We awoke at 6:00, seems to be the time that works well to be off early. The usual breakfast. Stayed at a motel last night as no camping options. The swimming pool and beds were quite nice for weary cyclists. And the Thai restaurant was a very pleasant surprise.
A quick stop for a photo of the wind turbine blade at the Lamar Depot, then off into the wind.
Lovely morning, and in Holly, CO by 9:30. We had stopped here 5 years ago on our first bike tour "The Santa Fe Trail Trek" from Santa Fe to Dodge City, following the old trade route. Then, a family who lives near the Holly train station fed 50 folks a great brunch as we enjoyed a view of the station, and a Santa Fe Trail marker in their yard. Holly was the original area that Holly Sugar Company grew sugar beets. Nearby there was a Japanese American Relocation Camp and a community started by the Salvation Army also for relocation of "landless men to menless land."
Once back on the road, the wind began as heavy as the day before and head to side wind. We were told by a local that it always blows in Kansas from the south, except today (and following days). We have tropical storm Hermine to thank. Grrr. Exhausting for us at the beginning of the trip.
On to Syracuse, past the junkyard at mile 50 where we met Bill for lunch at a local cafe, the Ramble In Restaurant, to fuel up for the 30 more miles of wind.
At mile 63, the top of a hill where the time zone changes we took a rest. A very talkative woman, Sass, came by to see if we were ok, offered to run to the nearby store for some COLD water, which we took her up on. She had met some European gentlemen walking at the same place last year, and fetched them water too. As we were talking another car pulls up and out jump Bambi and Lou, Taos friends, on their way to Levenworth to pick up an Airstream! They thought they would run into us. Wonderful to see them. Then they were off, with 200 more miles to go today. We thought they would probably reach their destination before ours, only 14 miles into the wind.
Not lots to see in this part of Colorado and Kansas.
Wearily we made our way into Lakin. Choices for overnights were the Beymer Recreation Water Park for camping. We nixed that as it was 4 miles south of town....the Ken-Ark Motel, as exciting as it sounds, or the Windy Heights Bed and Breakfast...a lovely suburban home and yard run by a very nice couple. She does the B&B work, and he raises organic livestock.
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