Day 39

"This Wind Blows"

Miles biked: 72

Hello from St. Francis, Kansas! While riding through the beautiful Kansas headwind, Gizmo uddered the words "this wind blows" an thus a blog headline is created. Today marked the final day of Kansikah and there is cheerfulness in the air as people plan their last presents. Claire, who is not a very big drinker got a beer bong. Nick Krug was presented with a collection of small toys and an Elvis poster. I recieved a homemade sprite hat that I remember being for sale in an antique store in Gypsum. The excitement has continued throughout the day. The end of this great Holiday means we have also reached the very end of Kansas and as beautiful as the country side can be....I believe everyone will jump for joy when they see the Colorado sign tomorrow. I think a few may even make love to the sign. Today's ride took us 35 miles north of Colby, and then 50 miles straight West. I have decided to move to Kansas and run for Governor with a promise to build a new and exciting road system.....it will be called: THE DIAGONAL ROAD....GENIUS!

Today I realized I had major sleep deprivation and stopped in every single town between Colby and St. Francis....which was 2. The first was the town of Alwood 30 miles into the ride. There was a block in the downtown that had speakers and played country music outside the buildings at all hours of the day. We stopped at a doughnut shop and were asked by everyone we saw where we were going. I don't think they get very many outsiders.

Our next stop was thanks to mother nature. About 15 miles outside of our last location we could see a large thunderstorm brewing and heading in our direction. We sat and pondered if we should try and beat the storm, or stop in the town we were currently in. Apparently God heard us, and a crack of lighting followed by an ear deafening boom crashed within a mile of us. We stopped in the town of BIRD CITY! The school mascot for the highschool was the Cougars which made no sense to me. I was thinking more along the lines of Hawks or Eagles. We sat in a Cafe to wait for the storm to pass where some old locals told me the town was named after the the famous sea Admiral....Admiral Bird.
Local: Did they teach you about Admiral Bird in school?
Me: Ummm....I don't think so

I then asked a man how big St. Francis was and he said "14".....so I asked in shock "people?" He answered back in more shock..."no 1,400 people". Trust me when I say it is believable to think there is a town with 14 people around here.

Today's conversation mostly had to do with Chiggers. Chiggers are microscopic bugs that live in the grass.....then climb on you and eat away at your flesh. While I haven't had any Chiggers, I have had plenty of bugs jump up from the grass and stick to my arm and leg hair.

Well this is it....Goodbye Kansas.....Hello Colorado and the West!