Larned, KS

Three days have passed since we had a good situation for computer use. We left Eads, CO on Sunday morning after saying hello to David and three young men he had breakfast with. They were going west, so the information about Gillian was exchanged. We headed out as they got their trays of pancakes, etc. Needless to say, David did eventually catch us as we had stopped to take a breather and have some peanut butter at a truck stop which was not opened yet, but did have a picnic table under a carport.

We set out together, but Bob and I stopped soon after that to fill our water bottles at a park that had a pump. David kept on, and was shocked when we caught up with him at the Kansas border. We took the obligatory pictures at the Welcome to Kansas sign, and then he said, "You two go ahead of me. If you pass me, I'll be heartbroken!" We had a bit of a tail wind, and it wasn't yet quite so hot; we were feeling good. He told us later, "You were going 23 miles an hour!" A bit much for his twenty-something head to wrap around, I guess.

We stopped that night in Leoti, KS, but he was traveling on. We don't expect to see him again, but apparently he is spreading the word. The next morning in Scott City after we had a great breakfast, we stopped to talk to John who was headed west. He said, "Oh, the couple on the tandem. I heard you can get that thing up to 23 miles an hour." He had met David.

Our next night was spent in Ness City. Ness City is the home of the "Skyscraper of the Plains." It's a three (that's right, count 'em three) story building that was once a bank and now houses Kansas Mercantile where you can buy all sorts of "Kansas products." Since we don't plan to add to our total weight, we skipped the souvenir fest but we did get some pictures.

The highlight of our stay in Ness City was definitely our motel suite. We pulled up to the Derrick Inn. That area has some oil-drilling. Apparently, the Derrick Inn is where you stay if you're an itinerant roughneck working there temporarily. The company pays for a room, so all of the rooms were full (or so the Vietnamese owner told us) except for a suite. It was a little "spendy," as our friends in the Northwest would say, but the laughs made it worth it.

We dubbed it "The Ratpack Suite." We had a room with a wet bar, pullout sofabed, tv and table and chairs. It was decorated in early-80s foil wallpaper (dark gold, of course to match the dark wood). The next room had a king-sized bed, dresser, desk and oddly, a platform rocking chair. The bathroom was as big as our dining room back home, containing a double vanity sink, glass-enclosed shower stall and a four-person jacuzzi tub. Every time we opened the door, we expected to see Frank and Dino sitting at the bar pouring us martinis.

Right before we checked in, we met Jerry and Peggy, a couple from California who were heading west. We made plans to meet for dinner, exchanged cell phone numbers and got settled. After a swim in the lobby pool, a dip in the hot tub and some rest in air-conditioned comfort, we headed to The Cactus Club for dinner. It was a great meal with actual choices on the menu. (Prior to the Cactus Club, five of our previous seven meals had been in convenience stores!) I was able to have a glass of red wine with dinner. It wasn't even half bad, once the chill wore off.

We had a great conversation with Peggy and Jerry, comparing notes about the route, etc. They are both retired, married two years, and doing the TransAm to fulfill one of Jerry's long-time dreams. It was wonderful to have some company and tell some stories. Every time that happens, we hearken back to 2006 and miss Chris, Roger and Rick even more.

Some random thoughts so far:

Things we miss: cities and the choices they give you, especially concerning food; family and friends, back home and all over the place; hills!

Things we don't miss: noise at night - Kansas is an early-rising state, even if you're a roughneck drilling oil; McMansion developments: we've traveled 340 miles without seeing one; drivers who aren't used to seeing bikes on the road and accommodating them - people have been incredibly polite and patient on the highways; billboards - haven't seen one yet; McDonald's - haven't seen one yet.

We've watched the land turn from brown to green, and yes, there are wheat fields and they're waving. The people have been incredibly friendly and we've had so many good conversations in truck stops, convenience stores, restaurants and on the street.

We made our first turn today in over 300 miles.