tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7894045568646536322024-03-05T04:26:18.414-08:00Mid America by BicycleUpdates of a bicycle trip from Albuquerque, NM to Roxbury, Wisconsin by Andy and Ted Wright between June 6 and 27th, 2007.Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-66164577849975701942007-06-28T12:44:00.001-07:002007-06-28T12:59:14.718-07:006/28/07 2:24 PM Sauk City, WI AfterthoughtsTed and I wanted to add a few thoughts to our blog for the next time around. It may be not all that interesting but other present or future bike tourists might find this helpful.<ol><li>Would we do this again? Yes, we will although we realize that some wouldn't as it can be hard and unpredictable. you need to be patient and tolorant of occasional discomfort.<br /></li><li>What's the biggest change we would make? More rest days. We cranked too hard too long to make it here on time.</li><li>Shorcomings in terms of equipment or changes in what you would bring?</li></ol><ul><li>Andy would use a more heavy duty frame. While the Volpe worked okay itbent and wiggled more than I would like. Ted's bike was very solid in comparison.</li><li>Ted had a pair of Avid Shorty 4 caliper brakes that were not really adequate. My bike had short pull v-brakes that worked brilliantly even with a heavy load.</li><li>My rear cassette was a 12-28 and could have keen stretched at both ends. Ted had an 11-34 that worked really well.</li><li>If going through any part of the southwest you need thornproof tubes. I left without one in my front tire and probably patched it 8 times before I picked up a thicker one in Las Vegas, NM. Interestingly enough that tube blew out in Kansas and we replaced it with a regular non slime thin tube and it worked for the next 1000 miles without incident. Ted never had a flat.</li><li>We broke 3 bottle cages. Make sure that the ones you have are high quality and in good shape before you go. If not bring spares as insurance.</li><li>Don't be miserly in terms of water storage. We carried over 2 gallons of water between us in NM. We never ran out but we did drink most of it up.</li><li>Bring high quality biking shorts that you have worn before as well as chamois lubricant for those ocassional hotspots that develop on a hot day. We had three different types of shorts and the $25 Performance shorts had shortcomings that the other higher quality ones didn't.</li></ul>Finally, don't plan exactly where you will go and stay. Things change too much and you need to react to circumstances. Do plan generally though. Plan for the big picture and let the details unfold.Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-37958018917389355332007-06-28T12:06:00.000-07:002007-06-28T12:27:02.384-07:006/27/07 Roxbury, WI<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_zF1o2DEIiAfzjMJ2P5Oo_bddgHlhsquF-mZSr1ep2yEBG88l-BN8K2M3p-GcEFEzsFXt7XmLY_9r7HVuWX6zKhSnJWel_Wclx1YwDWE9Dxmz3gFcsB65NVln8Na9_aJerStM9pSYDc/s1600-h/DSCN0344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_zF1o2DEIiAfzjMJ2P5Oo_bddgHlhsquF-mZSr1ep2yEBG88l-BN8K2M3p-GcEFEzsFXt7XmLY_9r7HVuWX6zKhSnJWel_Wclx1YwDWE9Dxmz3gFcsB65NVln8Na9_aJerStM9pSYDc/s200/DSCN0344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081194308912657666" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1q6k02rYQhfyDENQ2cjgPH0qJ9zg42fED-eS75hbs0e9xTc4tiXvaS062IKQGS0NX1oM6A0ANnetSyA7NQNuxHqs-nkyhym1dqvFMEBR_v5rps-rCLw506hfJY_5WY74oJ8wmQml4Pc/s1600-h/DSCN0345.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1q6k02rYQhfyDENQ2cjgPH0qJ9zg42fED-eS75hbs0e9xTc4tiXvaS062IKQGS0NX1oM6A0ANnetSyA7NQNuxHqs-nkyhym1dqvFMEBR_v5rps-rCLw506hfJY_5WY74oJ8wmQml4Pc/s200/DSCN0345.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081194338977428754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNlyJyu9SuDxj4PhdKLsKUv4zyiUSIhloAw6Nf3FWyIkH4rTZw4FPYXUOYIDTQ_mjQgngigTKOhKTo2VR55NR0G3_A4mvGYEnk1jZTTYQm_GEns3eHLAcQPSt6claa0gYY-uNxyWeyA0/s1600-h/DSCN0348.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNlyJyu9SuDxj4PhdKLsKUv4zyiUSIhloAw6Nf3FWyIkH4rTZw4FPYXUOYIDTQ_mjQgngigTKOhKTo2VR55NR0G3_A4mvGYEnk1jZTTYQm_GEns3eHLAcQPSt6claa0gYY-uNxyWeyA0/s200/DSCN0348.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081194343272396066" border="0" /></a><br />We made it!<br /><br />After leaving the town park in Wauzeka we put in a good strong day of pedaling, coving 78 miles (more than I thought) before arriving at my brother's house at about 4:30 pm. The riding was beautiful as we covered level ground along the Wisconsin River. The Wisconsin River has an almost unbroken wildlife corridor consisting of lush wetlands and prairie/forests. We appreciated the efforts of the Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources as all of the creatures who live there do too!<br /><br />During most of the day we rode hard because we knew where we wanted to be. After lunch we rode even faster and, I'm sure, made record time getting here. I gave Bob a call when we crossed the river and headed out of Sauk City for his farm and we were delighted at our welcome party as we chugged up the steep gravel driveway for the final few yards of a long ride. <br />I am happy.<br /><br /><br />Ted on being finished:<br />Well, we're done. finished, and we're going to mail the bikes back home to ABQ. I wish we could ride back home, but unfortunately no such luck. With our schedules, and all that jazz, it just couldn't work. But I'm also happy to be finished, it's nice to have a bed, and warm water, and not have to pack up evrey morning. It's nice not to have to worry about where I'm gonna sleep tonight, it's nice to have a place to take off my contacts, it's nice to have a warm shower evrey night. I am very happy to be here.<br /><br />Mileage today: 78 miles<br />Total mileage for the trip: 1571 milesAndy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-78095187677565270922007-06-28T11:29:00.001-07:002007-06-28T11:59:09.830-07:006/26/07 10:18 PM Wauzeka, WI<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KhWya68psIZLhab-TBWcAO9AZR_QSukyTqB64oT024-A09izDMK9nFxoS0I_rl5d8KtQY9s3aWHDRABc-1I_RHW-eFuPpnHcLRjVjhmqPzK9qF9HwzG0fCgeEn5PSAdkgVgvPY1yyiA/s1600-h/DSC00190.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KhWya68psIZLhab-TBWcAO9AZR_QSukyTqB64oT024-A09izDMK9nFxoS0I_rl5d8KtQY9s3aWHDRABc-1I_RHW-eFuPpnHcLRjVjhmqPzK9qF9HwzG0fCgeEn5PSAdkgVgvPY1yyiA/s200/DSC00190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081191560133588178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQhS5n6C3ccW9I70stnS_1DVV7jockrDp4KDiGXix0ywzrKzXLxZbF6evs2g5nATqCqvm_B584K51DhVUjiP5AuTRZy35HyFzVx165wD9EYodIAuZ_9OI6tKmXBqnNcb7jwmpei71aEY/s1600-h/DSC00191.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqQhS5n6C3ccW9I70stnS_1DVV7jockrDp4KDiGXix0ywzrKzXLxZbF6evs2g5nATqCqvm_B584K51DhVUjiP5AuTRZy35HyFzVx165wD9EYodIAuZ_9OI6tKmXBqnNcb7jwmpei71aEY/s200/DSC00191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081191568723522786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNX1j3PgqrMy_0fTjpwiW2ND9Xd9H0AUpkRtRf2SEkP_3LfZSnIcqpiBwVnOMVXK29AOgpDVloeX2UMYzgBOFytmrz1dAmlPG_kN-V2yh1XIb9unnqRuPHNJKSB6a1VLnkQJIcMQ5CCs/s1600-h/DSC00193.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNX1j3PgqrMy_0fTjpwiW2ND9Xd9H0AUpkRtRf2SEkP_3LfZSnIcqpiBwVnOMVXK29AOgpDVloeX2UMYzgBOFytmrz1dAmlPG_kN-V2yh1XIb9unnqRuPHNJKSB6a1VLnkQJIcMQ5CCs/s200/DSC00193.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081191590198359282" border="0" /></a><br />We left the park later than I would have liked but we didn't wake up<br />very early. We rode thru level country before heading into an area<br />that was much hillier. We went past a number of Amish farms and saw<br />some horse drawn traffic on our road. The green shirted children<br />seemed very interested in us and one even chased us. The road we<br />planned to get us down to the Mississippi River was under road<br />construction but this time we had no problems passing the asphalt<br />pavers (same operation as before) and the foreman was very helpful.<p>It was or very hot day today and we were drinking a lot of water,<br />about 2 gallons each over the day. After climbing out of the<br />Mississippi valley on a wrong tum we added some distance to our trip<br />but gained another memorable descent. Eventually we ended up on a big<br />bridge crossing the river and we were in Wisconsin.</p><p>After grocery shopping at the Piggly Wiggly (new store chain and new<br />food choices) we headed east on Hwy 60 paralleling The Wisconsin<br />River. Highways in this state are several notches better than Iowa<br />simply because they have paved shoulders with some width.</p><p>We wanted to cover at least 80 miles today and we did. Usually,<br />however, a camping place or hotel appears when we need it. Tonite it<br />didn't as easily. On the advice of the Sheriff we are camping in a<br />spacious and well mowed city park tonight.</p><p>I think we have only 60 miles to cover on our last day.