Wednesday June 26:  Dodge City, Kansas to Great Bend, Kansas
Distance:  93.3 miles
Total time:  6 hours 44 minutes
Riding time:  5 hours 47 minutes

I suppose everyone's blog will begin the same way today, but I'll go ahead and say it:  This morning we got the hell out of Dodge.

Actually I was sad to say goodbye.  Dodge City was one of the few places we've stayed so far where we had time to be tourists, and where there was something to do.  But it was back to the galley oars, and we rolled out of town just after seven a.m.  The breakfast chatter had been all about doing 92 (it turned out to be over 93, but who's counting) miles with the fierce prognosticated headwind.  The great thing about low expectations is that they are easy to exceed, and exceed them we did.  In fact the Dreaded Forecast Headwind of Unwavering Fury was the Pussycat Wind of Constant Variation That Seldom Impeded and Often Assisted.  We made good time and at times were sailing along comfortably between 18 and 20 miles an hour.  I'll take that any day.

Have I mentioned the wind in this blog?  Well, since you ask, it turns out that Kansas is second in the nation in percentage of power generated by wind, at 36 percent.  Early on in the ride we saw wind turbines ahead, as we often do.  The wind farms we see usually have about 20 turbines.  The wind farm near Speareville, Kansas went on for over 10 miles and must have well over 1,000 turbines.  Magic Mark the Mechanic, who is an engineer when he isn't on cross country bike rides, said that one revolution of one turbine will power one house for one day.  This picture doesn't do justice to the wind farm near Speareville.

This shot by Jamie is at least more artistic.

Our Run in the Sun continues.  25 days of riding and we've ridden for about 20 minutes in the rain.  Again, we know that punishment awaits, but we're going to ride this horse for as long as we can.  Rain threatened for about half the ride today, and lightning was visible in front of us for a long stretch, but I never felt a drop.

Usually on long rides the goal is to minimize the stops and make good time, so we're not out on the road literally all day.  But one of today's SAG (service and gear) stops was on the grounds of Fort Larned, one of the key U.S. Army outposts that was built to protect the settlers moving along the Santa Fe Trail.  We couldn't resist, and in fact the fort is in almost pristine condition.  It still sits out on the prairie, still in the middle of nowhere, and it's hard to imagine what the troopers did besides play cards and drink bad whiskey.  Here are some shots of the perfectly preserved fort.

And here's a picture of our bikes hitched to the hitching post, with Jamie on the steps of the Officers' Quarters.

There was lone park ranger overseeing the site.  When he spotted us he sprinted over - someone to talk to!  I think he was as lonely as the former garrison, and just as desperate for company.  Maybe he'll get transferred to the Washington Monument next.

Michael pondered the virtues of crossing the country in the stagecoach, but I prefer our bicycles.  At least they have air in their tires.

The other SAG stop today was at a little museum in Kinsley.  They claim to be the halfway point between San Francisco and New York.  Maybe so, if you're driving on the Interstate.  Not for us, not yet.

This is a big week of riding for us.  Tomorrow, Thursday, we reach the halfway point of the ride in terms of time - tomorrow is the 26th out of 52 days.  On Friday we pass the halfway point in terms of miles - 1900 and something.  And on Saturday we'll cycle our 2000th mile of the journey.  Lots of milestones to keep us motivated.  Let's hope the Run in the Sun continues!