Getting out of Dodge

The day started perfectly when Harry delivered the phrase with flawless timing and inflection as we were about to head out from Dodge City: "Let's get the flock out of Dodge". (His version of the phrase that we have been hearing for the past few weeks).
The ride was 86 miles on a flat road lined by lots of green wheat fields. According to one of the locals we met today, harvest should be in about 3 weeks. It is a little unusual that it is not all brown at this time of year, but they had some recent rains.
We had a favorable wind, so our group (the usual 4) posted an average speed for the whole ride of 20 mph. (Any of you out there who have ridden with me know that that means it was a VERY favorable wind and a VERY flat route). Big gear all the way.

Interestingly, we hit the spot that is half-way between San Francisco and New York.
(1561 miles either way). No going back now, I guess!


Saw 2 armadillos on the route!! (No pictures, because unfortunately they were roadkill). :(
On a brighter note, we stopped for a while at Pawnee Rock State Park.

Pawnee Rock is a 50ft-high rock outcropping in the middle of the plains.(See photo below). It was an aboslutely tranquil setting with fabulous views and no noise other than the chirping birds and the gentle breeze in the trees. Because of it's location on the Santa Fe trail, there have been many notes recorded from the 1800s as folks traveled the trail for commerce. Comments on how the views in all directions showed Buffalo as far as the eye could see, and how very remarkable the rock was.

History fact: apparently it took 3 weeks to get from Missouri to here in those days (vs. a 6 hr drive now). The wagons averaged 1.5 mph.