The Wind And The Open Road

April 28, 2025

Meade, Kansas

Part One: The Weather

"You know you're in Kansas when the wind tells you stories." -Unknown

"The wind, the wind / How have I sinned / To deserve such wind / when my tour just beginned? - G-2

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The supposed thunderstorm with hail as big as cowpies never materialized last night. In fact, there was no thunderstorm at all. Chalk up another tally for the weather forecasters, who fooled me once again.

I did wake up to a nice fourth floor view of a hazy sunrise though. I also woke up to another weather warning. This time the forecasters were predictin' 15 to 25 mile per hour winds from the southwest, with gusts up to 40 m.p.h.

Initially, I went into a mini-panic because my direction of travel today is south and west and I had forty miles to cover, which would be 10 miles longer than any of my cold and snowy rides in Minnesota so far this year. I wasn't sure if I'd be up to doing it in such winds. I almost decided to stay put in Dodge City for another day. But then I came to my senses. I looked out the window again and it seemed nice and calm out there. There was no doubt in my mind that the weather men were messin' with me AGAIN.

"I'll show them," I thought. "I'm gonna pack up and I'm gonna get outta Dodge." (I've been waiting three months to use that phrase.) And so I did. Seriously, I needed to get out of tourist mode and into adventure mode.

I easily cruised eastward on Wyatt Earp Avenue for three blocks. As soon as I turned south, the truth that the weathermen weren't lying this time struck me straight in the face. I can't say I wasn't warned about Kansas winds, but I sure didn't expect to have to deal with them on the very first day.

I stopped at a convenience store to psych myself up. "Dude, you're just goin' to have to accept that this could be a miserable all-day ride and make the best of it. Put your head down and pedal one foot in front of the other. You can curse the wind all you want if that will make you feel better."

I guess I did a pretty good job with putting a can-do attitude in my head. While I did do a little bit of swearing, I was never demoralized. The scenery was too good to get demoralized. And I don't know for sure, but it seemed like the wind was on the lower side of the 15-25 m.p.h. prediction.

At least all that wind didn't go to waste. I saw thousands of these things.

Part Two: Wide Open Spaces

I love wide open spaces more than most people, I think. It makes me sad when I see a lot of bike tourin' bloggers writin' about how the Great Plains are boring and harsh, and they can't wait to get out of there. Maybe that's why I haven't seen a bike tourist yet--and probably won't see one over the next couple weeks.

It's beautiful to me. Is it beautiful to you?

I was surprised to see that some of the wide open spaces were taken up my vast fields of green. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this crop is food for cows. I'm going to go even further out and guess it's alfalfa.

When you are bike trippin' through wide open spaces, there aren't many good places to relieve your aching bladder. I was happy to find this brush for a little privacy.

That's me, ridin' through wide open spaces.

Part Three: Cows

To be honest, I was disappointed in how few cows I saw today. I thought Kansas had millions of 'em. Nevertheless, it wasn't a shut-out. Here are some pictures to prove it.

I was honored that almost every one of this group left the feeding trough to stare at me. Maybe it was the first time they've ever seen a tourist with alien-like sunglasses, orange shirt, phone camera, and leg-propelled vehicle.

I much prefer seeing cows grazing in wide open spaces.

These cows were closer a few seconds ago. They started running away as soon as I stopped and pulled out the cell phone camera.

Part Four: When I Turned Directly Southwest

After 20 miles straight south, I came to my first town--Minneola. That's where I had to make the dreaded turn. The wind was noticeably stronger, but I still had some of my head shrinking mojo left from the pep talk I gave myself at the Dodge City convenience store. "Just pedal one foot in front of the other for as long as it takes."

I thought about stronger bike tourers who routinely pedal all day. Sometimes they ride over a hundred miles for several days at a time. If they can do that, I can accomplish a measly 42 miles. If not, I'm not the tough guy I claim to be.

The route gained in elevation ever so slightly. As it did so, I noticed the landscape getting a little more deserty. And another Kansas thing that I had been warned about reared its lovely head--The Sun.

Maybe I needed another psychology session, because the afternoon sun and the 85-degrees were suddenly more concerning than the wind. I just pedaled, drank lots of water, squirted water over my head occasionally, applied more sunscreen than I usually do, and took pictures.

Before turning southwest, I had my lunch of a Clif Bar and a handful of almonds at this sign.

I started seeing more desert-like plants.

Just for fun, I took a short side trip on this dirt road.

This little fella crawled right in front of my bike. It looked like a cross between a lizard and a toad.

Part Five: I Made it to Meade

I made Meade my destination because I read its city park has free camping. I like free stuff, but I also know "free" doesn't always mean "high quality." In this case, however, it was pretty good. I got a nice spot underneath some shady view-blockers. I was able to charge my phone and laptop under a picnic shelter. My phone had enough hotspot capability to update my journal. And best of all, nobody else is camping here.

After I set up my tent, I rode into town to pick up some food and beverages. I also went back into tourist mode to check out Meade's #1 tourist attraction.

The Dalton Gang were notorious bank robbers. They often hid out at this house after committin' their crimes. The cool thing is that there was an escape tunnel from the house--just in case the law came knockin' at the door.

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Today's ride: 48 miles (77 km)
Total: 73 miles (117 km)

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