Day 03 - Topeka to Denver

Today was all about wind! A great northerly wind that blew us about for nearly every hour of our 550 miles, and the wind turbine farms across the plains in Kansas and Colorado. After breakfast at the Hampton Inn Topeka, we set out at 7:30am in hazy, humid conditions. Our morning ride on I-70 was fairly sleepy, with few trucks and cars on the road.

Oue second mystery stop of the trip was less than two hours away. Sorry, but it will remain a mystery for our blog readers and be known only to us. We will reveal, however, that it involved Donald Trump toilet paper. Onward west, we passed Fort Riley, spotting Chinooks and Blackhawks.

The wind picked up suddenly at this point and was quite cool. It really helped to temper the heat of the day. Clearly the plains are the ideal spot for a windmill farm. This is the Smoky Hill Wind Farm near Salinas, KS, within 20,000 acres. Over 100 land owners participate. Kansas gets over 30% of its energy from wind, with a goal to reach 50%.

This area of Kansas along I-70 West was more green and lush with agriculture than Highway 50 that we took a few years back. We saw milo crops, sunflowers, corn and soybeans. The wild sunflower is the Kansas state flower. 

A few more scenic shots of the day. 

As the day went on and we crossed into Colorado, we noticed the skyline became increasingly hazy. To the point that we could not see more than 20 miles ahead, if that. Could it be pollution, smoke or dust from the farming? 

We speculated on this until we got to Denver and the hotel. 

Smoke from the fires out West in Glacier and Oregon! Will our scenic ride be obscured tomorrow? Stay tuned...