Chilllin in Abilene

So, we finally got a day off after nine days of cycling and what to do? Well with all this pent-up energy what could be better than cranking up the stationary bike and climbing a few artificial hills? At least there is no wind.

Actually, there was not a lot of activity today. Up at 8 - ten hours of sleep last night, nice - and down for a leisurely breakfast. Forecast calls for rain so get the bike out to the hotel hose and give it a good cleaning. The bike itself was not real dirty but the chain and sprockets needed cleaning and fresh oil - I want that chain to last the entire trip. That done the promised rain started coming and eventually turned into a real downpour. We retreated to the room, Tom to nap and me to try to organize some of my photos. This little notebook computer has been such a great idea (and thank you Susan). Even if it had not rained I really want to use this day as a recovery day and sitting at the computer is a great way to just relax and let the legs and body rest up for the next week or so. And with Skype I talk to Susan almost every night but today was able to talk to both Beth and Katherine as well. Beth and Aaron were both home and chatted with both - Sabine was down for her nap. At Katherine's house all three kids were up and active - they've become very comfortable with Skype visits - even Carolyn had a loud and clear "hi Papa" for me - and it's a great treat to talk to all of them. Jacob caught a 14 inch brook trout this morning by the way - Katherine did not seem particularly overjoyed at the prospect of cleaning it.

There are three guys on the trip whose wives joined them yesterday here in Abaline. Tom, Jim, and I joined them for dinner tonight at a place called the Farmhouse which was a favorite of Eisenhower and his wife when they were in town. We all had the fried chicken which was an old fashioned crispy delight...reminded me of the chicken my Aunt Peg made about fifty years ago.

And we came back to the hotel with heavy black clouds hanging over the horizon. I'm hoping that they keep right on moving and the sun is out in the morning. Our day off is almost over and we head for Topeka tomorrow, a 108 mile trip. The big motivator is a bakery that is marked on our cue sheets as famous throughout Kansas for their homemade pies...make mine strawberry please. And so to bed ...g'night all.