The Longest 50 miles . . .

Said goodbye to Wes & Mary Cash yesterday when I was in Cooper's buying a last minute pair of gloves and some chain oil. Said goodbye to Valerie & Dean last night over shish-kabobs on their new grill. Said goodbye to the dautas in separate calls and enjoyed well wishes for Mother's Day and Birthday (to come later this month).

Said goodbye to Jeff in a little park in Winfield, KS, where my ride began. This because I wanted to cut out two too-long initial days. I plan on riding these days on the way back when I am in better shape, though. Jeff drove the Prius home and will exercise it on occasion by jaunts to Petty's and Whole Foods in Tulsa

I hooked up BOB (overloaded as usual) and off I went out of the park and north on Hwy 77 at 8 a.m. on a cool (49F) but beautifully sunny spring day. No wind. Wow, piece of cake I thought. Not.

Hwy 77 North of Winfield; not much of a shoulder and the white line was sunk down an inch or so making for a pavement differential and narrowing what usable shoulder there was

The north wind came up fierce in not half an hour and got brutal as the day unfolded, even trying to knock me off my feet as I straddled the bike and rested head down on the handlebars. I took several pix, to rest as well as anything. One photo seems to show KS in a nutshell: church of the gray-brown KS sandstone blocks, a group of grain silos, and a wild turkey foraging in the grass.

A scene that seemed to capture KS in a nutshell: church, grain silos and a wild turkey. Can't see the turkey? See the next photo.

Wild turkey foraging near the church and grain silos

I also took a photo (below) of just one of the many KS abortion signs. They are everywhere and also seem to say "Kansas."

The wind absolutely sapped me. I stopped at the first gas station/CS that I saw, but just as I was pulling in, dozens of motorcyclists roared in and beat me to the bathroom. They were three deep and out the door. I did manage to buy my usual coffee drink and a cookie however. Then I crawled on, envying the speed of the motorcyclists when they roared by. At the CS, I talked to several of them. They were going to Augusta to gamble the day away at a casino there.


Some of the bikers who were headed for Augusta

I crossed Muddy Creek twice and took a photo each time. The second time I crossed it, hundreds of swallows circled me alarmed at the half dead greyhair on a bike on their bridge. Which reminds me, I passed a field of horses. They stared and stared and then took off in fright. I've seen cattle do this but never horses which usually come right up to the fence to get a better look, more curious than anything. Do I look that scary?



Muddy Creek

Muddy Creek and Swallows

Farming country here, many fields already tall with winter wheat, but some, like the one below, newly plowed and ready for planting . . . or perhaps already planted. Kansas is also noted for its two-story farm and family houses. It gets more snow and cold weather than OK with its predominately single-story houses. Maybe the soil allows for basements, also, which OK clay soil does not.

I took a right in Augusta following Hwy 77 which here turns to a high-speed four lane, so I opted for old Hwy 81/54 into El Dorado. Stopped at a tiny CS miles later to use the restroom and to sit a bit. As the proprietor had no chairs, he rolled out his plush desk chair from behind the counter and I sat in it drinking ice water and acting to all who entered like a Walmart Greeter. Must have sat there for half an hour or more before finding the strength to tackle the last 14 miles.

Huh?

I crawled into El Dorado at 2:30 p.m.--six and a half hours after leaving Winfield!

The Stardust Motel where I am staying is a ratty little motel run by a very nice East Indian family. However, the aluminum outer door to my room had no glass in the bottom panel, was warped, and held closed with a big chunk of concrete. I asked the son to please remove the door as it seemed to invite a break-in and I did not want to hear it creaking open and closed all night. That he did under my tutelage as he confessed that he had no idea how to remove a door. I am feeling very secure behind my hollow-core door at the mo. Ha. The curtains are safety-pinned closed. Guess a cheap room is a cheap room.

After I hit the room and flung myself on the bed for a brief nap, I walked to Dillons, a nearby grocery and bought myself an orange-pork rice bowl at their elaborate deli. Also bought a tub of rice pudding for tomorrow's breakfast. The grocery was within sight of the motel and on the other side of a park. I ate my rice bowl while sitting at one of the park's picnic tables watching a family play on the playground equipment. 

Seafood floral? Is this a new fusion cusine?

I have 11 more miles tomorrow than I did today and the north wind is supposed to be just as strong, so I am planning on leaving at first light before it gets too bad. Tune in tomorrow to see how Day #2 goes. Must admit that I am not looking forward to it. Monday the wind is supposed to shift to the south. You will probably hear me cheering in your respective cities.