86 miles, 4:55 riding time, 1,032 feet of ascent, 4,440 Calories
"Mr. Dillon, Mr. Dillon…"
I can still remember hearing Chester Goode (Dennis Weaver) limping quickly down the street, calling after Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) in the hit TV series Gunsmoke, fictionally set in the prototypical western town of Dodge City.
In real life, Dodge City was an important jumping off spot on the Santa Fe Trail west, the railroad nexus for the buffalo hide trade, and the trailhead for Texas longhorns driven up the Cimarron. It was where cowhands; prostitutes; saloon keepers; and misc. unsavory characters like the Dalton Gang, gathered to do business in the lawless west. Dodge City was where Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson later enforced the law; it's the home of Boot Hill. Unfortunately, the historic buildings along Front Street were torn down during a fit of urban renewal in the seventies, but the ghosts still remain.
We left Liberal at the normal time and rode east on Highway 54 for sixty miles before turning north on US 283, passing by endless horizons of wheat fields. Al started talking about "white line fever." A few days of rest and he should be OK, again.
The statue is called "el capitan," in honor of the Texas longhorns that were driven to the rail head in Dodge City, making her the queen of the cowtowns.
Rider of the day: Nancy is from Florida. She bought her first bicycle five years ago and hasn't stopped riding since. She's a former flight instructor and real estate salesperson.
I cannot believe you not only got to stand on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, but you also got to "get out of Dodge" AND follow the yellow brick road. I am so jealous!
ReplyDeleteBeach Bike Trek Update:
Inclement weather (a fine mist) prevented us from achieving our daily goal of 0.3 miles. The domestiques are delicate, and do not pedal well in mist. We are hoping for better weather tomorrow.