</p><p>Ted, on mood swings, and the signs of hapiness:<br />It's amazing what a granola bar can do to one's outlook on life. After<br />making a wrong turn, and grinding up a number of hills, I was in a<br />foul mood. The kind of mood that makes bad vibes you can feel miles<br />around. When we stopped for a break, I had a granola bar. Suddenly the<br />sun was happily shining, instead of beating down mercilessly. I was a<br />little put off by how fast my mood had changed. Soon after, I began<br />noticing good signs, like trucks on wedges (8%), and squiggly arrows.<br />There was a fast twisted road leading down to the Mississippi. I think<br />I hit 50 at least. Coupled with steep turns, that was the most fun<br />I've ever had breaking the speed limit.</p><p> Now, bed.</p><p><br />distance today: 86 miles<br />Total mileage: (Ted's odometer broke and I don't want to do the math now)</p>Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-74693415564876703992007-06-26T09:02:00.001-07:002007-06-28T11:56:00.441-07:006/25/07 10:58 PM Backbone State Park, NE, Iowa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQu6IFmmReaOPyXF7XFEg3DVkTcP2IGmwcanQxBMyWunHsXvvm9HLLquFdCYgUbdLgddnugPxdEcPAyKPeOdSvH9A0ggpwJyUl-Kgl3dN0kx7XavjCxsZHVDPno_Z9A0-uFgv2i_iV8E/s1600-h/DSC00188.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQu6IFmmReaOPyXF7XFEg3DVkTcP2IGmwcanQxBMyWunHsXvvm9HLLquFdCYgUbdLgddnugPxdEcPAyKPeOdSvH9A0ggpwJyUl-Kgl3dN0kx7XavjCxsZHVDPno_Z9A0-uFgv2i_iV8E/s200/DSC00188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081190726909932722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0ytL5ZFlPThhoRw692jZTNVtATpGLIo3k7XgidIniZvVE0Cq3F7TPjJFoucUj25N-OC0Q_2UfIg1_el-IrervH6bfcBEShfzR7G9KRBC11kfLqahUmLd5Bw6jWTyxKDnw7fC7vxjKfc/s1600-h/DSC00189.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0ytL5ZFlPThhoRw692jZTNVtATpGLIo3k7XgidIniZvVE0Cq3F7TPjJFoucUj25N-OC0Q_2UfIg1_el-IrervH6bfcBEShfzR7G9KRBC11kfLqahUmLd5Bw6jWTyxKDnw7fC7vxjKfc/s200/DSC00189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081190735499867330" border="0" /></a><br />As I sit here with a full stomach after a long day of riding the day<br />blends together into a green blur. More corn, cows and beans, but not<br />in any pejoritive sense --it's actually quite beautiful.<p>At lunch we were joined by another rider who was out for a day jaunt.<br />He was very envious of our trip and would have joined us but thought<br />his wife would object. He recently retired and had time to ride his<br />bike more. We had covered only 40 miles but he said he had already<br />clocked 120 miles! He planned on making it a 200 mile day. At his<br />average speed of 18 mph that's still a much, much longer day than we<br />would consider. Our longest ride so far has taken us only 8.5 hours.<br />We were inspired. Up to just west of Des Moines we had seen no riders<br />at all but today we saw several and yesterday we even saw a loaded<br />tourer going the other way. We have been told by many about the<br />Ragbrai, which is a ride across the state with up to <span style="font-weight: bold;">10,000</span> riders.<br />People camp all over the place and folks open up their yards and<br />homes for general use. We can only imagine. Aside from complicated<br />navigation, that's all.<br />We are camped in a beautiful park, complete with big trees, limestone<br />cliffs and clear running streams. It's a cool and quiet night with few<br />mosquitoes and we are enjoying it greatly.</p><p>Ted, on raccoons, and the Holy Gloves:<br />At the moment, I am having rather poisonous thoughts towards a<br />certain raccoon. While I was showering, and dad was on the phone (at<br />the top of a hill) one of the little pests broke into our noodles, and<br />our breakfast and our powdered milk! Soon after, the beast was back. A<br />few feet away from our table, and us, as we were eating our (very much<br />boiled) dinner. We hissed at it, and showed it our fangs. That's<br />scared the bugger(s?) off!! In other news, my gloves have recently<br />become the holiest things around. They're positively papal, and<br />therefore well ventilated. Not quite as...whole as they used to be.<br />They're better than blessed, and they're also comfortable on a saintly<br />level. Needless to say, they needed replacement after being<br />sanctified. They only become more powerfully Popelike the longer I<br />wear them. I fear soon they shall become holier than the Grail itself.<br />Really, though they've got more holes than a than your oldest pair of<br />socks. And on that note, I shall leave you so I can fend off vicious<br />hoards of noodle craving raccoons, in</p>Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-8593518394280441972007-06-25T11:19:00.001-07:002007-06-28T11:54:01.996-07:006/24/07 10:06 PM Tama County, Iowa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguszSgN9kkpMXEg6hXpTnuO-0pau4VUFFobC5O1jaCS-tpyxcAIHaIVjFTF3r7YIuF_4vUqIKdKmF3GaqtsDlb8HDfOzs5yw3lvcaz-G8XQAYHjcz6hMNpA31d-tfS8e0FfgPod6YLpTY/s1600-h/DSC00187.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguszSgN9kkpMXEg6hXpTnuO-0pau4VUFFobC5O1jaCS-tpyxcAIHaIVjFTF3r7YIuF_4vUqIKdKmF3GaqtsDlb8HDfOzs5yw3lvcaz-G8XQAYHjcz6hMNpA31d-tfS8e0FfgPod6YLpTY/s200/DSC00187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081190361837712546" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ztocSogxR2dV1W19GZrKzAlJEOIyo-QHYmhF98OnQlOqusTStFr3i68aZSoQqT7Ybo6XHDPqbdL0MKM53qVTYqSmYLMJGeRmgo7M-20avzm2-j79oNOXAGvpv__tVdxmLFgcNtnVE80/s1600-h/DSC00186.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ztocSogxR2dV1W19GZrKzAlJEOIyo-QHYmhF98OnQlOqusTStFr3i68aZSoQqT7Ybo6XHDPqbdL0MKM53qVTYqSmYLMJGeRmgo7M-20avzm2-j79oNOXAGvpv__tVdxmLFgcNtnVE80/s200/DSC00186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081189906571179154" border="0" /></a><br />We gladly left Adventureland and guessed our way towards another 25<br />mile section of abandoned railway. We really love those trails and<br />this one didn't let us down. We desert boys were loving the green<br />tunnels we rode through and large rivers we crossed. After a grocery<br />stop and lunch in the small town of Baxter we proceeded to "up (north)<br />and over (east)" our way through sometimes flat and sometimes hilly<br />cornfield/soybeanfield/cowpasture central Iowa.<p>We normally find a wifi hotspot at any library, open or closed but we<br />struck out twice today so we missed posting. We'll surely hit one<br />tomorrow as we are probably going through more towns with libraries.<br />Sometimes we get lucky and we pick up signals on sidestreets when we<br />pull off on to rest or eat but I would rather be legit and use a<br />signal meant for the public.</p><p>With only a few days left before I need to be at my brother's house I<br />want to he sure that we get there on time. It's hard to judge<br />distances since we don't travel in a straight line but I'm pretty sure<br />that we'll arrive on Wednesday. To do this we plan to ride so miles<br />and then find a place to stay. Today I couldn't figure out where we<br />would stay as we rode past a nice hotel at 70 miles but, as it always<br />seems to happen, we saw a sign to or county park in 5 miles. Knowing<br />nothing about the place we were very pleasantly surprised to find it<br />to be absolutely lovely. We are in a quiet wooded private campsite<br />surrounded by thick forest. There is only one other group here and<br />they are out of sight and hearing for us. We are very happy still.</p><p>Ted, on RVs, and chipmunks:<br />The RV, the motor home, house trailer, whatever you call it, they're<br />the biggest thing on the roads. These massive behemoths sometimes<br />measure up to semi-trucks, and are almost always bigger than busses.<br />I've often thought about living in one, but then I see the price. I<br />did meet one man who lived in his gargantuan trailer, his comment was<br />''I live very comfortably in there. It's better than a pre-fab, and<br />cheaper, too!''. I have been 'camping' among these metal titans for<br />too long, so now is a nice change. We're camped in a woodsy area with<br />lots of wildlife nearby. Chipmunks are the most common, but there are<br />some deer roaming about. I've seen both kneeling on a deer trail<br />leading out of our camp. It was very peaceful, and I was just waching<br />all the world go by. Happiness.</p><p>Mileage today: 79 miles in 5.9 hours<br />Total: 1311 miles</p>Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-55290222449100757752007-06-25T11:18:00.001-07:002007-06-28T11:50:03.773-07:006/23/07 10:56 PM Atoona ,IA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1vlsG0WirQAAS8K1cXA8iD3WuBgxkkEMPVFZb4JtX5Rvi1uiLCdRpaXKtkHybbu03AI9qJFtVuG9D-vB1b-8LZG5odGXjAyyhFbezz_EzazA7EcwzbXq32kYfGpCC9GgB7tEdDuR5Nc/s1600-h/DSC00179.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1vlsG0WirQAAS8K1cXA8iD3WuBgxkkEMPVFZb4JtX5Rvi1uiLCdRpaXKtkHybbu03AI9qJFtVuG9D-vB1b-8LZG5odGXjAyyhFbezz_EzazA7EcwzbXq32kYfGpCC9GgB7tEdDuR5Nc/s200/DSC00179.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081188931613602882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0uHADsHyJO9SS5XCQcq7TvPxjNxx_lifIcwuowDL5LGJ_GqlIsacURtP6vxbTtDQis2ltm0CK15dY4Au0420CpDl-XDF83A1YWIATHSuzqkImHLjsQDx8Uo9n6_3nuIfry34pxeCmP8/s1600-h/DSC00181.