Welcome to Kansas.  Now imagine this for hours on end.  And there's also an added suprise...crickets.  Millions and millions of crickets that are like kamikazes and jump at you.

8/11

Said my fellow goodbyes to Travis and Nina and headed on down the road.  Just outside of town I got pulled over by the sheriff who wanted to know if I was hitchiking.  It was just after this I decided to get a bicycle.  No offense to Kansas but it is boring, and also it is far between towns.  Plus there is no where to camp, it is the most privately owned state in the U.S..  Less than 1% is publicly owned, it is just farmland for as far as the eye can see.  So I made it to the campground which was only about a 21 mile walk but I was hurting.  That almost two weeks off made a huge difference.  Travis said that evening if I wanted a ride to get a bike they would come pick me up, I said I would let them know in the morning.

8/12

Woke up and could barely walk to the bathroom.  So I texted Travis and Nina came and picked me up.  She took me to Augusta where there was a walmart.  We purchased my bike and I got a room since it was supposed to be a very bad storm later that evening.

8/13

Stayed in Augusta an extra day because of "supposed" bad storms.  I'm done watching the weather in Kansas.  They say over and over again theres going to be a storm and than theres nothing.


8/14

Headed out on my new bike.  I had dreams of competing in the tour de france as I left.  That didn't last long.  You use completely different muscles biking than walking, after 20 miles my legs were like jello.  I had to get a room at a flea bag motel, I couldnt pedal anymore.

8/15

Today is the feast of the Assumption, I rode into the neighboring town for Mass.  After Mass I left my gear behind the church and rode into Wichita to go to the Catholic store there.  Getting back I hooked mu gear back up and went to Lake Afton which is about 11 miles west of Wichita.  In the evening the storms finally hit.  The wind was so powerful it about blew me over with me inside.


8/16
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Made my way to Kingsman Ks.  Just outside of town I met a man named Larry on the side of the road as I was walking my back (I walk the bike uphill and coast downhill) and he invited me in his house for some juice and conversation.  One thing I have noticed, people are more friendly when your on a bike than just walking.  I get more waves and honking horns by passerbys.  People walking are seen as vagabonds, but people on bikes are seen as on a journey.

8/17

Made it into Pratt Ks.  Attended Mass and afterwards asked Fr. if he knew a place I could camp or if could get me in contact with the knights.  He said I could stay at the rectory with him.  He had a Baptism after Mass so I was going to go get something to eat.  On my way out I met Patrice who said she would take me to get something to eat.  She took me to her home where I met her beautiful family.  I had a great steak dinner before being driven back to the rectory.

8/18

Getting my bike legs.  I did the last 10 miles in under an hour while pulling all my junk.  Tonight I stayed in Greensburg Ks.  This town was completely leveled in 2007 by a tornado.  So every building is brand new and I guess they built it all "green".  Discovery channel did a show as they were planning and beginning to rebuild.