GO!

Mileage to date - 52 mi.

We started our ride this morning in Haswell, Co. Why the name? Because early maps marked the place 'Has Well'. Obviously! Wish we'd had a reservation. It's nicer than The Trails End Motel in Tribune, Ks. which is where we would be right now if it weren't for leap frogging our car. Steve said that having a car could be a disadvantage because we might be tempted to shorten our ride. I said, "Are you crazy? That is an ADVANTAGE!" ...and it is when the only motel in town is a horrible flea bag. The carpet looked like it had been spilled on, barfed on, and who knows what else. When we saw it and went to preview a room, the keys were hanging on a wall outside of an unattended office with a note that said 'PICK A ROOM - WE'LL SETTLE LATER' Not to mention the owner's son. Never mind. The whole thing was straight from a horror movie. Enough said and on down the road we go.

Today was our first real day of riding. We made it to Eads, CO (our turn-around point) in good time (18-22 mph) having begun early enough to beat the wind. Unfortunately by the time we had some refreshments, the wind grabbed us and played havoc most of the return trip. The head wind we were fighting kept our speed at between 7 and 10 mph--what a grind! When you ask the locals which way the wind will blow, they respond by saying, "you can count on wind but flip a coin for direction."

When you go crazy with "white-line fever" you can always count telephone poles!

Besides telephone poles there is endless milo.

We had to stop and meet Jack--he's over 1000 lbs! Martha wanted me to try to ride him so you can get some perspective for size--but I left my chaps at home and no self-respecting boar will let a guy with spandex shorts on his back.

Jack's harem...

...and his "little" ones. Don't you love the spare truck axle?

Meet bella and her two-day old calf. Her owner is very proud.

These are for our horse-loving granddaughters. We tried everyway to bring them to you but they wouldn't follow.

Horses are a nice change from telephone poles.

We didn't mind leaving the windy plains of eastern CO...however, we don't expect much improvement from the notorious KS weather. In fact the local weather channel is warning of severe thunderstorms and (surprise, surprise) high winds. Hopefully, tomorrow won't be an indoor day.

A well deserved chocolate shake to cap off the windy day!