On Our Way to Topeka, Kansas
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On Our Way to Topeka, Kansas
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Today we headed North from Wichita towards Topeka. Taking lead today on her brand spanking new bike was support driver extraordinaire, Trisha, who is shown here all smiles and determination.
We all line up ready to roll. Joe, a little concerned with Trisha's fresh set of legs, secretly lets all the air out of her tires so as not to make him look as slow as he really is. Bill is too busy trying to look good for the camera to even notice.
We set off with a smooth road, in hot, sunny conditions and the wind at our back! Trisha immediately soars out to a half-tire lead on our dynamic duo. Her legs pumping at an unprecedented 180 rpm's, Joe attempts (unsuccessfully) to instruct Trisha on how to change gears. After failing in this effort, Trisha takes a two bike lead over the huffing and puffing duo.
We crest, yet another long hill, not in the least concerned with conserving energy for the long haul. Joe sneaks into the lead as Trisha discovers the necessity of having air in her tires. She finally pulls over after covering a little over 7 miles! But she quickly informs us that 7 miles in reality is actually 49 miles in dog miles! Joe and Bill have a lot of riding to do to catch up to that mark!
Bill attempts to pass Joe on the downhill, but Joe runs him off the road and into a stop sign. Bill cries foul and vows revenge. Joe smirks and tells Bill to shake a leg, so we can continue.
The old professor pulls another nasty trick by towing himself up the hill by latching onto Bill's shirt. Bill tries to wiggle himself free, but Joe convinces Bill that he's using an old method of towing called "The Shirt Draft", a term that Bill now refers to as the "SHAFT".
Finally, it's time to stop for lunch and we pull over in the small town of Hamilton, KS. Here Bill introduces to Joe the concept of a tailgate party as we eat under a shade tree in front of the Stockyard Cafe. The fine folks here graciously offer us ice for our coolers before we continue on our way.
With fresh ice water running through his "Liquidator" water gun veins, Joe guns Bill down in COLD WATER!! All Bill can do is turn his head and seek for shelter.
Joe goes for another round and shoots a stream of ice water 40 feet towards Bill. Lucky for Bill, Joe is a terrible shot and he hits an elderly couple who stop at the cafe for Sunday lunch.
Bill reloads and begins his assault on Joe with his Super Soaker Wal-Mart Special. It is obvious to all that Bill is a much more superior marksman than Joe, or else he just scared the water out of Joe. This act of bravery and courageousness has played out several times over the course of the 2005 ride, including a recent showdown in none other than Dodge City where both men came away with the wet head.
Here our heroes, Ampuman and Captain Inferno find a rare shade and take a short break in front of Melba's Upholstery shop.
"How many more dog-miles do we have to go, Bill?", Joe exclaims. "We ain't stopping till I can see a Starbucks Coffee Shop", Bill answers. "I want my A&W Ice Cream Float", Joe adds. Very warm, slightly muggy, but the wind still at our backs we trudge along.
With no such Starbuck's in sight, we stop and treat ourselves to a well deserved sherbet push-up ice cream! Another water fight and we feel ready to conquer the road again.
As our crew heads back out onto the road singing an old Willie Nelson tune "On The Road Again", the Kentuckian's hillbilly nasal twang sends shivers up Joe's back allowing Bill to get the jump on this uphill climb.
Another good day as we each hit the 50 mile marker for the day. We commemorate the occasion with this photo and offering up a truce on the water fights (at least until we get back in the truck)!
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