Prelude to Alaska

Ahh... Kansas

May 25, 2008
by floracycle

I fell about 75 miles short of my goal of Dodge City, Kansas due to a late start, a wrong turn and a nasty little storm cell.  I'll elaborate later.  Just letting everyone know I'm OK in Pratt, Kansas.  Meanwhile I'll upload some photos. I,ve got to hustle if I'm going to make it to Pike's Peak before nightfal.

Update:

After seven months of planning I still managed to leave about two hours late.  Everything on the bike was ready I just had a few things to do around the house that held me up.  Anyway here I am locked and loaded, ready to roll.

Listening to Tom Petty on my MP3 Player, I was excited and glad to be on the road and then came the first little mishap.  Pulling up to a stop light in Springdale I stopped in a lane next to a group of Harley's.  I could see they were eyeing my little 650 with dismay.  I tried to be cool while moving just ahead of them with cars all around us waiting for the green light.  Just as the light turned green I reached for the clutch with my head phone speaker caught on a finger.  Off its velcro perch flew my MP3 player to the asphalt, battery falling out upon impact with the asphalt.  Quickly and deftly I reached down from the very tall KLR and rescued my tunes.  I've picked up gloves and the like before but not with the 100 plus pounds of gear so as I rose up the bike was headed the other way.  She almost went down at the same time I was rolling ever so slightly into the intersection.  Fortunately I regained controll without dropping the bike.  But I did hold up traffic with my gymnastics.  About this time it dawned on me the little Harley gang had witnessed the event.  They probably didn't see the MP3 player fall just a goofy guy on a little bike he can't hold up. This wouldn't be so bad if I could have drove off and left them but one block later, another stoplight.  Through chuckles they asked if I was alright,  I said yes then just dropped my head and shook it.  Hopefully this is the worst thing that happens on this trip.  Egos do heal. 

My next little misadventure was with navigation.  While looking for a way to cut a corner out of my trip thus saving some time I found a small blacktop going the right direction.  After many twists and turns it of course turns to gravel.  Neither me or the KLR mind gravel it just isn't the type of road to make good time on.  Near the end of it I got the oportunity to see a redneck beach party.  Imagine if you will a pretty gravel lined creek with a low water concrete bridge crossing.  Now imagine 20 or so rednecks with their lawnchairs,women, children and coolers strewn about the creek.  Now imagine a number of gentlemen in varios levels of disrobe, attempting to free cars stuck in the gravel using a come along and a jeep which blocked afore mentioned low water bridge.  This went on for about ten minutes when finally the lead redneck ordered the jeep out of the way and motioned for me to pass.  I can only assume they are still trying to free those cars to this day.  I feel comfortable calling people rednecks because I am one tenth redneck on my Dad's side.  The shortcut did cut some miles but they were slow ones.

Somewhere on HWY 400 between Kingman and Cunningham, Kansas it was getting dark with a nasty storm cell approaching.  I should have taken pictures it was an awesome light show.  I was more interested in finding a motel or at least a dry spot to gear up for rain.  I found a gas station with an awning that was closing for the night.  The manager there told me of a couple who were passing through the night before, got caught in a tornado and perished.  I knew I wasn't going anywhere until I could look at radar which proved this was only a thin line of storms.  I suited up and let the storm pass.  I was stopped for less than thirty minutes.  I spent the night in Pratt at the Comfort Suites 75 mile short of my goal of Dodge City, Kansas.