There are two many times when I want a long zoom or a high quality photo where the SLR just doesn't work. It is large, heavy and has several lenses. Plus the shutter sound is loud.

So I ordered a Cannon SX60 on Monday and it came today. I was happy with Cannon Power Shot cameras in the past and expect to be comfortable with this one quickly. It is 16 megapixels (versus the 24 in the Nikon), but it has a 65X optical zoom. Probably the slowest thing for me to get comfortable with, will be the wifi. I can download an app to operate the camera from my phone. 

Today the tours are conducted by members of  Santa Fe Trails Amateur Radio Club (SFTARC) of Olathe and they are enthusiastic about Marshall Ensor and all of the things he was involved with. The tour took 2 hours!

Lunch was at the new Blind Box BBQ in Shawnee, which opened just over a week ago. Of the dishes sampled, four stood out: pork ribs (both spare & baby back), BBQ street corn, onion straws and house made French fries. I liked the spicy rub on the ribs. The fries were my favorite item.

None of the meats or sides were served hot. They were just barely warm.

Blind Box BBQ

I enjoy the food a lot, particularly the dishes like the fish fillet stuffed with garlic, onions, Spanish octopus, shrimp and blue crab meat.

We went on to Tonganoxie to visit the Tonganoxie Community Historical Society Museum, which is a 4 building complex which includes a church and a schoolhouse which were relocated to the museum. 

We followed up with supper in Lawrence at Ladybird Diner. This restaurant recently reopened, after being closed for several months following a fire in the building. The diner is a cool building and we enjoyed a double cheeseburger and a chicken pie. The other pies which Ladybird is supposed to be famous for, did not impress us.

In the afternoon, I toured Shawnee Town in Shawnee. Although the museum portion of Shawnee Town is minimal, several building have been moved here to recreate the 1920s farm community of Shawnee, Kansas. The most unique part of Shawnee is a funeral parlor, something I have not seen recreated in detail at any other Kansas museum. 

 The classic burnt ends were my favorite and both the sausage and ribs were very good. The pulled pork was the only meat which I would avoid the next thing. Overall, the meats had good flavor from the smoking and rub. I felt no need to add sauce to anything but the pulled pork and brisket. 

A review of Char Bar has been added.

Following lunch I searched for more waterfalls along Turkey Creek, where we already have a page about Turkey Creek Waterfall Park. I found several new waterfalls, including this nice 7' drop near Merriam Christian Church, a block from the only Ikea in Kansas. The woodchuck on the right seemed to be enjoying the view as well.