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Miles 1725 to 1810, 85 miles (plus 4 bonus miles), 280 feet of climb, max speed: 23 mph, avg speed 16 mph
A little bit different entry today. The special things that money can’t buy…
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| Gazebo in Garfield, KS |
- Ladybugs hitching a ride on my jersey (they must love the salt)
- Redwing blackbird wanting to take my helmet off my head for over a mile
- Smell of newly mowed hay
- Talking to cowboys wearing real spurs.
- Seeing churches along the road again.
- Visiting a real sod house
- Climbing around the cab of a 2-6-2 Baldwin steam locomotive.
- Gazebo in the park, old time swings, American flag flown proudly
- Towns with only tree covered dirt streets (Offerle) with immaculate small houses and no junk anywhere
- Having one of my best days but still coming in dead last by over an hour, and not caring
- Getting my picture taken with our camera shy 'Cruise Director'.
- Watching grain railcars being loaded at the elevators, rail cars being put together into a train
- Passing Mid-Point USA (half way between Atlantic and Pacific on US50)
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| Michelle, our Tour Director, and me at a SAG stop |
- Climbing Pawnee Rock, site of Indian rituals and half way marker on the Santa Fe Trail
- Taking time with the retired Dodge City Sheriff and his friend Fred, the local heating and cooling guy, before loading up for this morning's ride.
- Having a ‘daddy gene’ moment with the hotel clerk who didn’t know her shirt was unbuttoned until I said something.
- Quoting back to God what He quoted to us in the Psalms about the majesty of His creation
- Time to think about thinking, and experiencing the flood of ideas coming up out of the pavement.
This morning began with an unexpected touch. Instead of having breakfast with riders, I saw I guy by himself near the back of the diner. We struck up a conversation and discovered that Steve, his name, drove a truck that delivered parts to build and repair mobile homes. I told him that on our trip we have all noted that just like in the 60s, truck drivers have once again become the silver knights of the roadway. They were most courteous and obviously concerned about our safety. We talked about kids and he had a daughter that had just graduated and was offered a college soccer scholarship, and a son still in high school. He said he had suffered a divorce and was raising the kids alone. It was so obvious how proud (yet frustrated) he was of his kids. I told him how proud I was because first he was a cog in building the American dream, and second, stepping up to the plate with raising his kids. He deflected the praise and talked about the violent storm last night that made him stop in Dodge instead of driving home to Wichita. Eventually he asked what I did, and I mentioned I was involved with the Missile Defense Agency. What I didn’t expect was his response when I told him that this ride of ours had let me see once again the goodness in America, and that he was a prime example of what is right in this country. I told him that it was all the folks just like him that made going to work in Huntsville easy to do. While he was providing homes for the disadvantaged I was part of the team defending this country from those who wanted to destroy our way of life. He touched my life, and I touched his. Wow.
Bottom Line: I saw America today, to include God’s blessings on the amber waves of grain.
Stay strong! Can't wait to read your new book. :)
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