July 7 - Jeff

July 7, 2013

Congratulations to Nicki and Tom Scully celebrating their first wedding anniversary today.

We left Lander later than usual, about 7:30.  After yesterday, we got to bed late and we needed some recovery time.  Pool and shower at Lander felt good.  Pizza we ordered was great.  Really hit the spot.  Even had some left over for today for a snack.

I think yesterday took a lot out of us mentally.  And as you know, I don’t have a lot of extra, so I was at a distinct disadvantage today.  I don’t think any of us felt much like riding today, but the show must go on.   We quit after 58 miles and  ended up in a town called Nickerson.  Still in Kansas.  We are at another city park and it has showers and a water park!!!!  Temps will be about 100.  No humidity, dry heat.  So it does not feel the same as home 100.  Lots of shade and Sue bought some Shock Top.  Just going to hang out here today, get rehydrated from yesterday’s ride and get ready for tomorrow.

The ride today wasn’t too bad.  Wind  is still present, but  some of it was favorable.  Two deer crossed our path today.  A momma and her bambi.  We  also saw some cows and some hawks and a horse of course.  Along the way we found a Good Samaritan house.  Jack spotted it, old eagle eyes.  A  sign along the side of the road, “water for bicyclists”.  A godsend because the stretch of road we were on had no services whatsoever.  Water can become an issue.  Corn is getting taller the further east we go.  Even saw some hills.

Met a group of bicyclists last night at our park from New York.  Three younguns who had never really done much cycling before.  But they are doing it unsupported and it looks like they are having fun.  Their cause is for migrant workers. 

Jack got his haircut the other day in Scott City.  He was talking to the boys in the shop and somebody made the comment that it was good we were going west to east even though the wind is bad.  He said that if you are on the other side of the road (the wind comes from the South remember) riding when a stock truck comes by,  you get hit by the pee from the cows or other stock.  Now who would have ever figured that out?   So there is a silver lining in every cloud.

In our current city of Nickerson, we stopped at the Sunshine Diner.  Had coffee and blueberry pancakes.  People were really nice.  The mayor’s wife sat down and talked to us for an extended period of time.  She offers  her guest house to bicyclists.  We haven’t decided whether to take her up on her offer because it is hot, but  we do have the water park to keep us “cool”.

Nickerson is another of those places we refer to as “little pockets of the world” we are running across that most people we know will never see.  We are seeing America from the inside out.  Part of the great experience we are having.  I’ll get a little sentimental here and say that the only thing that would make everything better is if my lovely bride was here to experience it with me.

Moving on tomorrow to more parts unknown.

Jeff, Jerry, Jack, and Sue