Day 13
Liberal, KS to Dodge City, KS
85 mile
We deserved an easy day today and we got what we deserved. The winds that we had battled the previous day had now turned 180 degrees and we were again pushed along with strong tailwinds. As a treat, we got a relatively late start, 8AM, as there was some concern amongst staff that we would end up at the hotel too soon to check into our rooms. For some variety, we loaded the van first, and then stopped for breakfast about a mile up the road at the Pancake House. Then we pedaled the rest of the day at 20-25 MPH speeds with very little effort, perhaps 100 watts at the most, as the wind was blowing us along at about 20 MPH. My newly lubed chain was completely silent. All I could hear was the hum of my wheels and a creak in my seat. Except for the creak, it was beautiful. The Kansas countryside was flat with farmland. The desert was gone. We had only one SAG stop today at mile 38, in front of the Dalton Gang Museum, where we all had lunch. As far as I can tell, the Dalton brothers were lawmen who went bad after not getting paid. They became prolific bank and train robbers and lived out in the open in the shadow of the authorities at this quite visible hideout, much like Osama bin Laden.
We continued heading northeast until Minneola where we then headed straight north to Dodge City. Dodge is the biggest city in these parts and this hillside mecca was visible from miles away. We were immediately greeted by El Capitan, a large bronze statue of a longhorn, commemorating the Texas cattle drives to Dodge City. We also popped into the local saloon where the barkeep served us Sarsaparilla and entertained us with his piano playing. Then after a short stop at McDonalds for fries and a shake, we were off to the hotel. There we sat in a circle and whether deservedly or not after such an easy day of riding, downed multiple beers and congratulated ourselves on our anemic accomplishment. Tomorrow we continue our traverse across Kansas to Great Bend. The forecast is for the winds to turn on us once more.
-Grinner
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| Approaching the megatropolis of Dodge City |
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| How every ride should start |
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| Darryl posing by the not so hidden Dalton Gang Hideout |
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| El Capitan, Kansas' version of Babe the Blue Ox |
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| Typical flat Kansas Farmland |
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| Our two wheeled horses hitched outside the saloon |
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| Entertainment at the saloon |
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| SAG stop for lunch |
Hey, I love the hitching post! Jean and Craig in Bemidji are virtual bikers!
ReplyDeleteLittle did you know the close relationship you have to Great Bend, Kansas, the town where you will be sleeping tonight, now the location of the huge headquarters of the Fuller Brush Company, founded by the legendary Alfred C. Fuller (The Fuller Brush Man), 1885-1973. Jennie Graves was his niece. She started the Vogue Doll Co. Your grandfather, William
ReplyDeleteRothstein, founded the Arranbee Doll Co. In 1969, two years after he passed on, his company being in financilly precarious straits, I negotiated its sale to Vogue. I met with Mr. Fuller, whose approval was necessary, when he visited the Arranbee plant in Hicksville, Long Island. I convinced him it was a good deal. The rest is history.
Your consumption of beer apres' ride is actually a fortifying feat.
ReplyDeleteRecent clinical research has demonstrated that beer and ale promote the development of muscular mass. Two control groups were recruited at Cal Tech. The first did not partake of the brew -- they remained anemic and generally boring. Most, inexplicably, became registered Republicans.
The second group was put in a closed room with a keg of Alien Pale Ale. Each rider was given the task of hoisting the keg over his/her head and holding it there for 86 seconds. Measurements were taken and the median energy required for the hoist was precisely 217 watts. The keg was then tapped. Each participant was required to down six frosty tall ones within the space of 18 minutes. Once again, each cyclist was asked to hoist the same keg over their head and hold it there for 86 seconds. This time the measurements recorded demonstrated a median expenditure of only 141 watts.
As every other factor was completely conrolled, the evidence is conclusive: Drinking beer promotes muscle growth. Not only that, the beer drinkers were now, curiously, more intelligent, charming and regular in their bowel movements.
So go for it without hesitation or shame. If beer is not available, consider the Osama Bin Laden martini. Ingredients: two shots and a splash. Cheers, The Angel