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| Days 29-30-31
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Will be leaving the Dakotas tomorrow.
Although the farmlands have been beautiful, the repetition of field after field is starting to wear me down.
Also the sun is blazing hot and the winds have been in my face for the past few days. Maybe Nebraska will offer a change, but I suspect not.
Listen to me complaining! 10 days ago I was freezing in Canada, and complaining that there were too many trees, now I'd like a little shade.
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Dakota landscape |
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 Typical small town |
Sadly, all the small farm towns that we've been going through look like they are slowly dying, with most of the stores shuttered. I think everyone drives out to the Interstate to go to Wal-Mart. Sorry to see them go as they represent an ideal of American life.
This did not seem to be true in western Canada where the towns were small but the joint was jumping. Wonder why the difference.
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Farmers think that old broken farm equipment makes for great rural art... they're right.
Also every dinky town has a museum (heritage center). Mostly old farm equipment that they dragged in from the field, 'cause it didn't make good art.
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Farm equipment sculpture in the field |
| For the last 4 days the wind has been blowing in my face making progress tediously slow and tiresome. No sign that the southeast winds will change any time soon so I'm considering a backwards day.... Drive to the next destination and bike the route back to the start, have Marj pick me up and drive to the destination. Sounds crazy, no? But the wind is sapping my energy and pissing me off.
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Lots of farm equipment on the road today. I tried to draft behind them, but they were too fast for me. Pretty sad to be blown away by a tractor.
A word about road kill:
Since the Dakotas, the frequency of road kill has increased exponentially. In northern Canada it was infrequent but LARGE. Bison, moose, mountain goat, and rarely a bear. Here it's small but plentiful. Woodchucks, skunks, rabbits, possums, and lots of birds.
There is something rotting in the road every 200 yards. Today there were a million small frogs roasting on the asphalt.
(Sorry - no pictures)
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Me trying to race the tractor |
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The cows have remained as friendly and as curious as ever:
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"Where you going?"
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"Key West"
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"Hold on... I'll get my suit. Can we stay at the Holiday Inn?"
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Evening activity - checking the maps and drinking wine |
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Days 32-33-34
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Endless road in Neb. (John is the spot) |
Notice that the days between blogs are getting longer.
This is because there has been little new that has happened.
ND, SD, Neb. are becoming one big blur of corn and wheat fields. The last two days have been over 100 degrees and the wind has continued to be unfavorable, UNTIL TODAY....
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Kansas - finally |
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Grace, Dan and me |
...in Kansas, when we finally got tail winds and zipped into
Manhattan KS (the little apple), where we will meet my sister and Br.-in-law, Grace and Dan from Boulder CO.
I always loved biking in KS
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We crossed the Republican River in Clay Center. It was quite shallow and not too swift... hmmm. The welcome sign to Beloit, KS said "Beloit-Vision with Values".
It used to say "Cow dung capital of Kansas", then one of the city fathers got an MBA.
We are seeing more trees, so occasional shade and we see more people who continue to be friendly and polite. I'm amazed that nobody beeps at us, even when I slowed traffic in Clay Center. Manhattan, KS is a big college town so I visited the bike store for some supplies. There is no better shop than a good bike or outdoor store. Campmor is my favorite.
Grace and Dan drove in and we had dinner under a large tree. Hot but breezy. We gabbed until dark. Nice time. Don't see my sisters that often, so I guess it might that another bike trip to get everyone out.
We will be going through Topeka tomorrow. If you’re ever there check out the state capitol, especially the mural by John Steuart Curry, featuring the abolitionist, John Brown.
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Some change of plans. We are to forego our day off in K.C. so we will have the extra day in Nashville, where my sis-in-law, Kathie and husband Rory will be joining as RVers for the rest of the journey. Knowing Kathie the rest of the journey will be a hoot.
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The gratefully consumed mystery basket |
By the way Cookie Slade said the gift basket didn’t come from her, so if any one else set one, please let us know via the dedications. Or we could have picked up a gift basket meant for some newly weds in Kenmare ND! It’s all gone so no returns.
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Day 36 - 40 >>> |
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