Wednesday, 5/17/17

Another long ride.  I didn't start the day with that intention, but the weather reports are for some really stormy weather, so I thought I had better get as far as I could. The next two days will include some violent thunderstorms.  So, 78 miles today.  It was windy.  Very windy.  The day started with the wind coming at me directly from my left.  It was a challenge to keep the bike going straight. Then when semi-trucks went by, it made it all the more interesting. With trucks coming in my direction I would get pushed in the direction I was going, but then sucked towards the truck.  The truck would ge by so fast that I would then get hit by the crosswind and it would send me back to my original position.  At first, it was scary, but after a while I got the hang of it and just let it happen.  I had more issues with the trucks coming at me.  It was like getting hit in the face, and hit with two kinds of swirling winds at the same time.  I hung on tight.  Never did get used to that one.

No dogs today.  That made up for yesterday when I had 4 episodes with 5 dogs (two chased me at the same time).  They didn't like the wind either.

I flushed two pheasants.  That was thrilling, but frightening for a fraction of a second.

The single index-finger salute changed today.  For some reason, people either gave me the full hand wave or they lifted 4 four fingers and saluted that way.  I couldn't really take my hands off of the handlebars, so I was glad to give the four finger acknowledgment, keeping my thumb and palm on the bike.

Passed a huge cattle feedlot.  Hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands, of cows. I had heard about waste settling ponds, but had only heard about them in relation to hog operations.  This one had a gigantic waste settling pond.  Brown muck.  The smell stayed with me a while.

Yesterday I saw 2 oil pump jacks.  Just out in the field, alone pumping away.  Today there were probably 50 or so.  I didn't realize Kansas was an oil state.

I am still thinking about something I saw in Colorado.  When I passed over bridges, the signs said a few different things.  Sometimes they named a creek - always with a nature theme (like "walnut" creek) or they named a ditch - always with someone's name (like Johnson's ditch).  Lastly they were called a draw.  No names attached.  All were similar - they looked as if they could have water in them, although they didn't at the time. I will have to look up the difference when I get back.   

Feeling good about the day. Til next time.

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