Hoisington to Lindsborg, KS

64 miles. The first 35 miles were pretty easy. The temperature was cool and the humidity high. A quartering cross wind was almost a full tail wind and the terrain was almost uniformly flat.* So we rolled to our lunch stop in Geneseo. We packed our lunch but we're still glad the convenience store was open (the only open retail facility we would see all day). The owner and several folks who were obviously regular customers we're thrilled to see us. Our arrival must have been the most interesting event in a long time. The owner didn't mind that we had brought our food with us (we purchased drinks and cookies from her anyway). She told us she had always wanted to make such a journey, but first she had to buy a bike and she had heard that they cost as much as $500. We didn't have the heart to tell her she would probably need to spend a lot more than that to get something suitable for a long trip, and suggested that she go visit a bike shop.

As we were getting ready to leave the C-store it began drizzling, which continued for most of the remaining miles (27) into Lindsborg. We also lost any trace of a tail wind and we began crossing a series of creeks, so the road (Hwy 4) became rather hilly. We nevertheless finished without feeling like we were dead, which after some rides is the most positive thing you can say.

Lindsborg is several cuts above any other town we have visited so far. There is a college here, art galleries and beautiful old homes. The businesses, public areas, etc., all have a Swedish theme (apparently some Swedes founded the town). We immediately headed for the laundromat with a pile of wet clothing. While it too was Swedish-themed, they used plain old American made washers and dryers.

Our friend Tim McKee, who Steve had worked with years ago and who is also an avid cyclist, drove up from Wichita to have dinner with us. It was really nice to see him, although he declined the invitation to ride along with us for a day or two (he mumbled something about adhering to a policy of not riding in crummy weather).

*We passed the Cheyenne Bottoms wildlife refuge, the largest marsh in the U.S. that is not on the perimeter (i.e., adjoins the ocean). Betcha didn't think that distinction belonged to a place in Kansas!