, native art, old and modern pottery, etc.  We were really pleasantly surprised - it's worth a stop.

Checked in at the HIE in La Junta, ate at Pizza Hut (I told y'all there was no place interesting to eat; as a matter of fact, there weren't many places to eat at all).  Tomorrow we're off to Chama via Great Sand Dunes.