After a couple of very nice relaxing days with Diane, I was ready to get peddling on down the road. Today took me from Marysville, KS to Hiawatha, KS. I have accepted the fact that the majority of the roads traversing our country are roller roads. And once both a climbing rhythm and a descend rhythm are found, a reasonable pace can be established. But throw in a headwind about 10mph or so and all rhythms are thrown out the window. That is what happened today; 20-25 mph from the south or south-east. I arrived quite frankly pooped. The motel I selected to spend the night had a 4.5-star review with very enticing pictures. How, I’ll never know. In reality it is a 0-star motel. I only mention this so that if you’re ever staying in Hiawatha Kansas, pay the extra and stay out on US-36. The Sunflower Motel is cheaper, and you get just that.
Now for some of the thoughts from the road.
A couple days ago, I shared with you a house that I thought was more than likely a homesteader’s house that had long since been abandoned. Today I saw this house which by the looks of it, and I know you’re unable to see all around it, I believe it too was a homestead house. A brick chimney in the middle, a closed-in lean-to off to one side that sure could have been a kitchen, and outbuildings. Pretty much the same layout as the other homestead. But this one is still thriving! It has survived both the bad and the good over the years. My wonder of the day was simply I wonder what the history is of them both; one survived the years, and one did not.
After seeing many a corn field left unattended or made ready, if you look closely, there are new corn stalks about 6″ tall! As a once upon a time Jayhawker said: A knee high by the 4th of July! It was good to see miles and miles of freshly turned fields with corn popping up. It did make me wonder why corn fields in eastern Kansas is being planted and western corn fields are not. Someone mentioned that western Kansas has been in severe drought.
Crossing the Missouri River tomorrow as I head to Cameron, MO.