Finally! The other Abilene! Somehow, I never expected to make it here. That said, though, I felt disappointed with the courthouse. With its long history of cattle and rail, I expected that Abilene would have built a more impressive structure to demonstrate its dominance in the region. I know the original courthouse was two stories of red brick, built in 1885 and expanded in 1904. This “modern” one was built in 1955, and I can only assume there was a disaster of some kind involved. I can’t imagine they’d discard something grand and gorgeous for … this. I’m sure it’s adequate, but “adequate” and fifty cents won’t even buy you a cup of coffee in this day and age (though I have it on good authority that it’ll get you a refill).
As for the cache, it was fairly unexpected. It wasn’t even remotely on my radar until I arrived, and I certainly didn’t expect it in the middle of the night. Ladies and gentlemen (or however you identify—I don’t mean to be gender assumptive), welcome to the Eisenhower Presidential Library. This now makes three presidential libraries I’ve been to. Turned out there was a Virtual at the central statue of the general himself. Of course, all the parking was closed (and by “closed,” I mean blocked with traffic cones), but I’m a rebel, Dottie. I parked in one of the closed lots, driving past a cone that had already fallen over. I greeted the general and then set to work finding the appropriate phrase from the plaques to secure my find and make my claim. With my log submitted and photography complete, I was done with Abilene. Part of me thought that this might be a decent place to stop for the night (despite a few warnings to the contrary), but I had a little more in me, so I went ahead and topped up on some cheaper-than-at-home gas (go, me!) and then went onward to…
Geocaching While Black 