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Wednesday, August 13, 2008, Campground, Iola, Kansas
We got to sleep in a little late this morning which was most pleasant. The rolling hills began as soon as we left the church. The mountains were nice because we got nice long downhills for a reward after trying so hard. With little downhills you don't really get a reward. However the hills are getting us stronger and are a challenge I'm sure. When we arrived in Eureka we took a break and stopped at the gas station. While I was in there I met some National Guard soldiers that were going to a funeral of an eighteen-year-old soldier who had died in the war and whose hometown was Eureka. They had to be there to hold off the protestors if there were any. With the information that there would be a funeral procession also before the funeral we all wanted to watch it. We rode our bikes to the library and waited for it to begin. People of the community were lined all along the streets with American flags. The procession included at least fifty motorcyclists riding down the street with flags and then the mourners. The kids and I wanted to watch the funeral so we left our bikes at the library parking lot and drove the car there. The ceremony had already begun by the time we arrived. Some soldiers in uniform were folding a flag that had been covering the cascat in a very precise way. When the folding was over one soldier invited everyone to refreshments but we walked back so we could get going. As we walked away we heard bagpipes playing Amazing Grace. It was a sad event. We rode again with the next town being Yates Center. There were no showers at this town either so we decided to keep riding to Iola. It was now dusk. Adriana and I waited for the others to arrive at the Iola campground at the campsite. There was no one in the office, only a sign that said for tents to be placed by the big tree so that's what we did. When they arrived Gloria began to prepare some spaghetti. There was a Wal Mart in town so everyone wanted to go, of course. By the time we got back to the campsite after our trip to Wal Mart it was 11:00 pm. Tomorrow we hope to make it to at least Pleasanton and maybe Missouri! 66 miles.