Girard, KS

Another milestone was reached today as we crossed the state line into Kansas. We ended the ride at Girard, KS after 83 miles. The first 30 miles continued to go up and down the river valleys of the Springfield Plateau. Then after one last steep climb out of a valley, around a bend a wheat field appeared and the land flattened out. We had reached the eastern fringe of the Great Plains. Now the cycling concern will be wind direction and speed not the elevation profile. Many of the roads today were arrow straight with very little traffic. Sometimes minutes would go by without a car in either direction. We generally go about 50 miles and then find a spot for lunch like this farm implement store parking lot.

We are staying tonight in Pittsburg, KS. It is indeed named after the other Pittsburgh in PA but they dropped the "h". It once was a strip coal mining area. At the end of the ride in Girard as we were packing up the bike in the truck, we were visited by the local policeman. It turns out he watches for bikers to help them find the local park for camping. For some unknown reason the local restaurant thing in Pittsburg is fried chicken dinners. We went to a place called Barto's Idle Hour. The menu consisted of choices like one dark, one white and so forth with fixed sides of German style potato salad and cole slaw. It was good. Barto's had competition from at least Mary's and Annie's.

PS Sally: Notice the beautiful day lilies. Can anyone tell me how the lilies are coming along at church? I'm biking 15 - 20 miles most days now, mid to late morning.