Day 25 Dodge City to Great Bend.

Our hotel in Dodge City was on Wyatt Earp Boulavard, so it really was like being in the 'wild west.' The alarm didn't go off this morning and we woke only 5 minutes before breakfast was due to start, but we still made it OK. The loading was at 6.45am and it was only then that Steve and Al were going to breakfast, so there was no rush. We finally got started and were 'run out of town' heading east (at least there was no posse after us!). Out on the highway the pace got right up and we were flying along and as we passed Bill he jumped on the train. The shoulder was rough and the vibration through the bike was sapping. I was glad to get to the SAG for a rest. Soon after that we got to the official halfway point of the route between San Francisco and New York, the little town of Kinsley. It is not quite our halfway point. It was a quaint little place with a farm implement museum, a 'Sod House' and a museum of American memorabilia which included a cycle that was riden by a 17 year old from New York to Kinsley, don't recall when, but it may be on the photo I took. There was also a huge locomotive that had been used on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe line but was long since retired. It was immense and the main wheels were taller than me. Can't imagine driving one of those. Various daft photos taken, some with the ladies lying on the track in front of the train like Mary Pickford in the old black & white films.
After that the southerly wind was helpful as we went onto Highway 56 which was quieter and we tended to cruise at less than the speed of sound. The scenery was still flat and the shoulder still rough. Reached the second SAG in just over an hour and by now it was hot. There were one or two 'options' again today, but didn't take them as they didn't seem too inspiring, one was a rock from which it is reputed you can see 400 million square miles of Kansas (not to mention the Brecon Beacons), well it was some figure with a 4 in it. We gave that a miss.
Got to Great Bend (so called because the Arkansas River takes a sweeping turn and shoots off towards the Mississippi), and having showered and changed went to an Applebee's to watch the Germany - Turkey semi-final. Al was pleased as Germany won, though they left it late. Set a new record today for the 'Room furthest from reception award,' just over 6 miles. Had a drink or two in the bar and tried out Heineken Dark while Steve tried to revive youthful memories on the juke-box.
Today's distance was 85.7 miles.