BEBA Phase II Day 2: A New State (of mind?). Eads CO to Tribune KS with sag to Scott City. 48.2 miles

Crossing our 6th state border together!

Today we left the plains of eastern Colorado for the plains of western Kansas.  Not a lot of difference in the two except the roads in Kansas are smooth as silk.  We left the bumpy chip and seal of Colorado behind.  We had decent shoulders and very little traffic.  A comfortable cloud cover protected us from the sun.  And wind.......strong wind.  On a sailboat it would be called a beam reach and would be ideal.  On a bicycle it is better than a headwind but feels nearly similar in effort.  It's only redeeming value is that it keeps the cyclist cool on a hot day.  The winds in Kansas are relentless.  We witnessed many a dust devil develop over the fallow fields and tumble weeds tossed our way.

First stop was Sheridan Lake (after passing through the sad town of Chivington where Col Chivington ordered the massacre of peaceful Cheyenne and Arapaho people in 1864.  Seems like karma prevailed as the town is nothing but a historical marker and a dilapidated farmstead.)

Sheridan Lake has been reduced to a large puddle.  The convenience store there, however, provided coffee beverages to a group with waning energy.  

Apparently GPS is not needed here to find your friends and relatives !

We had all read about the goat head plant otherwise known as puncture weed.  Lisa now knows first hand of its ability to damage an innertube! 😕.  And (spoiler alert) Sue will find out tomorrow! 😕

The lovely and dangerous goat head plant !

The scenery and wind situation became quite monotonous after miles and miles of the same.  We were thrilled by the little things, like a turtle crossing the road

Sue saves a turtle from certain demise.

and fields of sunflowers instead of hay, corn, and sorghum.

Lisa hugs a sunflower

After nearly 50 miles of constant onslaught of wind, we decided to rack the bikes in Tribune and sag to Scott City with a stopover in Marienthal at the Heartland Mills bakery where we found cinnamon buns and pizza among other delicious things.  

Scott City, sadly looks like much of Kansas along highway 96.  Many stores and restaurants are closed.  Our lodging for the night was part hotel, part housing ministry for "those wanting to pull themselves out of a downward spiral".   With this wind, everything seems to be spiraling.