Got some excitement last night when the tornado warning sirens start to wail.
Of course I rush to the window ... I mean if one is going to take me out I at least want to see it first.
A big thunderstorm had come through just north of Abilene. We're surfing around for information listening for the roar of a freight train that would signal running for the bath tub for cover. Word of a touchdown due west of Abilene and heading East ... Everyone on the top floor of the hotel came to the lobby. People came in off the roads to wait out the storm - it was blowing hard, pounding rain and lightening was popping. Very exciting.
Then it passed. And I went to sleep.
Gorgeous and very fun ride today. 108 miles and we finally broke out of flat farm lands into rolling hills that turned into the Flint Hills, the largest remaining preserved tall grass prairie. It was beautiful, emerald green rolling hills and valleys, wildflowers. Locusts sang from the trees so loudly we couldn't believe the sound came from insects. Check out the National Geographic spread and photos
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2007/04/tallgrass-prairie/klinkenborg-text.html
Cattle rule here - acres dining on beautiful tall prairie grass - a very different site than the cattle stuffed in feedlots near Dodge destined for Big Macs. Here people take pride in their animals and have their name on the farm with Hereford breeders on a sign in the front.
The rolling hills - so fun to ride as you fly down a hill and try to keep up momentum to reach the top of the next roller with minimal effort - becomes a game and it's own rhythm.
As the rollers became actual hills that required buckling down into climbs. the terrain became more rugged, more green (an unbelievable emerald green of healthy vibrant grass), less cattle, more open prairie. It was exquisite. Totally recommend anyone take a trip to this area. Who could think grass could be so beautiful? It's such a shame it's gone now. You can imagine the buffalo and prairie critters running amuck. It just looks like bounty. You can see why settlers were so eager to plow it under and plant but if you've read Tim Egan's The Worst Hard Time (you should) you know that the green prairie grass and ecosystem can't sustain the rigors of agriculture easily (i.e. dust bowl). As I rode through here I also kept thinking of Willa Cather's My Antonia which I'd not like to go back and read again.
We passed through many small towns decorated for Independence Day. Flags hung from the light posts of 4 block main street in White City. Bunting from the town Gazebo in Dwight was set up ready to host the afternoons celebration. We stopped in Eskridge at their main park where there were picnics, 3 legged races and other games for the kids and local folks on a squealing speaker singing from the gazebo. Bob looked over at Hans from Switzerland and said "see Hans. This is what 4th of July is about. Community and family getting together to celebrate for a day."
Goodbye 2015, Hello 2016!!
9 years ago
