6-17-06
Start: Short of Lakin, KS
Destination: Just outside Kendall, KS
Miles: 21.5
Weather: High 80s
Isaac picked us up a little before 6:30 and we were probably hiking by 6:50. We were pokey today, though. We didn't quite make it to Lakin because of yesterday's storms, so we had to be driven back and dropped off by the "Spartans" sign. So when we came back through Lakin, we stopped for a hearty breakfast - which at the end, someone paid for and left before we had a chance to say 'thanks' - so if you're reading this - thank you for breakfast!
Then we swung into the grocery store to buy some goodies with the gift certificate Isaac got us. He really treated us like royalty while we were in Lakin. We picked up some chips, dried apricots, band-aids, hard candy, and some other little necessities. A huge thank-you goes out to Isaac and his family for the hospitality!
We got back on the road, and stopped for a break to call our friends and supporters participating in the Flambeau Fun Walk, which is our local, annual fundraiser for aplastic anemia. It sounded like everyone was having a great time. After we were done chatting, mom and I laid down for a "quick" nap that turned into 1-1/2 hours. We were on a little road off the main road surrounded by wheat as far as the eye could see for 360 degrees. The stupid biting flies finally got us up and moving again. Man, those things hurt! We might just have to find us a feather and catch us one of those flies! We'll show them!
We had a couple stop by on the road to see what we were up to. They've hiked half-way across the country and are looking to do the second half yet. It was really cool talking with them - very nice trail angels. They even gave us sodas and offered me a huge Red Delicious apple. Mmmm, I ate it a little later, and it was crisp, juicy, and sweet. Fruit tastes so good when you're hiking.
We saw 5 bikers going the same way as us with quite a load - a quick conversation in passing confirmed that they were also going coast to coast. They started in Boston, so they most likely aren't biking the ADT.
We've been thoroughly entertained by the jackrabbits in Kansas. My trivia for you all is this: How fast can a Kansan jackrabbit go? I really don't know the answer, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was around 40 mph. We'll see if I'm at all close...
We crossed into Mountain Time now, so we gained an extra hour. We're using it wisely - with sleep. And we are camped safely under an overpass. Not one of the huge ones you see on the freeways - just a little one for water run-off off the fields. The ground we're on is completely cracked and dry, so I don't think we'll have to worry about getting wet. We're completely out of sight, and anxious for precious, peaceful sleep. We even have the sound of an owl hooting in the distance. Hopefully the bird owners to the mud-nests in here don't get too upset about our trespassing - or we may have a messy tent in the mornin'.
Sorry - Comments are disabled.