To Pueblo, CO

On our way to Pueblo for a layover day we stopped in Boone to eat our peanut butter and jam sandwiches.

Spot the deer on the other side of the tracks.

To Ordway, CO.

Sign of the times? About 12 miles of automobile carriages lying dormant out on the Colorado plains waiting for the next economic boom.

Eads, CO.

The skyscrapers of the plains...grain elevators and water towers.

To Eads, CO.

Karoo? No, eastern Colorado.

Colorado

As I enter Colorado, a last note on Kansas wind. It really wasn't too bad. It blew mostly from the side or from behind. Perhaps we were just lucky. May our luck continue! You've seen how straight the Kansas roads are, well just past that next road sign there is a bend in the road! Yippee! I like Colorado already.

Goodbye Kansas

I remember how Kansas greeted us with a terrible headwind, and the wind blew every day, but today Kansas blew us into Colorado on a near perfect day for cycling. It was cool, cloudy with a little drizzle, no traffic and a tailwind.
The best part was that I could put my phone under the barbag cover and follow the live text commentary on planetrugby.com of the Springboks vs British & Irish Lions rugby game being played in Durban, South Africa. It was amazing cruising along this deserted road in Kansas and almost being able to see the flags waving and hear Kings Park echoing with cries of "BEEEAST" with the Boks on their way to victory. When it got down to extra time I couldn't keep one eye on the road any longer and had to stop and pull off the road. It was a bit naelskraap in the end! Well done Bokke!!
You gotta love modern technology.

Cattle truck

Out of Scott City this morning there was the strange sight of pro-life billboards proclaiming, 'Life is Sacred, Choose Life' while every few minutes one of these evil looking trucks came hurtling past taking another load of cattle from the many feed yards to slaughter. Some life more sacred than others? And, no, I'm not a vege. But when I tuck into that next steak I'll think twice about where it came from. It's going to take a lot of Kansas wind to get the stench of those feed yards and cattle trucks out of my nostrils.

To Tribune, KS

You know how hard the wind blows across Kansas when even the trees in the road signs are leaning over!

To Scott City, KS.

The infamous west wind blew in our faces today. Plus we had to contend with cattle trucks and a couple of huge tractors.

To Ness City, KS.

One of the many old timber railway bridges on the line heading west.

To Ness City

New York Bob enjoying the flat road. Although it seems flat, the route from east to west Kansas is a long gentle climb.

To Larned, KS.

The bizarre Kansas phenomenon of oil rigs amongst the crops. Just when you're pedaling along enjoying the fresh country air, you get a lungfull of sulphury gas and yukky oil.

Sterling, KS.

The tranquill city park where we were going to spend the night, until a severe storm and tornado warning was issued. The police organised that the grade school a couple of blocks away be opened for us to take shelter in. We did get some of the big storm but not the tornado.

To Sterling, KS.

I could be touring through the Free State! Wagons, maize, co-ops even Van Buuren St. Except there's wheat here too and the trains still run.

Buhler, KS

Hey, look who I found wondering around in Buhler, Kansas.

To Newton, Ron

Recumbent Ron cruising with the tail wind.

Casoday

We stopped at this cool store for a lunch break. This handsome rooster was keeping a beady on Tom's peanut butter sandwich.

Flint Hills

The high open prairie of the Flint Hills left no place to hide from the wind. It felt like 09 Argus all over again! This is Tom passing me while I took a break. Luckily the route turned and the wind shifted so we had a sweet 30 mile run home with the wind at our backs.