Mile 91.5 Total 1995.02 Daily Avg 66.50
Avg Speed 14.5 Max Speed 22.4 Alt Climb 1627
Today we encountered the harvest crews. Their caravans of tractor trailers carrying huge John Deere harvesters and combines followed by, the 18 wheel tractor trailer grain haulers, pickup trucks and mobile homes come barreling Hwy 96 at break neck speed heading to their next field for harvest. Hwy 96 is a one lane in each direction, straight as an arrow, from Rush Center to Pueblo, Co, about 300 miles with a 65 mph speed limit. We will spend 4 days on this road. The caravans come barreling down on you with their wide loads and never take the foot off the gas. Look out they have work to do . It keeps us on the edge of our seats. We are also at he edge of our seats because it is the only place that does not hurt at this point.
Pedaling along today with absolutely nothing on my mind I realized there is one thing missing in this part of the country, roadkill. Traveling through VA, KY and MO I saw more wildlife, raccoons, snakes, opossum, and God knows how may turtles, dead on the side of the road. Missouri had the interesting site of armadillos. Kansas with the flat land, absence of trees and water no such critters exist. Maybe the critters just obey those signs telling us when there is a deer crossing and make it safely across.
Pulling into Scott City Kelly spotted some young girls selling lemonade on the side of the road. Having had her own stand as a young girl she was honored to stop and purchase a cup. Later that afternoon we were swimming at the town pool and the two little girls recognized Kelly as we were swimming. Kelly was glad she had stopped and amazed the girls recognized her without her helmet and sunglasses.
Again, we camped in the city park. Joining us tonight are Joe, who we met a week ago in Marshfield, Nick from CT, and Stuart, from Scotland. Nick and Stuart we met last Saturday at a Lutheran Church and camped next to each other in Cassoday. We all got together and headed to the local Chinese buffet. Little did they know what was about to hit them. Nick and Joe put on quite an eating display. Nick with his past experience with Chinese buffets after hiking the Appalachian trail in 2009 clearly out did everyone. Andy a eastbound cyclist joined us and was glad to have the company.
Old Kansas stone Bank
Kansas farmland
Harvester Convoy
What we see as they buzz past
Chinese feast clockwise Kelly, Nick, Stuart, Joe
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