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0uHADsHyJO9SS5XCQcq7TvPxjNxx_lifIcwuowDL5LGJ_GqlIsacURtP6vxbTtDQis2ltm0CK15dY4Au0420CpDl-XDF83A1YWIATHSuzqkImHLjsQDx8Uo9n6_3nuIfry34pxeCmP8/s200/DSC00181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081188940203537490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CpltnLydU7KmCouRKX7YGXVx1cklTRcbKb0IXhSu8FZlt4EOHn_K8VsxuPBTiyLWV5u8ivER298GeC_4OMzV_k-O-nyVZbBr9w0TOHvLAmjePk8bxLz8qC9LDIRiiWAhg22EYuG_SWY/s1600-h/DSC00182.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CpltnLydU7KmCouRKX7YGXVx1cklTRcbKb0IXhSu8FZlt4EOHn_K8VsxuPBTiyLWV5u8ivER298GeC_4OMzV_k-O-nyVZbBr9w0TOHvLAmjePk8bxLz8qC9LDIRiiWAhg22EYuG_SWY/s200/DSC00182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081188961678373986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpxxSuf9dfn-Ju3K5KIzebouAgoJhdzqA_86MLrq0XFyNId2MS9gQp9uWBzJoUSfppAbfrVSGTJ1ijM7MzmYZt2SBOHKS1_LZh-Nk7V96PKAhIx11ehfBNDDGUpJl1bx0EwnCqxj4cqY/s1600-h/DSC00184.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpxxSuf9dfn-Ju3K5KIzebouAgoJhdzqA_86MLrq0XFyNId2MS9gQp9uWBzJoUSfppAbfrVSGTJ1ijM7MzmYZt2SBOHKS1_LZh-Nk7V96PKAhIx11ehfBNDDGUpJl1bx0EwnCqxj4cqY/s200/DSC00184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081188970268308594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnnHqXhPKTCwYx9hFqxYB12W53O6KgDe_zCJueU9JHYO_-Xp7jQpchY2vAOAgPc3GKjxJ6X1d0qL1UsuGxpUnxcm9PA0ojJAEHTBCA40DvgFekhkbBAI43Wkz80n8Adrsmdzrb3DIa34/s1600-h/DSC00185.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnnHqXhPKTCwYx9hFqxYB12W53O6KgDe_zCJueU9JHYO_-Xp7jQpchY2vAOAgPc3GKjxJ6X1d0qL1UsuGxpUnxcm9PA0ojJAEHTBCA40DvgFekhkbBAI43Wkz80n8Adrsmdzrb3DIa34/s200/DSC00185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081188978858243202" border="0" /></a><br />We left Creston under very low overcast skies that stayed with us all<br />day. We rode north and east on low traffic county roads in various<br />states of repair. The countryside actually became flatter or maybe the<br />hills became gentler. Either way we didn't suffer the severe up and<br />down hills we had been riding for the last several days. After 50<br />miles we stopped for lunch in a small town with a bike path running<br />through it. We saw the first real bike riders since we left Abq.<br />Because the path ran on an old rail bed (thank you Rails to Trails) it<br />was flat and isolated. At times we rode through tunnels of trees -- we<br />felt like we were in the jungle. The path took us all of the way to<br />central Des Moines.<p>Yesterday a big storm in hit one area we rode to and there were many,<br />many trees tht had fallen and that were freshly cleaned up. We saw one<br />semi-truck trailer that had blown over, and the path was flooded at<br />times so we had to detour. Once we got to the downtown we were advised<br />by bilars to ride up the main drag of the city right past the capital.<br />The traffic was fine and the view grand. At this point we were quite<br />ready to stop but all of the hotels were full so we kept riding on<br />bike paths until we came to this town where all of the hotels were<br />full as well. Fortunately we found an empty spot put up our tent at<br />Adventureland. We think Adventureland is some sort of amusement park<br />but I have never been in such a packed and large "campground." Either<br />way its not well named but the showers were great.</p><p>Getting thru Des Moines was an adventure but we're certainly ready for<br />the country again tomorrow.</p><p>Ted, on Lamborginis, and inner city safaris: today was interesting in<br />that we rode through our first real forest. I also saw a Lamborgini<br />Countach sitting in a parking lot, with the owner nearby.<br />Unfortunately, the engine was unaccessable due to a complex hood<br />mechanism. *pout* so, after a few photos for proof, we headed on, and<br />soon got into the city at which point, we proceeded to wind through a<br />complex maze of winding, muddy and sometimes flooded paths. After a<br />few miles, the bike path was covered in large brolen branches, due to<br />a violent storm the night before. The path ended abruptly, dumping us<br />on the corner of a busy intersection. From there we navigated through<br />Des Moines, and we got to our campsite (Adventureland!) and promptly<br />ate and slept. But its sprinkling now, so g2g. Bye.</p><p>Mileage today: 102 miles in 8.5 hours total miles: 1,232</p>Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-43716426407495155832007-06-25T10:51:00.000-07:002007-06-25T10:59:16.652-07:00Photos stuck in cameraI'm trying to upload the photos in my camera but cannot get them onto the computer in this library. All well here stay tuned...<br /><br />Andy and Ted<br />La Porte City, IowaAndy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-90812345690898277872007-06-22T20:25:00.001-07:002007-06-22T20:25:29.190-07:006/22/07 9:33 PM Creston, IowaToday dawned darkly for 2 reasons -- it was cloudy and the stove was<br>broken and I couldn't make any tea! Our old Coleman multifuel store<br>was acting up and it finally stopped working this morning. As Ted<br>packed up the tent I took the stove apart to try to make it work. I<br>ended up breaking it pretty conclusively. With that we left, heading<br>east. After about an hour we came across road construction that closed<br>the road (unmarked). The foreman refused to let us pass even if we<br>walked our bikes along the fenceline. Our only option was to turn<br>back and add ten or 15 miles to our trip or go around them. We ended<br>up going around them through the adjacent field and it seemed easy<br>until we had to cross a deeply cut stream with a lot of mud at the<br>bottom. Somehow we got the bikes across but I was in muck up to my<br>calves and I only luckily held onto my shoes. With very dark and<br>uncharitable thoughts towards the unhelpful foreman we got our bikes<br>back on the road after washing up in a bigger stream without mud.<p>We had lunch in friendly Corning and had our faith restored in people<br>following very helpful encounters in the library and grocery stores.<br>Besides, a full stomach can make a big change in your outlook.<p>Creston is a large town complete with traffic and a Wal Mart<br>Supercenter. Much to my surprise we were able to buy a replacement<br>stove there, slightly bigger but useful nonetheless. As we left the<br>store the skies were menacingly dark so we checked into the new Super<br>8 motel next to the Wal Mart. It was wise move as storms have moved<br>thru all evening. We had a light day today in terms of mileage.<p>Ted: On Wal Mart, and much needed tea.<br>If there is one thing I cannot wake up without, it is tea. I came to<br>this rather unpleasant conclusion this morning when our stove quit on<br>us as a result of using motorboat fuel. It was as if my mind had been<br>in the sauna for too long, it was foggy, if not useless. So we went<br>without tea, and the day was awful. From stream crossings in ankle<br>deep mud to sub 50 mileage, it was bad. We ended up going into wal<br>mart. The amount of...stuff, mostly cheap, and plastic. They did,<br>however, sell all but one thing we needed, and we left somewhat more<br>fortunate.<p>Miles today: 48Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-45479630907551498612007-06-22T10:01:00.001-07:002007-06-28T11:44:48.687-07:006/21/07 9:58 PM Stanton, Iowa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1tJiT7HOUMGM2BjXGpc8qlGmNhHU015_1npb0Fu9s3UgrHuvLIs5Vvpov-OnnBtVXzBTNm9Emc9obKsEcgCgQrleBrwLxGvhWNuGXrbElxscARgV7ni5cop6ywcYLZnMp3MMZxgnc0k/s1600-h/DSC00177.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1tJiT7HOUMGM2BjXGpc8qlGmNhHU015_1npb0Fu9s3UgrHuvLIs5Vvpov-OnnBtVXzBTNm9Emc9obKsEcgCgQrleBrwLxGvhWNuGXrbElxscARgV7ni5cop6ywcYLZnMp3MMZxgnc0k/s200/DSC00177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081187810627138610" border="0" /></a><br />After resting in Shenandoah we continued down the road on seldom<br />traveled paved county highways. It seemed that we went either downhill<br />or uphill -- few to no flat parts. The day was cloudier and it cooled<br />off somewhat as the day got later. Still, it was nice to roll into<br />camp and shower off the salt deposits and sunscreen. <p>It turns at that we camped in the wrong spot. This site has<br />electricity and we didn't pay for it. Of course we don't use any<br />either and the camp is almost empty but the ranger was undeterred for<br />a minute or so. When we promised to he gone 1st thing in the morning<br />he relented. Being bike riders who look tired has some advantages.<br />Iowa seems to have nice parks if this place is any indication of the<br />others. We are camped on the side of a nice lake and the shower are<br />clean and warm. I seem to be regressing to the point where the only<br />things that really matter are food quantity, wind direction and shower<br />quality. </p><p>Ted, on bug spray, and hills:<br />Today's riding was some of the most tiring we've ever done. But once<br />you get over it, like evreything else, it's fine. Apparently the<br />Misourri River was miles wide at one time, due to glacier melt off. We<br />spent most of the day riding out of the river banks. Speaking of<br />banks, the lakeside campsite we have has no mosquitoes...bwuh? Seems<br />like they sprayed the whole lake. It is very nice not to have to use<br />bug spray. The fireflies are sparkling, so that's my cue...g'night</p><p>Mileage today: 72 miles</p>Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-31818457196417110362007-06-21T13:12:00.000-07:002007-08-23T20:41:29.745-07:006/21/07 3PM Chilling out in Shenadoah<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtRQYEaR6ZL23rrwdoXTK5qLEyx5z5595rakNJAfcflwCXPiKrb5qNorCRmFzw3dSjYG_mhL8uuBxLzw7ifZZmTypRdhyphenhypheniAOhk86Z2VJuxjq0AQue3iEZzLCT_NLHy6Jt_0XUXCzZrEs/s1600-h/DSC00171.