Rob got up at 3:30 and hit the road by 4 again….I woke up, briefly looked out the window then went back to bed 🙂 It did storm some last night, but not not as bad as they were calling for. I slept in till 6am this morning—felt great. Going to find something to eat before leaving town—this is a B&B but I don’t think they actually serve breakfast. Have about 60 Miles once I leave here before the first town with services. 65 degrees now and cloudy…still calling for rain until 10, but looks good at the moment.
Stopped at the Sunshine cafe in town for breakfast…sausage, eggs, hash browns, oatmeal, toast, coffee and orange juice. I think that’ll hold me for the first 60 Miles to the next town 🙂
Made it to Larned about 1:20….not much to report on the way here. Just a straight line West a lot of wheat and corn fields and a lot of wind. Been overcast all day with the temp in the low 80s, which was nice. The wind has been blowing pretty strong today coming out of the Northwest now. So instead of hitting me on the left side of my face like the previous few days, now it’s on the right side 🙂
There are huge grain silos on either side of town when you come into Larned….I could see the town from about 8 miles out. It was a long ride to lunch this morning, but having a Ruben sandwich with sauerkraut and ice tea at Mabel’s Cafe In town. Going to eat and rest for a few minutes before heading out for another 30 or so miles to Rush Center where I’ll spend the night….I think in another city park.
As I was eating lunch in Mable’s I saw a sign on a window across the street that read ice cream and fruit cups. So, went there for desert. For ice cream you had your choice of chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry. I had a strawberry cone. The fruit cups were sliced watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, and cucumber. They had stuff you could pour over the top of it that I didn’t recognize, but I know one of them was hot sauce. I got a cup, but didn’t put anything on it. Got the feeling this may be a Mexican type thing—-was good.
Hit the road again at 2:45 to do the last 30 miles to Rush Center, KS.
Noticed that I’ve been climbing all day….just gradual but noticeable. Over 2k altitude again. This gradual climb will likely continue to Colorado….then it’ll get serious 🙂 Looking forward to the Mountain air, cooler temps, and low to no humidity.
Stopped at the Santa Fe Trail center on the way out of town and picked up a couple postcard. Met a couple guys from Australia heading east—nice guys.
It’s strange to see all the gravel country roads around here called Avenues. I took a pic of 210th Ave…..I think 211th was only 8 Miles down the road 🙂
20 miles from Rush Center I turned and headed north….this is when the wind got really serious. Now instead of a side wind it was a full on headwind and a strong one. The head wind combined with the gradual climb combined with crazy 18-wheeler drivers doing 90mph and not moving over when they pass made the last 20 miles a challenge to say the least.
Made it to Rush Center around 7pm. The only thing in town is a liquor store and a bar that serves food. Had two BLT sandwiches in the bar and am camping in the city park tonight which is really just a field by the bar. I think this is a town that is open during the crop harvest season to cater to the farm workers then it closes down until next year.
Chicago may be the Windy City, but Kansas is certainly the windy state. A hard 90+ miles today and based on the weather forecast may be another tough one tomorrow—no warm soft beds tonight—just a tent in a field called a park, by a bar in Rush Center, KS
Still feeling strong although the wind did beat me up a little today.
