July 24- Larned to Nickerson, Kan.

If we were not to sleep out with the blackflies and cows, today was going to be 60 miles minimum, and after being beaten up by headwinds and heat on shorter rides the last two days, we were not looking forward to it. As it turned out, conditions were much better and we had a longer but easier ride. It was overcast all morning and only a slight headwind.

As we move eastward through Kansas, the scenery changes. Today we saw the first soybeans of the trip, and at a few spots the road was shaded by trees, the first time in at least 1000 miles. Another novelty was turtles on the road. We rescued three.

Although the town of Sterling is 3 miles off our route, we had planned to stay there because we had arranged for a package and a letter to be mailed there for us to pick up. But although picking up those was a success, the only motel in town is closed for renovation. So we took a long lunch break there. Our server was so impressed with the story of our adventure he brought us complimentary apple pie: energy food. We set out for the next town, Nickerson.

A couple of miles from Sterling we found a smartphone in the road, ringing when I picked it up, though I couldn't see how to answer it. We didn't want to be far away when the owner was located, and we wanted to duck the responsibility anyway, so I left it with a nearby body shop; the manager was happy to try to find the phone's owner.

We find ourselves tonight at a truly unique place. Hedrick's Animal Farm and B&B, just outside of Nickerson. The owner is a retired rodeo clown who now breeds and trains exotic animals for petting zoos and shows. Also camels, ostriches, zebras and pigs, not to be petted but raced. The farm is large and apparently well run. There are many docile animals here to pet, including camels, water buffalo, horses, yaks, zebras, and many others we didn't get a chance to see. There is a whole pasture of ostriches, and one big tom turkey who is buddies with one of the ostriches.

Our room is decorated with a giraffe theme, and the bed is canopied with palm thatch.

After seven full weeks on the road, we have logged 2323 miles, including 71 today.