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtRQYEaR6ZL23rrwdoXTK5qLEyx5z5595rakNJAfcflwCXPiKrb5qNorCRmFzw3dSjYG_mhL8uuBxLzw7ifZZmTypRdhyphenhypheniAOhk86Z2VJuxjq0AQue3iEZzLCT_NLHy6Jt_0XUXCzZrEs/s200/DSC00171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5102106951945731906" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwB2FpXBFYHdmzjg7N6nNQB9Zzh4sJTMUTzYMyCU_gC9M7tcrVootX0zcc60XBNTBYsNMWIukorKwjxa4RcD8kdlMGdBKOF3d5TZVIIAaYGQAna5HHF1OhFfjTMO7V0n80FPQyCRrAAw/s1600-h/DSC00169.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078620978675797282" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwB2FpXBFYHdmzjg7N6nNQB9Zzh4sJTMUTzYMyCU_gC9M7tcrVootX0zcc60XBNTBYsNMWIukorKwjxa4RcD8kdlMGdBKOF3d5TZVIIAaYGQAna5HHF1OhFfjTMO7V0n80FPQyCRrAAw/s200/DSC00169.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIiDnj_gXhvwSG5KZlPiish0BFIXpD-xAq0uEdlCrtbpCahkOWz7tDd53bx2KIKVMnLIknD9LATcYDyPz3mYMjN9PyJCdubHjPQhX6BPv4lWilUeoCEE3fViruEP1w7B9-_6cY5almvk/s1600-h/DSC00170.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078620987265731890" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIiDnj_gXhvwSG5KZlPiish0BFIXpD-xAq0uEdlCrtbpCahkOWz7tDd53bx2KIKVMnLIknD9LATcYDyPz3mYMjN9PyJCdubHjPQhX6BPv4lWilUeoCEE3fViruEP1w7B9-_6cY5almvk/s200/DSC00170.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KgplPb6r-aOgpIO2qIFtZL96aqFwXUyq5nkGUuQ9fcA7ux6Rx5FmC9fr8d7MhK8IFh6hCkofQ9yErvrCxhD_mdRUEo8GSABfRji0_K3R7cwFdhsyRESov7l9mpJBROhA0qSgLWR4q48/s1600-h/DSC00172.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078621000150633810" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KgplPb6r-aOgpIO2qIFtZL96aqFwXUyq5nkGUuQ9fcA7ux6Rx5FmC9fr8d7MhK8IFh6hCkofQ9yErvrCxhD_mdRUEo8GSABfRji0_K3R7cwFdhsyRESov7l9mpJBROhA0qSgLWR4q48/s200/DSC00172.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEj5TM3ql0ix5cE9eWbv4nw-0dn9bGRIPit7yi06mztGEm3oO44Hq579hNvZyZhfZqdbyYVvBp5ccYR6U6KOx1uJg1eCsvx_ZxK2alJTfk59CKCbCiMn-e0LEdxiS-8XyARHQBUeLUEw/s1600-h/DSC00173.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078621008740568418" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgEj5TM3ql0ix5cE9eWbv4nw-0dn9bGRIPit7yi06mztGEm3oO44Hq579hNvZyZhfZqdbyYVvBp5ccYR6U6KOx1uJg1eCsvx_ZxK2alJTfk59CKCbCiMn-e0LEdxiS-8XyARHQBUeLUEw/s200/DSC00173.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>We have been riding through Southwestern Iowa and we are enjoying the beautiful country. Once we left the very wide Missouri Valley we climbed into the Loess Hills (top 2 pictures). Loess is windblown glacial sediment that is found very thickly along the eastern banks of the larger rivers in the upper midwest. The sediment particles are very angular and they hold together nicely to make steep cliffs and banks. It is very hilly here. No sooner do we struggle up a steep hill then we fly down it on the other side, all in a matter of 3 minutes. The temperatures are in the low 90's and the humidity is at its usual Iowa summer level (uncomfortable) so we took a break from the heat of the day -- ate in a Chinese buffet then found the town library. We are now in Shenandoah, yet another beautiful midwestern small town with friendly people. </div>Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-42096463307275260492007-06-21T08:03:00.001-07:002007-06-21T14:03:02.186-07:006/20/07 8:33 PM Nebraska City, NEI'm sitting on the banks of the Missouri River looking at Iowa about<br />200 yards away with a full, full stomach. <p>Today was another good day of traveling. We left Beatrice with cool<br />temps and light winds. Eventually it got pretty warm and the light<br />breezes turned into moderate tailwinds. The land turned quite hilly<br />and we used all 27 gear combinations in the process of climbing at 7<br />mph and flying down hill at 35 mph. After a leisurely lunch at the<br />county courthouse lawn in Tecumseh we rolled north towards Nebraska<br />City. At some point between lunch and here we passed our 1000 mile<br />mark since leaving Albuquerque. Coming into town we ate at an all you<br />can eat buffet then rolled into camp along the river at the north end<br />of town. After showering we were treated to fresh fried catfish by our<br />neighbors, unfortunately we were so full we could hardly eat any more. <p>Ted, on happiness and all you can eat buffets: </p><p>Ahh, the glorious all<br />you can eat buffet, invented by man, for hungry cyclysts. At least,<br />that's what it seems like to me. After riding our (2 to the power of<br />10)th mile, we were pooped. When we reached Nebraska City, we thought<br />we'd hit the campsite, set up camp, have our usual dinner of fish and<br />noodles, and sleep. But soon our plans were inturrepted by the sight<br />of an all you can eat buffet. All previuos thoughts of having canned<br />salmon were shattered by this glorious beacon of unmatched culinary<br />perfection. Needless to say, we ate there and left with the<br />comfortable feeling of at least 4 generously loaded plates of Italian<br />food (each) in our almost too full bellies.<br />Having finished my rant about the holy status of an all you can eat<br />buffet, it's time to go on to a much deeper topic. The feeling one<br />gets from having ridden over 2 weeks isn't one you get often. Having<br />your whole life on your bikes, being able to stop and talk to all the<br />people in all the little towns. Do that thing you've always wanted to,<br />because if you don't you may never get to it. Live the life you've<br />imagined. </p><p>Today's mileage: 79 miles in 5:45<br />Total mileage: 1012 miles</p>Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-31829513525843039992007-06-20T07:08:00.001-07:002007-06-20T07:08:24.522-07:006/19/07 7:56 PM Beatrice, NebraskaAfter a leisurely departure from Edgar we launched in to a moderate<br>direct headwind as we rode steadily eastward. We were able to do only<br>about ten to fourteen mph on the level. Most of our ride was quite<br>level with occasional small dips for stream crossings. We had a late<br>lunch in Daykin and another large snack in Plymouth before pulling<br>into Riverside Park, a beautiful and spacious city park in Beatrice.<br>Many of the towns we have ridden though welcome camping in the parks<br>and offer water and electricity as this one does. It's green and still<br>humid here. After the rain yesterday it cooled down and got slightly<br>less humid. In the evening (now) it has cooled off nicely.<p>It looks as if we will probably only make it to Nebraska City (on the<br>Iowa border) tomorrow night. At this point we on, or ahead, of<br>schedule to be at my brother's house in 8 days. We are still enjoying<br>the timeless and carefree life that riding or bike across the country<br>can enable. We feel very fortunate.<p>Ted, on wind and picinic tables: I feel very pleased right now. While<br>it was a fairly boring day, and the headwind was a bugger, we just<br>rode, and made decent mileage. Once you get over the headwind, it was<br>easy. At the moment we're sitting on a picinic table, with our stuff<br>all set out, and no shirts on, cooling off nicely. The fireflies have<br>just come out.<p>Mileage today: 69.4 miles 5 hr 45 min<br>Total: 933 milesAndy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-83387338876881284772007-06-18T21:30:00.000-07:002007-06-18T22:57:41.847-07:006/18/07 11:30 pm Farm pictures<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077634763990322242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk7PY3lwGQiDZSn2tLSyIutsMD_aSqn41DIjb3Sx1AIrHWQlSs8HSxTQh-xCQtPWmXu1uum7x9WKgJQ_Udx0yXq3jI-JjhdIMsNIuwRFpOB1hbzPdXGKL10Ph2OpuZrTpKP7_XC4gslm0/s200/DSC00152.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IPAgrx82ciJUL6VdgREoHIlKIy49tkxTRbMfDvQjMkr9PF-LM5CB_gODKMi2PneXj7U8Un9s4TUc5FCJhoLWrKSXKwfCwJgzuybuWFfQsOJA7cQDRkn89x1RX1vQ4jS4hDXMKML8x9E/s1600-h/IMG_1327.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077631967966612482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-IPAgrx82ciJUL6VdgREoHIlKIy49tkxTRbMfDvQjMkr9PF-LM5CB_gODKMi2PneXj7U8Un9s4TUc5FCJhoLWrKSXKwfCwJgzuybuWFfQsOJA7cQDRkn89x1RX1vQ4jS4hDXMKML8x9E/s200/IMG_1327.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/merembemuno/BikeTrip2007/photo?authkey=-n59PSFz2Rs#5077625194803186370"></a>We have had a very nice day staying with John and Lynn Greer. After a relaxing morning Ted and I used John's well equipped shop to finally clean our chains and derailleurs. They have been squeaking after we hit a lot of rain one day and they were sandy from a wet dirt road we travelled one morning in Kansas. It's a messy job but you are rewarded with a shiny chain for a day or two.