July 27- Cassoday to Yates Center, Kan.

Another day with surprises.

The rooster at Cassoday General Store did indeed announce the dawn. Repeatedly.

After breakfast at our generous hostess's Cassoday General Store we set out to Eureka, only 35 miles away. Wind was NE but the first 20 miles were south, so we made good time.

Along the way we met a westbound rider named Jeffrey (pic) who was pulling a trailer with a large dog named Bailey. Bikebaileybike is their facebook and twitter handle. He allows Bailey to get out and run alongside sometimes. I'd let him run a lot instead of carrying him. He was the first rider we've seen on the road in three days.

When we reached Eureka it was only 11:30, and we had second thoughts about stopping there. The dilemma was that the next town on the route with a motel, Chanute, is another 65 miles. The temp was only in the 70's, so riding conditions were pretty good, but the contrary wind would make it a long, hard 65 miles. We did want to get further along because the weather for Sunday and Monday sounds ugly. We didn't want to quit early and then get stuck for a day or two. But we also didn't want to camp part way to Chanute with bad weather threatening. So we looked online and found that we could go 32 miles on another route toward Chanute through Yates Center, which does have a motel. In fact, they have two. It doesn't add more than a couple of miles to the prescribed route. So here we are in a nice town but one we didn't expect to visit. If we do get stuck here by the weather, at least we are 32 miles farther along than Eureka.

This part of Kansas is called the Flint Hills, and is the only remaining large section of original prarie grass. It is beautiful country, with rolling hills and lush green grass fattening up many many cattle shipped here for that purpose. If you buy grass-fed Angus beef, chances are the steer enjoyed his last good days here.

One macro measure of our progress has been time zones. Another has been baseball teams on TV. We started with the Mariners, moved on to the Rockies, and for the last few days it has been the Royals. I don't know who's next- maybe the Cardinals. Regardless, it is fun. And back home, our Rays are on a tear, leading the league now after a very poor start for the season. They seem to do best on the road- when we're on the road, that is.