Kansorado

 July 6

We passed into Colorado in the early morning sun on July 3.  I was, of course, excited to arrive.  I had looked over the google maps very carefully using the search term "feed" because little stinks worse or creates more roadway dischord than a loaded feedlot truck.  We had ridden through Scott County, Kansas whose main busy-ness appears to be feedlotting; to the tune of 197,000 head capacity in the vicinity of the county seat, Scott City, so I knew how bad it could get.  Anyway, there were only 2 or 3 so my fortunes were looking up.

When I expressed my pleasure at the idea, Sam reminded me that the Oglalla aquifer is what allows all that agri-business to flourish in what is otherwise a 'grass desert'.  The aquifer does not extend very far into Colorado and the feedlots don't want to be too far from the corn for economic reasons. So when the aquifer is gone, so is the corn, so is the feedlot, so is the stench.

Miles passed and the grain towers slowly faded behind us.  We moved into a very lovely, and dry, scrubby, sandy blank that I call Kansorado.  It is a super flat, sandy soiled expanse with no agriculture.  It is populated by very short shrubby plants, hares, antelope, the occasional mule deer and a very, very few hearty humans.  There was no running or standing water...anywhere. Obviously, we did not camp here either.

Today we arrived in Pueblo, population 100,000+ and it is a bit of a culture shock.  This is the largest town we've passed through by double (Newton, KS and Charlottesville, VA at 40,000).  The approach was long, but our arrival was not unnoted.  Just outside Pueblo, on the side of hwy 96 resides a Prairie dog town and we raised the curiosity of several juveniles.  Unfortunately, they would not stand for being photographed so there is no record.

We are several days off here for rest and bike work and to take time to sample the cuisine.  Early in the evening, rain moved in.  The last time either of us can recall rain was Golconda, Illinois (alot of miles ago) so it was worthy of note for us.

 In two riding days we'll be struggling up and over Hoosier Pass.  How delightful and chilly.