<br /><br /><br /><div>Since it was still pretty wet we went to the Sedan Grain Elevator and met the manager of the facility. I had all sorts of questions about where the grain went, how it is moved and who buys it. What I learned is that there are many, many new ethanol fuel plants being built in the midwest and this will dramatically alter the existing supply and demand for corn. This is presently reflected in the high commodities future prices for corn. How this all plays out in the end with supply, demand, markets and price is unknown. As John said the future will be interesting and full of possibilities. Afterwards John needed to go check on some calves in a pasture down near the Little Blue River, a few miles away. Ted was thrilled to have the opportunity to drive there on an ATV. On the way we passed by the Oregon Trail close to where it crossed the river. John told of finding old china in a nearby field from an Indian raid in 1864. In the forest by the river it would be difficult to guess that you were a short distance from the flat fields of corn, wheat and beans.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitI65A0j7BUi8qpj0f62Tp4XwYkH_FLJxfZD4YQ1xFfEEEUb83JzUrAnizmcap-Y-jcddawGdFjEU3JgX1VDXxNNhwQbp93Nz0yUtXVTsTNyo1-_jGAAzUGNGVzYBSryiAd5l0KqAJugM/s1600-h/DSC00151.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077634725335616562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitI65A0j7BUi8qpj0f62Tp4XwYkH_FLJxfZD4YQ1xFfEEEUb83JzUrAnizmcap-Y-jcddawGdFjEU3JgX1VDXxNNhwQbp93Nz0yUtXVTsTNyo1-_jGAAzUGNGVzYBSryiAd5l0KqAJugM/s200/DSC00151.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnoPRUZPX5DgKxcyy_O9r0U5WjvSD6F1IQPn0UtkXjjxF0Zntb1TQRfw5BCeodCSJiWAeM7-kzsdaD9yw48zkQqwOPUyYDUQS8N7CYFZjts0-TxHSFssq2KvAh1NZqrhJCglFLX836m4/s1600-h/DSC00150.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077634703860780066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnoPRUZPX5DgKxcyy_O9r0U5WjvSD6F1IQPn0UtkXjjxF0Zntb1TQRfw5BCeodCSJiWAeM7-kzsdaD9yw48zkQqwOPUyYDUQS8N7CYFZjts0-TxHSFssq2KvAh1NZqrhJCglFLX836m4/s200/DSC00150.JPG" border="0" /></a>After that John took us to his very large equipment barn and we got to see the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7Wzg4pZwL2zkU7bw0EC8KuDskKDMrNv_Ip2yZjCfjb5tO1PrD0SvJUcOIEFBr240J44pHyPPOfSRItjc2FHpl8IoDAuDJnSNsQ1VjeALo6qsfEGzqwtDQLqr3IbQYn7Yv0Eu5O7RxdQ/s1600-h/IMG_1349.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077631976556547090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7Wzg4pZwL2zkU7bw0EC8KuDskKDMrNv_Ip2yZjCfjb5tO1PrD0SvJUcOIEFBr240J44pHyPPOfSRItjc2FHpl8IoDAuDJnSNsQ1VjeALo6qsfEGzqwtDQLqr3IbQYn7Yv0Eu5O7RxdQ/s200/IMG_1349.JPG" border="0" /></a>combine, planters, mowers, trucks, cultivators and many large tractors. Ted even had a chance to drive one around.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Y9-XG46TISAQwmpEO3eL4adHtImzk5zuwoU-OAZ_wZgQscHmR_51xcAuJM5yeCyMHaziW7tznmJ5gYLUb36XQwXL6eSCydMmbPfbxF3tRRCfwpjjOM2z3ijhKF79XoWnyPAedKWvxgY/s1600-h/DSC00162.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077648885842791538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Y9-XG46TISAQwmpEO3eL4adHtImzk5zuwoU-OAZ_wZgQscHmR_51xcAuJM5yeCyMHaziW7tznmJ5gYLUb36XQwXL6eSCydMmbPfbxF3tRRCfwpjjOM2z3ijhKF79XoWnyPAedKWvxgY/s200/DSC00162.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCpBRtzlOrkenibtaieBBI2rL6cxpNMPWqjE0k8CgkTtuoFn7GGny3jTH06vMOzJr66cOD_2t8-90cMOl9rLHhL383ZQj07gN3XzW1d90sI3J8MJmOKNo9EjlMKPD_fOxAD4SFezilrA/s1600-h/DSC00164.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077648958857235586" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCpBRtzlOrkenibtaieBBI2rL6cxpNMPWqjE0k8CgkTtuoFn7GGny3jTH06vMOzJr66cOD_2t8-90cMOl9rLHhL383ZQj07gN3XzW1d90sI3J8MJmOKNo9EjlMKPD_fOxAD4SFezilrA/s200/DSC00164.JPG" border="0" /></a>This has been a delightful day. I don't think we could have had better hosts and we are very grateful. From here we will be headed across southern Nebraska for the next day and a half before we cross the Missouri River and enter into Iowa on Thursday.<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-18899997117504048512007-06-18T07:07:00.000-07:002007-06-18T21:30:48.414-07:006/18/2007 9:00 am Edgar, NEI awoke in a bed this morning and looked out of the window to very grey and threatening skies. Shortly afterwards the thunder and rain followed. We had already agreed yesterday to take a rest day at John and Lynn's. We have laundry and bike maintenance to do not to mention that we have been riding long distances every day and our bodies could use the rest! I was reminded of this as I just climbed a set of stair and felt my slightly sore and tired legs!<br /><br />It's good to be inside!<br /><br />Ted, on houses and motors: the nice thing about living in a house and such is that one has a bed, and blankets to cover you, not to mention easy shelter from the rain. We're staying in the house of a friend's second cousin. It is a working farm, and has lots of...engines. If one goes back about 120 meters, you would find several large V8 engines scattered about. these have, doubtless been used for pumping water onto the fields, as we had seen others like those doing in western Kansas. These engines can be found running 24/7 sometimes muffled, sometimes not, at about 6,000 RPM next to fields. It's not surprising that many of them wear out, and can be found lying around behind silos and such. I also found many other motors, only these are in tractors. the poeple we're staying with have tractors. 7 that run, and one in the process of being restored. These tractors are enormous, and look as if they could pull a mountain. One has a large block of concrete on the front, I'm guessing to keep it from going nose up wheel it's pulling a...dirt ripper thing. Anyways, life is good when you wake up in a bed. CiaoAndy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-17879094246966293162007-06-18T06:40:00.000-07:002007-06-18T11:36:58.592-07:006/17/07 7pmToday was a cyclist's dream. We awoke to the sun and a stiff southern wind. That was good since most of our day was to be traveling north out of Kansas and into Nebraska. The wind began at about 15 kts and increased during the day to about 25 kts. There were many times we were cruising down the highway on a level stretch at 30 mph with our tires humming on the concrete. At that rate the miles flash by and it's pretty exciting. We ate lunch in Mankato, Kansas amongst thick trees. We continued north into Nebraska and entered the state through the town of Superior. While there we couldn't refuse the Subway special offer of 2 foot long sandwiches for a great price so we ate lunch again. We ended up at the farm of John and Lynn Greer south of Edgar, Nebraska. John is Sheryl Chard's cousin and she graciously arranged for us to connect with them before we left.<br /><br />Total mileage today: 80 miles in 4 hours and 46 minutes<br />Trip total: 865Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-4867063523035905132007-06-17T10:32:00.001-07:002007-06-18T06:37:38.744-07:006/16/07 11:27 PM<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjp60X4J4AiNLFu9uyaqPDOvS0Ydhnx-aHEFIgo4ttFUD-q1dZNG2x77rkv8WjdpyeX6gjgptlpGlMfh6q8_uX2CeXOCPx5UpKjTl88Suus8PJZbd7gbb_Q3PwKgiqhEQY8BD3j_km3Q/s1600-h/DSC00131.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077397875069110050" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjp60X4J4AiNLFu9uyaqPDOvS0Ydhnx-aHEFIgo4ttFUD-q1dZNG2x77rkv8WjdpyeX6gjgptlpGlMfh6q8_uX2CeXOCPx5UpKjTl88Suus8PJZbd7gbb_Q3PwKgiqhEQY8BD3j_km3Q/s200/DSC00131.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHrbMqpi4qtc-S3XPhwfYHv_2hTJ7cjMyRq5XoscYbB7Nvg85FZcTeGAa2kf21rEns-Btuw9zKJNZKu2v8aRSKjhLhiNAxP2Nj6-fax7-m3JUGX-_91rxdjoED80xPjEoC9MOhJZffGA/s1600-h/DSC00137.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077397879364077362" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHrbMqpi4qtc-S3XPhwfYHv_2hTJ7cjMyRq5XoscYbB7Nvg85FZcTeGAa2kf21rEns-Btuw9zKJNZKu2v8aRSKjhLhiNAxP2Nj6-fax7-m3JUGX-_91rxdjoED80xPjEoC9MOhJZffGA/s200/DSC00137.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiYht4PIPL4u0O2uJJKm6IQm984OWKKEjZmWNGddISqw8133bhIrftU1tuy70GSnqdHt9FNSc2YTPEX8XyiWm1rH9wkMyjGd96815VAHM-Ifu-0JE3CRwLyQtr65cgQRG97o95IkZ-wQ/s1600-h/DSC00135.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077397887954011970" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiYht4PIPL4u0O2uJJKm6IQm984OWKKEjZmWNGddISqw8133bhIrftU1tuy70GSnqdHt9FNSc2YTPEX8XyiWm1rH9wkMyjGd96815VAHM-Ifu-0JE3CRwLyQtr65cgQRG97o95IkZ-wQ/s200/DSC00135.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4iGah1t6din-uuF9u0aDUdEK6aRpG6qI1xnXIlpZMRuOL3hLdeXQn0SP__d7C6fG-DGXDdME6bPMGcUV-sUEK_NTZPWZsHNlV06OdpCOvO_n4IVOfMsJjO-fEpyK15gaTZVexQX_aRU/s1600-h/DSC00140.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077397892248979282" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4iGah1t6din-uuF9u0aDUdEK6aRpG6qI1xnXIlpZMRuOL3hLdeXQn0SP__d7C6fG-DGXDdME6bPMGcUV-sUEK_NTZPWZsHNlV06OdpCOvO_n4IVOfMsJjO-fEpyK15gaTZVexQX_aRU/s200/DSC00140.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VRnIaq-0Kc6OR095g1n8gdkll4vQxUvTX85pUFYRhfM8toJYj13UiikPgImYQ8wvRV0WYkNcXKuXHnyHh2L2d12UQgfl1CCYgI1pL1sEuZR6GgaeFuaaKsvJl_yO06rZnb-kxwZj9N4/s1600-h/DSC00141.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077397900838913890" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VRnIaq-0Kc6OR095g1n8gdkll4vQxUvTX85pUFYRhfM8toJYj13UiikPgImYQ8wvRV0WYkNcXKuXHnyHh2L2d12UQgfl1CCYgI1pL1sEuZR6GgaeFuaaKsvJl_yO06rZnb-kxwZj9N4/s200/DSC00141.