Editor’s Note: A stern lecture to the independent contracting force entrusted with editorial duties this morning included a stern admonition and reminder that the number “21” comes immediately after “20.” We hope it works.

– Vic

At our lunch stop diner, Skids, in Cimarron Kansas, we met a self-described motorcycle fiend. Retired (in 1980) 20+year Topeka patrol cop, who’d ridden motorcycles since he was 13. At various times since the 1940s, he ridden an in-line 4-cyclinder Henderson, a 1949 Hydraglide, a 1937 Knucklehead, and had owned a 1980 Kawasaki 1000 capable of 130+ MPH. We could see and hear in him the continued presence of a strong strain of motorcycle rider lust.

We got to Skids just in time at high noon. By 1215 the place’s picnic style tables were teeming with local laborers, farm workers, and elderly retired folk. Skids pork tenderloin sandwiches and rough cut local fries were Yum Yum.

Observation #14: Scenic road designations along the Kansas sections of US-50 and US-56 ought to be revoked as cruel and deceptive. Oxymorons. On a uniformly flat portion of US-56, a scenic overlook sign proudly directed us to a very minor rise in the landscape from which we could enjoy a vista consisting of a huge, well laid out cattle feed lot that extended a mile in both directions parallel to US-56. Its scenic value was lost on us city boys. Perhaps it was the perfumed scent in the air? An IBP slaughterhouse and meat packing plant lay just over the horizon to the west. It was surrounded by those huge circular agricultural sprinkler contraptions whose efforts were rewarded with vigorous green growth in each watered orb.

Watched a single-engine crop dusting airplane pilot doing his thing to a farmer’s fields along US 50 flying right up to the edge of the field & US 50 at 30 feet altitude before “yanking and banking” right-turn-Clyde to continue spraying in the opposite direction. An excellentdisplay of airmanship.

Encountered intermittent showers after lunch. Once we hit I-35 northbound in Emporia, the skies turned mean really fast – thunderstorm lines along the interstate repeatedly hammered us. Later reported rates of rain on TWC were in the 3” per hour region. From our handlebar viewpoint, our forward visibility was about 100 feet, with Steve in the lead disappearing 3-4 seconds when tsunami’d by a semi-tractor trailer rig’s road water wash. Our narrow 40-50 foot split did not stop the car driving morons from abruptly splitting us. After 20 or so miles of this, we gave up our get-home-itis death wish and stopped in BETO Kansas for the night. Or at least a meal and drying out break.

At the junction of I-35 and US-75 these roads connect Burlington, Emporia, Topeka, and Ottawa. Its attractions included a sit-down diner serving cheap, locally sourced foods, a motel, and convenience store. It was good enough to attract a sizeable local family trade.

As the rain rate crested we decided to stay the night and make up the day’s 80 mile shortfall with an earlier start.

Daily Windshield Bug Smash Bingo Game winners: rained out

Query count as of the end of Day 21:

Where’re you going? – 23
What’s that? (Steve’s Valkyrie) – 9
Damsels in distress? – 9

BETO

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