Day 20 (6/11/09)

Even yesterday's soaking put a frown on Jere, the Cheshire cat. We awoke to the only rain cloud in all of Kansas and none of us were anxious to get on the road. Our goal was 106 miles due east. We've been averaging a little less than 6 hours in the saddle, so we figured we could leave as late as noon and still get off the road well before sundown. We waited out the rain in the hotel's breakfast nook. There we met a young man,Greg Evans, from the U.K., who recently graduated from high school and is experiencing the U.S. on a bike before starting the University. He is already smarter than most of the blokes we've encountered. Although he is traveling solo and packing gear, he is at least spending most evenings in hotels as opposed to camping. Like the fellow we encountered the other day, Greg also has a blog that he updates with his IPhone. He has no need for solar panels, as the hotel electrical outlets work just fine. His web site is: http://www.gregstransamericacycle.co.uk/

After conversing with Greg for awhile, Tim and Jere took the support vehicle on a recon mission to determine the bredth of the rain cloud hanging over our head. They reported back that just five miles out of town the coast was clear. So, we reluctantly suited up, prepared for rain, although it had stopped by now, and headed down the road. Unlike the ride into Larner the night before, the ride out of Larner was on virtually desolate roads. Even our tried and true method of getting a car to appear out of nowhere didn't work, we could and did pee with careless abandon. At every support vehicle rendezvous, we either donned or doffed rain gear because the sky was giving us mixed signals. Ultimately, with about 2 hours left in the day, the sun came out for good and we were down to short sleeves and SPF 30. We made our 106 miles to Newton, Ks. (about 8 miles north of Wichita), which I figure is Kansas' geographic equivalent to Harrisburg; a little north of Oklahoma, and closer to Missouri than Colorado. This part of the state reminds me of Adams County or the lowlands of North and South Carolina. The land is gently rolling, the fields are outlined with tree and hedgerows, and you can't see the horizon. The humidity is increasing and there are more homes and the towns are more frequent. You definitely get the sense you are leaving the west behind and making the transition to the east. The big difference though, is the driver's are still patient and generally will give you a wide berth and won't pass unless a wide berth can be given. They actually adhere to the road signs; "Share the Road".

We are still eating anything and everything we can get our hands on. Everything tastes good except the Power Bars Jere bought in bulk before the trip. We now only use them for ballast and eat them out of sheer desperation, like when the support vehicle is delayed by fainting women in Subway or speed traps.

The theory is the prevailing wind blows from the west. We are; however, experiencing a metorological oddity, because the wind has been blowing from every quadrant of the compass rose with an easterly vector ever since we left Pueblo, Co. Yet we push on because this is our vacation and we are having fun!

P.S. No Slide show for today, there really wasn't much to look at. Although, Jere did allow me to stop and take a picture of a cow laying in some flowers. He believes we all finally lost our manhood, me for taking such a picture and he for agreeing to stop for the photo op. Tim remained neutral, but is guilty by association.