More changes in the landscape today. Although no part of our route through Kansas has been completely flat the way most of Florida is, the gentle rolling hills are increasing. And today we transitioned from immense cornfields to open pasture with large numbers of cattle. All through the west most of the cattle we have seen have been black angus. I guess they command a premium: the power of marketing.
A broad storm system came through between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. last night, with enough thunder and lightning to get our attention. But it was clear by morning and today's ride was in pleasant conditions: partly cloudy and not much wind.
Stopping places are scarce along our route in this area, even though there are Interstates and large cities like Wichita not far away. Today's goal was Cassoday, which turned out to be almost a ghost town. There is one general store, where we got a good lunch. We were resigned to camping in the town park, but the store owner (pic) generously offered the use of an exercise room on the property. She has often put up touring cyclists there before. We accepted her offer with gratitude because of possible thunderstorms in the forecast. The exercise room has multiple massage/therapy tables, two comfortable chairs, A/C, and even a couple of blankets if we should need them. We spent a lazy afternoon reading and napping, then back to the general store for an excellent pizza dinner. Luxury! One more time, we find ourselves where we never expected to be, and the beneficiaries of kind strangers.
The last few days we have been in a heavily Mennonite area. We have seen several families in which the women and girls dress plainly though the men do not. In this area, they use cars and machinery. One Mennonite woman supplies the store here with baked goods, and we have a loaf of zucchini bread set aside for breakfast tomorrow.
The store's owner here has a small coop of chickens and we've seen the rooster around, so we may be up early tomorrow, waiting for the store to open at 7 o'clock.
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