July 1, 2001.
Larned to Ness City, Kansas. (66 mi.) Mile 2040
"Straight
as a string"
It turns out that the Larned city
park is on the Saturday night cruising circuit, and we had forgotten what day
of the week it was. After a few hours of revving vehicles and motorcycles
cruising past our campsite, we got up in the dark and moved our tent behind a
building where it was less conspicuous and quieter. Once we did this, we had a
good night.
Leaving
Larned: we started early in the morning to beat the heat
On the way out of town, we were
distracted by Fort Larned, the original Army outpost built in 1858 to provide
protection for commerce traffic along the Sante Fe Trail. We immersed
ourselves in the history books in the gift shop and watched a skilled
blacksmith using the original coal forge and bellows to make ironworks. It was
late and getting hot by the time we hit the road again.
The Fort Larned
complex was built of local sandstone. This soft stone has proven irresistible
to those who have carved their names in it since the fort was built.
We are now getting to the part of
Kansas where the route becomes "straight as a string". Shade and
services are scarce, and the wind can really pick up. It seems that we always
meet eastbounders under these conditions, but it is worth it to stop and share
stories and advice with cyclists who have just come from where we are going.
1) 
2) 
1) We stop to catch up on TransAm
news with eastbounders from Connecticut
2) Sandstone fence posts, weighing
between 250-450 lbs each, were used in the late 1800s where wood was scarce.
Miles of fence using these posts are still evident along our route.
After more delays, it was getting
to be the hottest part of the day, up into the 90s. After miles of riding over
smooth but hot new asphalt, we were parched and looking for something cold. We
stopped and peered into the convenience store in Bazine, but it was closed. Then from across the street, we
heard someone calling to us, "We have snow cones and homemade ice cream
over here!!" Wow!! It was the Bazine High school (student body of 36)
cheerleaders with a fireworks and refreshment stand, trying to earn money for
new uniforms. Unable to decide between a snow cone and ice cream, I had both,
and the combination was just what I needed to get me into Ness City.
Firecrackers at
the Bazine High School cheerleaders' fireworks stand, which also sells snow
cones and the best homemade ice cream.
Tomorrow we arrive in
Scott City where I am looking forward to meeting some cousins I have not met
yet, and seeing where my grandfather was raised.
