June 3 – Great Salt Plains

Day 23 – The Great Salt Plains are a nearly perfectly flat 11,000 acre barren area with a wafer thin salt crust.  The salt was formed by sea water millions of years ago.  The sea water evaporated and deposited thick layers of salt. 

Many animals would come here for the salt and this made it a favorite hunting grounds for the Indians.  Today it is a major migration rest area for thousands of shorebirds.

American Avocet

Carrie and Jerry arrived at our campsite late that afternoon, very hot and tired.  After some discussion we all decided it would be a good thing for all of us to have a day of rest .  The heat was oppressive.

When we arrived at this park we were virtually alone in the campground.  However, we were surrounded quickly by the “Paxton Family Reunion.”  The Paxtons had been coming to this park for 40 years for an annual reunion.  Two of their young members told us they had attended every reunion.  One of them was 23 (he came to his first reunion when he was 2 weeks old) and the second was 20.  The 20 year old had brought his girlfriend to meet the family.  America will remain a strong country as long as there are families that are bound together with such strength.