Blogs from Kansas, United States, North America

Fate has its say. Over breakfast at the Days Inn I met a delightful fellow, Rick, who hails from Kansas City. Our discussion was way more interesting than the breakfast. Two cereals, fruit loops and some sort of cubes that tasted exactly like fruit loops. Rick was attracted to my data science paraphernalia, sweatshirt, laptop stickers and hat. No outreach spared. Rick had worked both in manufacturing and pharmaceuticals as a data scientist before anyone ever heard of the term. Starting there I learnt of his life’s ups and down and the joy that comes from children making their own way in the world. I had similar stories to tell. We lingered long after I should have been on the road. It was then I realized these conversations were what makes the trip. Riding is fun, ... read more

Sunday: The weather was great- 75*, sunny slight humidity and slight breeze. Copper and I drove out to Cheney lake which came highly recommended to me from a local. It was gorgeous but there wasn't much of a trail- more just walking on the road through campsites which were mostly empty on a Sunday afternoon. Also a short boardwalk over the marshy part of the lake. Unfortunately a lot of the lake edges are marsh too so you can only walk on the "beach" for a short time. Lots of sail boats out on the lake and some people fishing too. Definitely worth the 30 minute drive out of town. Monday: I was told there was great authentic Mexican food in Wichita because there's a big Mexican community here. I had seen some signs in Spanish ... read more

So everyone has asked me why I was going to Kansas for a MONTH and why Wichita? My response was "it's a days drive East and why not?" People warned me it would be boring, there's nothing here to do, it's flat, the people are awful, there's no hiking and there's nothing but fields of farmland. Well, it is very flat so there's no hiking with elevation but everything else has just not been true. (I think I've gotten lucky on the people front though). It's absolutely gorgeous in some places and it's a big enough city to have plenty to do! Remember to scroll allll the way to the bottom to see all the photos. Sunday: Went to West County Lake- about 35 minutes from town and "hiked" around the lake. Kansas may be pretty ... read more

Today we were up early as our bodies were still on home time but our clocks were on Central Time. It was easy to leave at 7:30 since we were up at 6 am. Our goal was to get to Lebanon, Kansas, the geographic center of the 48 states. According to our research we had to be there before 5 pm as it closed on Sunday at that time. We were about 8 hrs and 30 minutes away…driving hours, no stops included. The theme of this trip is loving the deive across this great country and trying to take pictures out the car window! I am in awe at the massive farming operations and the equipment. It is so interesting to be able to observe planting, harvesting, types of bales of hay, corn, corn, corn, soybean, ... read more

COMMUNITY PRIDE Winnemuccca is a bustling five brothel railroad town in north central Nevada. When you next visit there and perhaps might grow weary of drinking and carousing make your way the northwest corner of Bridge Street and 4th Avenue and gaze at the commemorative plaque outside of the First National Bank. That bank has been the source of community pride in Winnemucca since September 19, 1900 when it was robbed of $32,640 in gold by three sassy bandits who made a clean getaway with their booty. The bandits were later thought to be Harvey Logan, Will Carver, and the Sundance Kid. Butch Cassidy led the gang but was never identified as one of the robbers. Loot from Winnemucca and from the Tipton Train Robbery in Wyoming provided the funds needed for Butch and Sundance and ... read more