5/16/17



Toto we are not in Colorado anymore!!

It was a long day today.  I needed to do a longer ride either today or tomorrow.  It turned out to be today.  79 miles total.  I am in Leoti, Kansas.

The landscape was really variable today.  It went back to sagebrush and cactii for about 15 miles, turned  back to grass for the next fifteen, and then suddenly became waves of some grain that I couldn't identify.  It wasn't amber waves of grain, since it was young and green.  But impressive in how it went on and on and on.  The last 30 miles of so ended up being a mixture of various agriculture and crops.  

The road was really clean again today.  Road kill report  - 4 snakes, 1 cat, 1 red winged blackbird, 1 wild turkey, 1 skunk, and about 250 gnats.  200 of the gnats ended up stuck in the hair and sun screen on my arms and legs.  The other 50 ended up going down my gullet. Cleaning them out of my arms and legs was quite a chore.

Not much on the side of the road either.  One two inch paint brush, a section of stove pipe, one really neatly placed, full garbage bag, a couple of rubber tie-me-downs, and a few bottles and cans.  Not bad for such a long way.

Today brought back memories of the one finger wave.  Only men tend to do it. Instead of raising one's hand and really waving, one would leave the hand on the steering wheel and raise the index finger, in a subtle salute.  It helps me out also.  I can leave both hands on the handle bars and just raise one finger in acknowledgement, while keeping the bike solid and steady.  Lots of that going on today.

I want to compliment the Coloradans and Kansans.  They have been very accomodating and helpful. Last night in Eades I had my tent all set up in a nice spot in the city park.  A woman stopped by and let me know that there were extreme winds expected at night,and my tent would feel the full brunt of those winds where I had set it up. Back in my younger and arrogant days (last year?) I might have just ignored the advise and left the tent alone.  The woman did take some time to explain where I could be more protected by some nearby buildings AND get some free wifi since one of those buildings was the library. I did take the time to move everything.  I used the library wifi and ended up lucky to have the extra protection from the wind.  It was BLOWING.

I have been impressed by the help of those in Kansas today also.  One of the reasons I like to take these trips is it  reinforces how kind and helpful people can be. I need to get some sleep.  Til next time.

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 17, 2017 at 6:44 AM

    I am curious: how often do you get the other one finger wave? Not everyone loves bikers.

    ReplyDelete

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