Biking For Kansas Pheasant

[Bruce Day]

Last week was bike reconaissance for pheasant and quail. Heard lots of pheasant crowing and quail calls. Good habitat, lots of rain, bugs for them to eat.

Overnight stops were Goodland, Colby,Hill City( lotsa hills), Osborne, Minneapolis, Herington, Osage City, Eudora, about 500 miles.

Stopped to take a call from John Dunkle and apparently stopped by a rooster because he was disturbed and started cackling.

Lots of rain days. Had a severe storm, wet cold, 35 mph wind gusts and driving rain, pushed hard and the bunch of us made it to Nicodemus, the oldest continuous black settler community west of the Miss. Townspeople opened the exhibit hall early, brought blankets and towels from home and got some our people warm.

Couple heros in the pics, a couple parapalegics who peddle with their arms. Man in yellow jersey is 53 and cut weight from 400 to 300 in 18months after heart attack. Lots of the women are breast cancer survivors. Oldest rider was 88, youngest 9.

Minneapolis KS had interesting deal. Industry needs people, and town also needs retirees. Offering free lots in nice edge of town subdivision, builder will put up a very decent new home for about $125,000 on the lot. Low cost of living, no crime, in the heart of Kansas pheasant and quail country. great walleye and bass lake close by. Pretty town in rolling hills.

Buddy and I had pics taken by Studley KS town sign. Later that day I was looking for a town named Whipped.

Rode the whole distance, a little slow. Years ago the young women used to ask my name, now they just say "passing on your left" or worse "doing OK?".