June 28

Hutchinson to El Dorado

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Half-slept through the night in the church. Loading up the bike takes a long time and I eventually have a bite to eat at Daylight Donuts.

 The morning is pleasant and quiet as I meander towards Hwy 50. When I reach Burton I pull over in search of breakfast. No eggs and toast but I do meet Mrs. Janson. She and I are both on bikes and we stop to chat when our paths cross. She tells me a little about the town and the family of foxes that have been residing in a vacant building nearby. Just then, one of the foxes darts across the street. Mrs. Janson invites me to meet her husband, Jim, and I follow her to their home. Jim is gardening and he isn't surprised to see a visitor riding up his driveway. We sit and enjoy sweet tea and Jim tells of his younger days in this town- he's always lived here. Eventually, we get around to admiring Jim's 1950's 2-door Ford Fairlane. He bought it brand new in Hutchinson when he was a lad. I could have enjoyed tea and conversation with the Janson's all day but I had to say "thanks" and push on.


The town of Burton has a snow cone shack! What a world it would be if every town had a snow cone shack...

Out on hwy 50 again, I discover Overton's produce market. I buy a tomato, banana chips, grapefruit candy and a Coke. On their porch overlooking the highway I enjoy the tomato with some salt and pepper. Wow! This is a fantastic tomato!

Near this intersection a dude in a truck yard sees me fussing with my map and provides me with perfect directions to the nearest laundromat.

The laundromat has totally weird characters floating around and I hit the road ASAP. I cruise through Newton without stopping and set my sights on Potwin via route 196. This road is hilly as can be but the weather is terrific and I just keeping rolling up, down, up, down through the green grass and corn fields.

Just outside of Potwin I see a fella pushing a buggy along the highway. I think it odd that a parent would push their kid along the highway. I pull aside to talk and ask about El Dorado. His name is Nate and the buggy is for carrying camping gear. Nate has been on the road since February walking across the country. Whoa. He started in Delaware and is heading for San Francisco. I offer Nate food and water but he's got it covered. Nate says he feels wonderfully free on his trip.

Once in El Dorado I get directions to downtown from a guy driving a sandrail. In town I have a really good cup of coffee. The girl running the counter at the coffee shop says she hated her name until a customer told her that it meant something holy in an ancient language. Now she likes her name just fine.
I settle into a dirt bag motel and then I cruise to Taco Bell and then to the liquor store. I bump into two dudes who convey their most recent jail stories. One of the guys, upon release from his latest jail time, immediately drank two shots of whiskey, a six-pack of tall-boys and a 40 oz. and woke up on his front lawn unsure of how he arrived there. The shop owner seems offended that I locked up my bike in his safe and friendly town.