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The highlights today, as we rode east along US Highway 24 towards our<br />destination of Glen Elder State Park, were small towns, lush foliage,<br />friendy people and a large ball of twine.<br /><p>Many of these towns are paved with bricks and have very active and<br />tight knit communities. They are very inviting places. At the grocery<br />store in Osborne almost everyone stopped and asked us about what we<br />were doing. The whole staff and some customers came out to watch us<br />pack our food into our bags. They were curious how and what we<br />carried. We also came upon the world's largest ball of sissal twine in<br />the town of Cawker City. We had a fine time talking with the 2 nice<br />ladies who were acting as caretakers to the ball. They even got a roll<br />out for Ted so he could add some more string to the ball. He never<br />asked for it, they just gave it to him and told him to tie it on some<br />where and start walking. One of the women had done a whole series of<br />famous replica paintings (Mona Lisa, Worhol, Dali, Rockwell, Kahlo,<br />Van Gogh, etc.) with hulls of twine included somewhere in the picture.<br />They are hanging in many of the shop windows of town. Very bizarre<br />but a must see if you ever go to Cawker City.<br /><p>We somehow lost track of time today hanging out in parks, libraries,<br />and eating. We rode only 5 and a half hours but by the time we got to<br />our campsite the sun was on it's way down at 9 pm. After tea, showers<br />and dinner we find it late.<br /><p>Ted, on motorcycles and yogurt:<br />I have been eating enormous amounts of yogurt and other things of that<br />genre (like cottage cheese). Just today, I have eaten a litre<br />container of yogurt, 3 cup size yogurts, and a tub of cottage cheese,<br />yet I still find myself wondering if they have any yogurt in the bait<br />shop. Another thing I have noticed is that the consumption of yogurt<br />seems to attract motorcycles. The more yogurt like substance I<br />consume, the more motorcycles pass by! Today at a small park outside a<br />town, there I was, just finishing off my last cup of yogurt after 2<br />cups of the stuff, and a quart of cottage cheese. When what seemed<br />like all the Harleys in Kansas passed on the highway. For most of<br />them, I think it was an alternate life as motorcycle guy, as most of<br />them were over 50, and overweight. Some whooped and waved, while<br />others sinply scowled at the weirdos without engines. All in all, I<br />like this part of Kansas, with all the small towns, tight communities,<br />and twangy midwest accents. However, it is late, andi must sleep.<br />TTFN, tata for now!<br /><p>Mileage today: 74 miles in 5 hr 30 min<br />Total: 785 miles</p></div>Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-47721663592170552912007-06-16T09:16:00.000-07:002007-06-16T09:20:51.692-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtONoWcHcdlMljJXG5WYEfTvwtMXen90O8kxoQXJQnke2c1pyGnzyzRmcFsv7gYWDo8i2Hbh6W7YB9Db_I_DcZWi3rfxMZl-crbYF2ITiZB5fsYhWykY6-x176HeGeFz_TQIIj1AibT4M/s1600-h/DSC00127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtONoWcHcdlMljJXG5WYEfTvwtMXen90O8kxoQXJQnke2c1pyGnzyzRmcFsv7gYWDo8i2Hbh6W7YB9Db_I_DcZWi3rfxMZl-crbYF2ITiZB5fsYhWykY6-x176HeGeFz_TQIIj1AibT4M/s200/DSC00127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076697657960908434" border="0" /></a><br />Ted writing:<br /><br />Spiders are amazing. Each night we've been in northern Kansas, they've<br />prepped our camp for Halloween. They have woven webs all over our<br />stuff, the tables, and US! It's creepy and cool at the same time.<br />Because they're spiders, it's creepy, but they catch all the ticks<br />and mosquitos, it's cool. they're fast, too. I found a spider web<br />between my arm and my body while I was eating breakfast. It had a few<br />gnats in it already. It was cool.<br /><br />in fact, they wove a web between my ankles as I was writing...wowAndy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-9145354576539130522007-06-16T09:08:00.000-07:002007-06-16T09:16:42.775-07:006/15/07 7:40 PM near Stockton, Kansas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYXj-TXkG7ODB3SqSNPQ6QwGD2Hx1uBA8kI4qIrvS2PU4Q5AU5u8KdBdqudZHGd7BBkAAOi8ZTHbZho0nIRiAl0LFmvBfxbz1RMol1UqbVvSFC1jUltTUogo7pjjUB9Y-Cag8bUuW9n8/s1600-h/DSC00128.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYXj-TXkG7ODB3SqSNPQ6QwGD2Hx1uBA8kI4qIrvS2PU4Q5AU5u8KdBdqudZHGd7BBkAAOi8ZTHbZho0nIRiAl0LFmvBfxbz1RMol1UqbVvSFC1jUltTUogo7pjjUB9Y-Cag8bUuW9n8/s200/DSC00128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076696120362616434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-hkBqujYm8vzxDQ3QUwev_g17sscsVNcx-cVJdc-RgOlA9BTezazTH1BnXKY67mmEjxHlayG5bC6ff6rxCXv2YNgsOT6COieVZFEO_O5Dmj6zRtbnEUxEcRZ6JtPcjKIGOdJTIdO9jo/s1600-h/DSC00130.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1-hkBqujYm8vzxDQ3QUwev_g17sscsVNcx-cVJdc-RgOlA9BTezazTH1BnXKY67mmEjxHlayG5bC6ff6rxCXv2YNgsOT6COieVZFEO_O5Dmj6zRtbnEUxEcRZ6JtPcjKIGOdJTIdO9jo/s200/DSC00130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076696137542485634" border="0" /></a>Posted from the Stockton Library after stopping by the grocery store for a mid-morning snack...<br /><br /><br />We are staying at Webster State Park in a pretty grove of trees off by ourselves. We have a large pavillion with 4 picnic tables to put all of our stuff on.<br /><br />We continue to be very hungry. We went into a small grocery store today in Palco and wanted to eat all of the food in sight- cake mix, cans of beans, chips, etc. These are things that I don't even eat, but that didn't matter!<br /><br />The country is getting softer and more inviting. The land is rolling and the fields are smaller and there are trees growing naturally in the wetter places. Compared to the land further west of here it is lush. I know that it will only get more beautiful as he head east. There are a fair amount of oil pumpjacks and tanks along the roads. You can hear the oil slowly flowing into them sometimes but more often you can smell them- not too bad of a smell.<br /><br />As we were riding north this afternoon we spied a big twin steepled church in a little town (Damar). We had to detour a little bit but we learned about St. Josephs Catholic Church in the process. Built in 1911 it was in stunning shape inside and out. The door was open so we let ourselves in and gave ourselves a self-guided tour. It was a beautiful, quiet and cool break from the road.<br /><br />Ted: We had a relatively easy day, with beautiful rolling hills, and quaint little towns. Probably the most interesting part of our travels today was a big church in a little town (Damar). The town leading up to it was interesting. It seemed as if a painter had gone over all the closed up shops, and painted them as if they were open, and thriving. Even the houses had people painted into the windows. Believe me, it wasn't as creepy as it sounds, it was nice actually. When we hit the church, the first thing that struck me was the sheer height of the steeples, they were enormous. When we entered through the mock mideval doors, I noticed that the inside was A: quite dark, this changed when I took off my sunglasses. B: big...just as I suspected. C: the stained glass windows were amazing. This church was beautifully becorated with oil paintings on the wall depicting the crucification. The soaring roof was supported by enormous marble pillars, lit by stained glass windows. Some of the aforementioned windows were dedicated to families, and people who had donated, or helped che church in some way. I could go on and on, but the mosquitoes have just come out, and are being mosquitoes. But as I wind down, I look out towards the lake and see a small spark drifting lazily through the air and I realize that the fireflies are out.<br /><br />Mileage today: 68<br /><br />Total: 709Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-19959957572651141442007-06-15T09:46:00.001-07:002007-06-16T09:25:32.267-07:006/15/07 6:21 AM near Ellis. Kansas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraz3Fq4XL7FFryp79-qHwIciGHXn7fPs9KEXZ3HXYw6tzJjBdi9elPBGrog3095e_t_sxLhSPmIW2_fWRHmu8CDjO-8BrM6DiEYRno8dUUYwu0Zj-0vBUKDavNzkUufS1fsyk-Na7gKM/s1600-h/DSC00119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraz3Fq4XL7FFryp79-qHwIciGHXn7fPs9KEXZ3HXYw6tzJjBdi9elPBGrog3095e_t_sxLhSPmIW2_fWRHmu8CDjO-8BrM6DiEYRno8dUUYwu0Zj-0vBUKDavNzkUufS1fsyk-Na7gKM/s200/DSC00119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076698869141685922" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1QFdRZA26rQTkNFlncFTi5XflI31TJEAev6MTxDRuJYRpEUzrX8ajZXFaKOt8VhxYdEuMNOvKm3X-PA8Bqgl3BHK9flZPIYTgDsoMZlfUsrQubjXZho6TrACKp0culdaqdJCPycqlyA/s1600-h/DSC00120.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1QFdRZA26rQTkNFlncFTi5XflI31TJEAev6MTxDRuJYRpEUzrX8ajZXFaKOt8VhxYdEuMNOvKm3X-PA8Bqgl3BHK9flZPIYTgDsoMZlfUsrQubjXZho6TrACKp0culdaqdJCPycqlyA/s200/DSC00120.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076698877731620530" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y47jjwPRYdO6RbsaezZlwfdPWYb7-sNvh5pg-ROYrjrYYDRn1gPN5Js2xbzw4zWNrWxtPWA-Ri9fSF_KNmcHZHjxl5xPwufxDcvKsS4lkWsul35J4UYzfj0qaIAvoFqKMAq0Mmat5Rs/s1600-h/DSC00121.