7.19.2006
Day 29 - 96.79 Miles
Meteorology Lessons
Dighton, KS
We woke up in Larned's city park, where a police officer had recommended we camp by a covered pavilion and duck pond. While the ducks were quiet at night and we actually slept pretty well, they were going at it in the morning...they didn't have epididymitis! Nothing new about the ride (straight, flat, hot - 120 by one thermometer, sunny, windy), but we did enjoy a new lunchtime conversation:
Guy (with tattoos, piercings, shaved head, and goatee): How you guys doin' out there?
Us (spandex, sweating): It's real hot, but not too windy.
Guy: This weather has been strange. Ain't no wind.
Us: Any chance this keeps up?
Guy (looks around, leans in, lowers voice): We got three seasons here in Kansas: F@*!ing hot and windy, F@*!ing cold and windy, and F@*!ing wet and windy.
We spent most of the afternoon avoiding the first season at the library, but then were forced to roll west when we saw a thunderstorm approaching. Dighton, another very hospitable town, let us camp near their pool and skate park. Although the sign clearly said no BMX biking, Jon read that as "tour bikes welcome," when it really meant, "You WILL fall if you ride your bike in the skate park, but at least you'll provide some entertainment for the locals."
Dighton, KS
We woke up in Larned's city park, where a police officer had recommended we camp by a covered pavilion and duck pond. While the ducks were quiet at night and we actually slept pretty well, they were going at it in the morning...they didn't have epididymitis! Nothing new about the ride (straight, flat, hot - 120 by one thermometer, sunny, windy), but we did enjoy a new lunchtime conversation:
Guy (with tattoos, piercings, shaved head, and goatee): How you guys doin' out there?
Us (spandex, sweating): It's real hot, but not too windy.
Guy: This weather has been strange. Ain't no wind.
Us: Any chance this keeps up?
Guy (looks around, leans in, lowers voice): We got three seasons here in Kansas: F@*!ing hot and windy, F@*!ing cold and windy, and F@*!ing wet and windy.
We spent most of the afternoon avoiding the first season at the library, but then were forced to roll west when we saw a thunderstorm approaching. Dighton, another very hospitable town, let us camp near their pool and skate park. Although the sign clearly said no BMX biking, Jon read that as "tour bikes welcome," when it really meant, "You WILL fall if you ride your bike in the skate park, but at least you'll provide some entertainment for the locals."
