Since bicycles

Okay, folks, we're now on bicycles. After an easy 20 miles into Lawrence (Heidi's mother dropped us off) we stayed with our friends CJ and Allie for a day while the rain passed over head.

After that we headed down to Lone Star Lake, 28 miles of hills away, in hopes of a relaxing night of camping. As it turnes out, the campsite closed several days before we got there. No, the state-park service did not mention that on their website. Not wanting to break the law, Heidi called the sheriff's department and asked if we could stay there anyway since we don't have any options. They said, "No" and at that time the phone service cut out. After some debate as to our next step, I mosied up to a trailer home-with a very large lawn and several picnic tables- on park land and asked if there was any place that we might camp out that night (hint hint). The man said, "No there wasn't a place to camp because the campsite was closed, but if it were him he'd try it anyway because sometimes the sheriff doesn't mind"........ 'Thanks alot', I thought. Let it be known that I will now extend hospitality to all travelers in need and who aren't dangerous. We ended up "sleeping" in one of the bathrooms at the lake. It's not as bad as it sounds. It was clean, didn't smell and it was dry. The only trouble was that every time I heard a car drive by I was afraid that it was the sheriff and he was going to kick us out. That and there were guns going off all night. I didn't sleep much that night.

Seven AM-after all of three hours of sleep-the next morning I said, "Heidi, let's just go." And we did. We started biking and 15 miles later we stopped in Overbrook, Kansas and had a great breakfast at Shirley's Corner, a wonderful little old-school diner that serves great biscuits and gravy. The waiter told us that cyclists sleep in the city park all the time, so after our nourishing breakfast (less than $10.00 for both of us) we headed off to the park, rolled the sleeping bags out in the sun and slept for about two hours. A nice way to spend the late morning. We ended up in Osage City (45 miles) and camped out behind the police department. It wasn't a bad place to be: there was a gas station next door, well groomed lawn and a grocery store accross the way.

About 11:00 am the next morning we took off for Council Grove (35 miles). There were very many hills and much gnashing of teeth (more panting then gnashing). Council Grove has a great atmosphere. I don't know what it is, but it's a nice place. The air smells sweet. We stopped for a large soda and headed to my favorite campsite so far: Council Grove Lake. Council Grove Lake has showers, and heat lamps in the shower rooms, and a nice lake. It was heavenly to shave, shower and then watch the sun set over the lake. I felt like a real person for the first time in days. We ate falafel and hummus for dinner and slept 12 hours. Thank goodness for this camp site.

Matthew