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y47jjwPRYdO6RbsaezZlwfdPWYb7-sNvh5pg-ROYrjrYYDRn1gPN5Js2xbzw4zWNrWxtPWA-Ri9fSF_KNmcHZHjxl5xPwufxDcvKsS4lkWsul35J4UYzfj0qaIAvoFqKMAq0Mmat5Rs/s200/DSC00121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076698882026587842" border="0" /></a><br />We left yesterday morning to a cloudy but calm day. More Kansas<br />wheatfields. We stopped in the town of Ness City for lunch and<br />shopping. Everyone was friendly and helpful. The insurance agent<br />offered us his office for a bathroom, water and a weather check on his<br />computer. The auto parts store folks are very helpful in finding us<br />washers, wire and small amounts of wd40.<p>We finished the day in short showers of rain, sometimes heavy, but it<br />wasn't cold. We are now staying at Cedar Bluffs State Park. The irony<br />is that the cedars are now underwater and now there are cottonwoods<br />planted on the shores of the lake.</p><p>Our neighbor is a young man from the Tyrol region of Austria named<br />Simeon. Coming from the mountains he wanted to come to somewhere very<br />flat and open. He flew into Dodge City and wants to hike the banks of<br />the Smoky River here in Kansas. I don't think it is what he expected.<br />He is visiting a place that few Europeans see however.</p><p>It is foggy this morning but looks to be clear above.</p><p>Mileage today: 85 miles in 5 hour and 51 minutes</p><p>Total: 640 miles</p>Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-66974451189700500452007-06-15T09:44:00.001-07:002007-06-15T09:44:07.809-07:006/13/07 6:26 PM Kalvesta, KSAfter grocery shopping in Garden City we headed east on Highway 156.<br>The Wind still was blowing from the southeast and we had a bit of a<br>headwind. We had been riding for about an hour and a half when the<br>skies began to grow very dark. Within a short period of time we were<br>taking shelter beneath a large bridge and the thunder and lightning<br>and rain were heavy. After waiting out the storm for maybe 45 minutes<br>we decided we would ride in the light rain to Kyveston, maybe 20 miles<br>down the road. As we were moving our bikes onto the road a man stopped<br>and offered us or ride. We hesitated, saying we were just going to<br>Kalvesta and he said he lived there and knew there was nothing<br>there. Even not a church? Well yes he said, you could stay there.<br>Besides, this rain is supposed to he heavy until the morning. At that<br>point we gave up our stubborn pride and began to be practical. We took<br>the ride. While we were driving he offered to feed us and lien said<br>that the entire 2nd floor of his house was empty and we could sleep<br>there. Now we are full, dry, warm and spread out in a 2nd floor room<br>listening to the rain pounding on the roof.<p>Kalvesta has 3 houses, a church, an implement dealer and a coop grain<br>elevator and gas station. Our host is an electrician and he is working<br>on building ethanol plants. He says he has at least 10 years of work<br>just in this area. He moved here recently from Colorado and bought<br>this comfortable house and 3 and a half acres of land for $70,000. I<br>didn't know that was still possible.Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-42121555993772998462007-06-13T11:02:00.001-07:002007-06-13T11:05:57.103-07:00Garden City KansasWe hit the big town of Garden City today. The big theme of the morning was agribusiness -- feedlots, slaughterhouses (processing plants) and grain elevators. This is a cattle town. They do, however, have a nice library where I write this.<br /><br />There is still a low pressure system stalled in the middle of Kansas and it is giving us SE winds now so we have no choice to go into the wind! From here we aim to hit a state park to the east of here after we buy groceries.<br /><br />All continues to be well with our bodies and bikes. We are, however, looking forward to trees.Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-72003042552404357042007-06-13T10:19:00.000-07:002007-06-13T11:00:55.423-07:00Pictures in reverse chronological orderClick on any picture to enlarge.<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9rgV2yEC3SwvuFmI77T3NXj-dtn9B6dEzRuzEgu6a3ja_-oiZC6rlwHyp3ZaO9-j7hgvfsWu_sZ0I7QGGhFpJKJA7xX9iNvy-I6IWltSmvSwzlqUJYdM1FaHdbGfN8086T4_Qc1GQyE/s1600-h/DSC00118.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075607788534711906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9rgV2yEC3SwvuFmI77T3NXj-dtn9B6dEzRuzEgu6a3ja_-oiZC6rlwHyp3ZaO9-j7hgvfsWu_sZ0I7QGGhFpJKJA7xX9iNvy-I6IWltSmvSwzlqUJYdM1FaHdbGfN8086T4_Qc1GQyE/s200/DSC00118.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Ted feasting on roadside mullberries in Western Kansas (note the wheat)</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bVVUnPfgJs17TL0uc58B0v74SW2fen9buE4dKUaaCEQOdJAI7vb2ssTV2cYiLGcE1cd0eGG9KgvkDa7h56TLgmdGqMyvPVDjWJCjgyMO8V3ASuGvO28TAs9HdHKXbtUFORRGEP0oicY/s1600-h/DSC00116.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075607612441052738" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2bVVUnPfgJs17TL0uc58B0v74SW2fen9buE4dKUaaCEQOdJAI7vb2ssTV2cYiLGcE1cd0eGG9KgvkDa7h56TLgmdGqMyvPVDjWJCjgyMO8V3ASuGvO28TAs9HdHKXbtUFORRGEP0oicY/s200/DSC00116.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Municipal campsite Elkhart, KS<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAY4XzIDzoddF18U6q1Tu3CvnmKmTZsdvZperDoePyC86dXsVyaXCQCjb0CspQCuiQfOPCvDUdhx2M8aScAnsx5ej3QoQSME2bmh5CBsy9SKmCCi1RqfSohbeR9o8tUPkQRQkw66Z0x-4/s1600-h/DSC00117.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075607616736020050" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAY4XzIDzoddF18U6q1Tu3CvnmKmTZsdvZperDoePyC86dXsVyaXCQCjb0CspQCuiQfOPCvDUdhx2M8aScAnsx5ej3QoQSME2bmh5CBsy9SKmCCi1RqfSohbeR9o8tUPkQRQkw66Z0x-4/s200/DSC00117.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Rural Schoolhouse, Western Kansas<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqen7TuKF1Gf-4SmHEa-suOnEHuquhqYasSQ6B5_8gPHvmdkhyphenhyphen8BB4emd4U3S9A4ki42KCJhncWOL5hagdXE2pRCIaWGjE5qEQ34azI_3HtjR7FeJVx8e6tdAolSaZCCLRTIBVp48V0l4/s1600-h/DSC00112.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075607595261183522" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqen7TuKF1Gf-4SmHEa-suOnEHuquhqYasSQ6B5_8gPHvmdkhyphenhyphen8BB4emd4U3S9A4ki42KCJhncWOL5hagdXE2pRCIaWGjE5qEQ34azI_3HtjR7FeJVx8e6tdAolSaZCCLRTIBVp48V0l4/s200/DSC00112.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />One big descent coming up, near Mosquero, NM<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWI44wxmakPd2zs4SKnoob3pU5Klm4UX4b1X7Nf7RegC2E87ZyiQgPreyZsd5NkEfHLhoJ0fiBH0r5aB-yxnylB4jANV2ye7jqIM4FqRWQtVNg4F2H9uBpZ7FUiIIzJpGE2DjsL5jb_U/s1600-h/DSC00113.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075607603851118130" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWI44wxmakPd2zs4SKnoob3pU5Klm4UX4b1X7Nf7RegC2E87ZyiQgPreyZsd5NkEfHLhoJ0fiBH0r5aB-yxnylB4jANV2ye7jqIM4FqRWQtVNg4F2H9uBpZ7FUiIIzJpGE2DjsL5jb_U/s200/DSC00113.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Lunch stop. 45 miles 3 cars.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLusCbhRH9yux-PexN0Eekc2nBG_DM6raOwwUf9pD9al0LYI822w0A_xgf5X3_kh1N6yQB9SkSK1t3-NMhsPRUsis567GhkgpyArQAl9Za_tkWEWn6QPsn1BK2oiHytI9o-8kv4IrOoY/s1600-h/DSC00108.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075607586671248914" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLusCbhRH9yux-PexN0Eekc2nBG_DM6raOwwUf9pD9al0LYI822w0A_xgf5X3_kh1N6yQB9SkSK1t3-NMhsPRUsis567GhkgpyArQAl9Za_tkWEWn6QPsn1BK2oiHytI9o-8kv4IrOoY/s200/DSC00108.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Swimming in the Canadian River, NM<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTqY-hkEK7r0s99mxwE-jfS0S9I_t1d4l-Gk1oo9wvN2RsTBJ2BS-Wos4IVCSxpke3NrjpZTMAZVodA-ZwHYsH0QIe6gUMp5HEEAxxhUE2jUnUHlqvkRlmywAmPWHeCCEbUzp3ZSO9gA/s1600-h/DSC00098.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075606006123283938" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTqY-hkEK7r0s99mxwE-jfS0S9I_t1d4l-Gk1oo9wvN2RsTBJ2BS-Wos4IVCSxpke3NrjpZTMAZVodA-ZwHYsH0QIe6gUMp5HEEAxxhUE2jUnUHlqvkRlmywAmPWHeCCEbUzp3ZSO9gA/s200/DSC00098.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We leave the mountains and enter the prairie<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXWWNHZ1CsO4DsTbgWM359sI_XJdKWuLT-Tr-2NolAsQaMd5PKNusQxwFo7jc8OXEPTzciL750un-buvv3CGt9bwPdGk8V8jyZmmDhsOm54zgDIgH6LaiTAHI29zhJN_isAPfCaHsMg0/s1600-h/DSC00101.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075606023303153138" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXWWNHZ1CsO4DsTbgWM359sI_XJdKWuLT-Tr-2NolAsQaMd5PKNusQxwFo7jc8OXEPTzciL750un-buvv3CGt9bwPdGk8V8jyZmmDhsOm54zgDIgH6LaiTAHI29zhJN_isAPfCaHsMg0/s200/DSC00101.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Old farm, NM<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRZCqDbGovj9R2fEnIgycfplL8Z3CieNAYRx3_3hw4R-l3cYymZa-vZnnM3knBKZ1WuTaUQ09LUnJnnOXFmSdVqb2UKcJPv3boNvXPT4dr97esc10Z8SidZf0Urbt600sbLhE64ce-0c/s1600-h/DSC00103.