The Night Before

Friday, October 10, 2025

Lisa: I arrived in Council Grove from Denver at around dinner time, ready to hit the trail.

Marianne: Steve gave me a ride to Council Grove so Lisa didn’t have to drive all the way to KC and then drive all the way back to CG. 

On the way to the airbnb in CG, we stopped to meet our rancher friend and discuss our first night’s stop on the trail.  He was very nice, and I was no longer worried we’d be murdered. 

Council Grove, Kansas

Airbnb next to the Flint Hills Bookstore

Last night off the trail

Council Grove

Lisa: I’d only passed through Council Grove in the past. Our Airbnb was charming and right off the main street so we could walk everywhere.

Marianne: My college internship was in Council Grove, working at the Senior Center in town. We visited the place I stayed back in 1984, the Cottage House. It looked exactly the same!

Click on the yellow crosses to the right to read the sections below

Downers
  • Only one: at the restaurant we chose for dinner, we were never waited on and had to leave.
Highlights

Lisa:

  • Walking down the street, Marianne glimpsed the neon sign below, which is from a Talking Heads song we both cherish “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody).”
  • We went inside and spent the evening on the patio of Riverbank Brewing. I had a righteous bloody Mary, Marianne had a beer, and we feasted on nuts and flatbread while watching the sun set.
  • Afterward, we walked the riverwalk until after dark.

Marianne:

  • We saw our rancher friends out have dinner with their friends, so Lisa was able to meet them.

Photo Gallery

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