Day 9: Wednesday

Tm: 4:34:22
Dst: 65.07
Avg: 14.2
Mx: 34.4

Today I got a late start.  After the crazy roads and winds of the last few days I was reluctant to hop on the bike.  I went to the post office and mailed 5-1/2 lbs of stuff that I decided I don't need.  The bike feels a bit lighter!

When I did get out onto highway 7, outside Atchison, I smiled.  The wind was calm, there was almost no traffic, the road was generally straight, and there were fewer trees.  Visibility was great in all directions, so I could see cars coming and going.  This highway was perfect!  It actually reminded me of home.  Enough of Missouri's hilly, curvy, tree-enclosed roads!  Hello, Kansas!

I did get off the route a bit near Troy to get a snack there - I was hungry!  They have a nice main street in Troy.

Near Iowa Point and White Cloud there were excellent views of the river.  I stopped to see Lewis and Clark markers at White Cloud (they were the same ones I'd seen earlier on this trip) when a geocacher appeared, looking for a cache near the markers.  We chatted for a minute, and then I was on my way.  Before long I was at the Nebraska border.  So long Kansas!

I thought about stopping in Rulo for lunch, but there wasn't much to be had in that village.  So I ate a granola bar and headed west to Falls City.

Once in Falls City, NE, I ate a sandwich and checked into the motel.  Later I did a bit of sightseeing.  There isn't too much to see in Falls City.  My motel is a bit "retro," but cheap and comfortable.