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075606031893087746" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRZCqDbGovj9R2fEnIgycfplL8Z3CieNAYRx3_3hw4R-l3cYymZa-vZnnM3knBKZ1WuTaUQ09LUnJnnOXFmSdVqb2UKcJPv3boNvXPT4dr97esc10Z8SidZf0Urbt600sbLhE64ce-0c/s200/DSC00103.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Yet another large descent coming up. <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuyZgAnqmV4aOwtlhmNqeefzNPFeCNc9Dq3JRNZV8CMA6svp5woPp1kl68AWKYbG9FoDLyOmWDdmnMKq998PeXy_r9U36kwkbljOdbspsDdnTixCYaqiuRQ5IfW72E-d2pqpWLSX6uyM/s1600-h/DSC00094.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075605980353480130" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTuyZgAnqmV4aOwtlhmNqeefzNPFeCNc9Dq3JRNZV8CMA6svp5woPp1kl68AWKYbG9FoDLyOmWDdmnMKq998PeXy_r9U36kwkbljOdbspsDdnTixCYaqiuRQ5IfW72E-d2pqpWLSX6uyM/s200/DSC00094.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Camping by the Pecos River, Villanueva, NM<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeyfzt5XikuykDnv8n37b6siKRx3XgV77BBYsjTUck4wx4sUw0tz8AnULIotEXm7_tVCScsFWV3x9oCEXbMytpHNtpp_yRA56NWSoPr6Kn6WcsKqii1EhnN4yomeHUy-cY-YY3TgrMSk/s1600-h/DSC00096.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075605997533349330" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeyfzt5XikuykDnv8n37b6siKRx3XgV77BBYsjTUck4wx4sUw0tz8AnULIotEXm7_tVCScsFWV3x9oCEXbMytpHNtpp_yRA56NWSoPr6Kn6WcsKqii1EhnN4yomeHUy-cY-YY3TgrMSk/s200/DSC00096.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Pecos River Valley Old Spanish Colonial</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4kTrtEwrNtATfSkjgkg7Mztxf5Vg6VKJ8wtB_fjPn_BBg_dlB-Nt827YaqgFZldElFfxHCjsvPlxsghnuvlpdCjJub7NzaiKoBzSAzh5Bx3rY07cWbswrqkNWkszZcdGwf8eRbTciMo/s1600-h/DSC00089.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075603351833494946" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4kTrtEwrNtATfSkjgkg7Mztxf5Vg6VKJ8wtB_fjPn_BBg_dlB-Nt827YaqgFZldElFfxHCjsvPlxsghnuvlpdCjJub7NzaiKoBzSAzh5Bx3rY07cWbswrqkNWkszZcdGwf8eRbTciMo/s200/DSC00089.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The road out of Stanley, NM<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDrZuSefJuMexuWe_VHYQHbqwHyIl-BQxlPvjuJtuUK602eefwBHIGj5Gg_VwxgmoUd1pvOhamoCd9NLMK-MUEc1PFo-QXgAl70Isd9E4DXVKWZHfctQ2fE6_DOyMbujBI98iN_82Xp0/s1600-h/DSC00092.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075603373308331442" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDrZuSefJuMexuWe_VHYQHbqwHyIl-BQxlPvjuJtuUK602eefwBHIGj5Gg_VwxgmoUd1pvOhamoCd9NLMK-MUEc1PFo-QXgAl70Isd9E4DXVKWZHfctQ2fE6_DOyMbujBI98iN_82Xp0/s200/DSC00092.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The scenery get better out of Stanley.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8flRGCgidgqpPfxEzijW3KU8swFZMutiggzbriDJFz_ZyNcOFWFrOn2wCQKfYLGJQ15O8ij_ATxr9Ar4L0CGE5Tsf_yah7voScBf7qfAORNa9ZZ4v_9tDAufzsvDCuFxrDHvPN193pU/s1600-h/DSC00086.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075600869342397810" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8flRGCgidgqpPfxEzijW3KU8swFZMutiggzbriDJFz_ZyNcOFWFrOn2wCQKfYLGJQ15O8ij_ATxr9Ar4L0CGE5Tsf_yah7voScBf7qfAORNa9ZZ4v_9tDAufzsvDCuFxrDHvPN193pU/s200/DSC00086.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pu8FkLRATTOLXA04OgOgVpLoI2eNoyv-au5FccHGM4W_Hz82RvfsRds_p88zUUlmfx01A08KfdKfnsF4F4xnPimGuHNT8JfCybXERzX0o6By3gnqCjpKi4y5a6zmpSTxYpFa0HyLluw/s1600-h/DSC00088.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075600873637365122" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pu8FkLRATTOLXA04OgOgVpLoI2eNoyv-au5FccHGM4W_Hz82RvfsRds_p88zUUlmfx01A08KfdKfnsF4F4xnPimGuHNT8JfCybXERzX0o6By3gnqCjpKi4y5a6zmpSTxYpFa0HyLluw/s200/DSC00088.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here was are at the Daly's farm on our first night out of Albuquerque.Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-20476909851529970922007-06-13T10:16:00.001-07:002007-06-13T10:16:04.527-07:006/12/07 5:42 PMWe left Elkhart early with a still persistently strong (20 kt) south<br>wind. It let up for an hour or so in the middle of the night I think.<br>Now I can personally attest to the potential of wind energy in the<br>Great Plains. After heading ENE on Hwy 54 we got tired of fighting the<br>crosswind and joined it. Most of the day we cruised north at 18 to 22<br>mph with a direct tailwind with the exception of about 15 miles of<br>direct eastward travel. At some point the wind will shift and we will<br>travel east (I hope).<p>While the miles of endess waving wheat sure smell sweet the pig farms<br>don't. For much of the day we passed large barns owned by Shorepoint<br>or Seacoast (or some such name) Farms. They were far from any<br>habitation and were new, seemingly automated and fully enclosed.<br>Sometimes there would be a car parked outside or a truck loading feed<br>into the hoppers but often they were entirely void of people. They had<br>signs outside of them saying nursery 105, sow barn 87 or litter barn<br>56. It was strangely eerie. There were also very many large tanks of<br>"processed water" having something to do with oil wells. They made<br>good places to rest out of the wind and lean the bikes on. We saw few<br>people beyond the drivers on the road and 2 folks mowing their lawn.<br>Some people wave vigorously while others lift fingers. We nod, wave or<br>lift fingers depending on how tired we are.<p>We had no idea where we'd stay the night,only that we would aim for<br>the town of Lakin, Kansas. Just before town we saw a sign for camping<br>and turned off. We are now staying a county park with a lake, showers,<br>electricity, water and camping spots. The place has better days but it<br>works for us this evening. It is a quiet, and peaceful way to finish<br>our sixth day.<p>We solved the mystery of the large irrigation sprinklers that water<br>the circular fields you see from the air. We didn't know how they were<br>propelled until this evening. It turns out there is an electric motor<br>that turns each wheeled party the large arm. It only moves a little<br>every few minutes so you have to watch it closely.<p>We have enjoyed mullberies along the road and have permanently purple<br>fingers. In terms of other food we have been eating alot and often.<br>Generally we have had soups for dinner, noodles with sardines, cheese,<br> bagels, nuts, fresh spinach, apples and dried fruit.<p>I just learned that Kansas and Nebraska one getting a lot of rain from<br>a slow moving storm system moving east. This makes the southern winds<br>make sense since we are at the trailing edge of it. We had very dark<br>and cloudy weather today with some sprinkles from time to time . Even<br>thru the yellow lenses of our sunglasses it looked dreary.<p>Total mileage: 512 today: 93 miles in 5 hours and 45 minutes of riding.Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-36146383027956159552007-06-12T09:00:00.001-07:002007-06-12T09:04:06.349-07:00June 12, 2007Hi everyone (this is Laura writing),<br /><br />I suspect my last post was not posted so I'll write it again. Sorry for any re-runs here.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">If you would like to make a comment you have to log your e-mail with Gmail. It takes about 4 steps and this prevents <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">spammers</span>!</span><br /><br />I'm so happy for Andy and Ted. What an opportunity! Way to say "yes" to life!<br /><br />Smiling,<br />LauraAndy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-789404556864653632.post-57927764504055550532007-06-11T19:41:00.001-07:002007-06-11T19:41:20.534-07:006/11/07 7:36 PM Elkhart, KansasWe rolled out of Clayton, NM this morning after taking full advantage<br>of the breakfast buffet at the hotel. We had a great tailwind that<br>pushed us to Boise City, Oklahoma at 20 to 25 mph. After an easy 45<br>miles we hit a south wind that wasn't much help. We left Boise City on<br>a much busier highway and we had to be vigilant of large trucks. We<br>may find a better road tomorrow that will give us a tailwind and lose<br>the trucks. At this point we are headed north and east so we can pick<br>the direction that favors us with an easy ride.<p>The country we one passing thru is sparse. We went thru only 2 towns<br>today in a whole day of riding. There is always a farm house in sight,<br>but very few people around. Our goal was Kansas and we made it at<br>around 4 pm. We pulled into Elkhart, right on the state line and<br>followed the signs for camping. Now we have our tens pitched amongst<br>the RVs. We have trees and water a few steps away. The neighbor is a<br>nice man who likes to talk a little but not too much. The wind has<br>eased and it is not a problem with the cookstove. There is a wifi<br>signal coming from Some where and I thank that person who has not<br>secured their connection from strangers like me! Ted has cooked corn<br>chowder and mixed in cheese. He tells me to come eat so he doesn't<br>finish it off.<p>Ted:It is humid now, and I find it strange to be sticky even after<br>bathing. We came across 2 towns, countless crop fields, and the<br>horizon is unnervingly flat. ''Toto, I don't think we're in new mexico<br>anymore!"<p>Total miles: 420 today: 86 miles in 5 hours and 18 min of riding .Andy Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04271920320847203903noreply@blogger.com1