Thursday, June 26, 2003

Hutchinson, Kansas

Go to calendar

Home    Next Page      Previous Page    Photo Album

Our ride today was dedicated to the Wood Department of Ohio Willow Wood: Rick Taylor, Bill Alspaugh, Rusty Root, Harry Webb.

We rode from Dodge City to Hutchinson. To tell the truth, we portaged a couple of miles outside of Dodge City to pass the numerous feed lots. It isn't bad usually to drive past them at 65 MPH, but on a bicycle, they can go on, and on, and on...

One photo of Kansas, taken from a bridge in Kinsley, which is 1561 miles from New York City and 1561 miles from San Francisco, thus placing Kinsley firmly in the middle of the US.

After all the hours the boys put in yesterday, which means the support crew had to match them in very slow moving vehicles, we decided that today was Support Driver Appreciation Day. So we "let" Cheryl and Trish ride over 30 miles each today. Not quite a weekend at a spa, but it was the best we could do while still moving toward our goal of Jacksonville.

This photo was taken early in the day, in advance of riding those miles. They were a bit tuckered at the end of it.

But that's the AAA motto , "no pity for the slackers."

They apparently grow a LOT of hay in Kansas, because we saw it almost everywhere we went.

A lovely photo Joe took from the truck today. We aren't sure if he actually stopped the truck before he took it, as Joe has a tendency to snap off a couple of quick shots from wherever he is, no matter what he is doing. This is why the boys like Trish to back them up with the van. Every time we hear the truck behind us hitting a rumble strip, we know Joe is grabbing another slice of life from our journey.

"Alright folks, it's Couples Ride time. Grab your sweetie, put her in the saddle, and make her sweat." Ain't love grand? The couples had a great time today. The boys goofed off for their girls, who laughed and smiled, the pride showing in shining eyes. A tremendous ride for everyone.

We told you they grew a lot of hay in Kansas. We mean, it was, like, everywhere!

Joe says that the best thing about our ride to date is the fun we have with each other while riding. The smiles come naturally. The joy is shared. Life is good on the road.

And so far, we have successfully avoided the "shenanigans" Meredy was worried about us getting into. We have been very, very good. Well, pretty good, anyway. I mean, we have been silly. But never destructive. Or almost never. Mark seems to be bent on wrecking his bike, but that's because we think it is because he actually likes working on it. We don't think he sleeps with it. At least, we've never seen it, although Jim was deeply suspicious one morning when he saw a spare tire poking out from the bed sheets.

But that doesn't count as a "shenanigan", does it?

Tomorrow we are off the Wichita, where we'll be conducting a visitation on Saturday.

Return to Top of Page