For the first time since Santa Fe, we started out in what promised to be inclement weather. There was a thunderstorm warning for Dodge City and we had lightning and rumbles to our south. When faced with such circumstances, we did the only sensible thing – pedalled fast. It was gray and we were spattered with a few drizzles but the storm stayed south and we slowed down. Actually, it was a nice morning to ride.
As the morning progressed, the sky cleared, the windmills disappeared and silos started popping up. These monsters showed up just about every ten miles or so as we paralled the train tracks. At first, this seemed like overkill until you think, when these were built, 10 miles was a lot farther. The game became, after passing a silo, try to guess how far the next one was. We got pretty good. They stand about 125 feet, and you can see them from at least seven miles, since that was our farthest recorded today. Did I mention Kansas was flat?
Our second stop was in the town of Kinsley, Kansas and yes they too have a claim to fame. Kinsley calls itself, and who’s to say otherwise, that they are Midway U.S.A. When in Kinsley, you are 1,561 miles from New York and 1,561 miles from San Francisco.
This day was so full of sights to see! Not to be outdone by Kinsley, Pawnee Rock, Kansas has, hold on folks, Pawnee Rock. What we found was that Pawnee Rock was just that. A big old rock in the middle of the prairie that the good people of Pawnee Rock have built a viewing platform above. Unlike on the road, this platform allows one to see silos over 20 miles away.
Our last sag was in Garfield, Kansas, a town with a big silo who’s claim to fame escapes me. This left 22 miles to go, and wouldn’t you know, we had a wind shift. It was only 10 or 12 mph, but coming in the last bit, it did seem rather unfair. But inasmuch as life was never meant to be fair, Tom G. and I lined up and put what we had left into a final push into Great Bend, Kansas. Today we crossed over 1,500 miles and have climbed 48,038 feet. And yeah, this afternoon, it felt like it. Tomorrow we have a short, 65 mile ride into McPherson, and yes, McPherson is still in Kansas. Thank you for riding along.
Greg's Big Ride 
We Kansans refer to the large structures you’re encountering as “grain elevators”–“silos” being the smaller towers that each farm has. The elevators are for grain storage. The silos have the additional duty of fermentation. However, I looked it up, and the individual towers that form the elevator are also called “silos”, so you are not wrong. BTW, if you ride through Hutchinson you will see the largest grain elevator in the world! Enjoy!
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Did you tour the Sod House? It seems to me that sod should be an outdoor thing, so I’d like to know what that is all about!
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No, I did not tour the sod house. Apparently it was a replica of a sod house with a concrete floor and a metal roof. This was enclosed in a metal building, the reason, I am guesting, is to keep from having to rebuild the attraction after every heavy rain. As you may have noted, accuracy does not get in the way of a good attraction.
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I wonder if they have to mow the sod house…
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Welcome to the month of June! Joschi and I saw Margaret at the Englewood 50K Dam run, and are anxious to hear more details about your scheduled passing through Covington Ohio!!!
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Great Bend! You’re in Barton County, where my Brower forebears homesteaded in the 1880’s. They were near Hoisington, so you will miss it if you head straight to McPherson. I’m enjoying your narrative of my home state. Have a safe ride!
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I fondly remember the grain elevators that popped up along the RR tracks. It meant a possible place to get something to eat in the local cafe. Those pics sure give a good feel for the scenery — very little! 🙂
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Pedal on.
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