Tuesday, 5/23/17

The pasture land is incredibly green and rich. They have ads on TV claiming the cows in CAlifornia are really happy. I think the cows in Kansas have one up on them. If I remember correctly this area is known as the flint rock area and is known for the richness of the pasture grass.  They don't send the cows to feedlots, because they fatten up much better on the native grasses. A  good day, mostly because of interactions with others. Stopped at a small convenience store/ grocery store/ deli/DVD rental store. I was warmly greeted and given a small plastic lizard. The owners have been giving out these lizards (cycling companions) for 25 years to cyclists riding through. They represent the lizards that are found in that area. Then the cyclists write something in a notebook about where they come from and where they are going.  That is a lot of lizards and notebooks.  So, I named my lizard "Liz" and placed it in a place of honor to keep me company.  Really nice couple who welcomed me wholeheartedly. So, even though I am cycling by myself, I often use the pronoun "we" because of the connection to the bike. Now I have even more reason to use "we". There is me, the bike and Liz(ard) the cycling companion. Later I stopped in another convenience store and started up a conversation with a farmer who was hauling "prairie" hay.  We talked about crops, planting, the weather, Kansas, natural disasters, etc.  It was fun.  Then  met a cyclist going the other way.  Dave from Fort Wayne Indiana.  Turned out he used to drive a truck that made deliveries to Casper, Wyoming.  Small world. We exchanged cycling and life stories for 10 minutes and then went our separate ways.  A good connection.
       Tonight I am staying with Rick at his house in Chanute, KS.  He is retiring in a couple of days, after being an art teacher for 36 years.  We have had a lot to talk about. He has two dogs. The miniature schnauzer took a liking to me right away. He jumped into my lap and we have been connected ever since.  On a walk with the dogs, I got the answer to a mystery.  There was a pile of poop on the path that looked really familiar. Rick told me it was from a racoon. I had been spotting this same "pile" along the edge of the road for miles. At first I thought it was maybe people stopping their cars to let their dogs relieve themselves. But it showed up every few miles, .so that didn't make sense.  Now I know. Raccoons. Chanute was a great stop. Good conversation. Home cooked meal. Use of a washing machine for the first time in 10 days. Dog companionship. I feel refreshed. Road kill report - 1 turtle,sorry to say. Wildlife sighting - one racoon. I had stopped to drink some water and think about the route for the rest of the day. About ten feet from me a racoon poked his head out of the tall grass. He looked at me, waited for a couple of seconds and then slid back from where he came. I feel good. Til next time

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