Sunday, April 10, 2005

10:05 AM Sunday April 10, 2005

Hindsight:

Phil and I received a wonderful treat while visiting his nephew and family in Kansas. Rick and Tammy drove us north to see the new Cabela’s in Kansas City, Kansas. We’ve enjoyed their catalog for years but were blown away by this colossal retail store. After standing outside in wonder at the bronze sculpture named “Majestic Monarchs” our mouths dropped open and all we could say was, “Wow!” when we stepped through the doors. Immediately we were confronted with a mountain straight ahead of us. The room towers three stories high down the center of the building to accommodate this enormous alpine scene they call “Conservation Mountain”. It has a waterfall, stream and a variety of life-size North American animals on this 30-ft. man-made peak and was created as a tribute to sportsmen and women. In addition to all the regular merchandise you might expect, there is a full-service fly shop; a gift shop; a gun library where fine guns from around the world can be admired, purchased, and sold; a breathtaking display of the African Big Five – elephant, rhinoceros, leopard, Cape buffalo and lion – as well as other African plains game, including a 16-ft. crocodile; an archery shooting range; boat showroom and service area as well as a restaurant (serving many exotic foods) and a country store that sells the best fudge and black licorice we’ve ever tasted, I might add. Just one of the dozens of displays, the “Mule Deer County Museum” is a feast for the eyes of the world's largest collection of life-size trophy mule deer in their natural surroundings, including two world records and numerous state and provincial records. We strolled through the aquariums – in awe of the walk-through tanks containing 65,000 gallons of water and hundreds of incredible fish native to Kansas and the Midwest. Phil took dozens of pictures and I plan to share that album with some of you real soon. Even if you don’t spend a cent, you are welcome at Cabela’s and it is a pause well worth making in your travels.

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