July 28, Flies, Flies and BITING Flies

After a very relaxing night listening to multiple trains going by, Jeff was up and getting out pretty early. We had discovered that we actually changed time zones yesterday, and that has our schedule kind of screwed up. It is an hour later than we think it is.... So, he still made it out in time for the sunrise, although when I looked out the window, it was simply amazing! There had been some cloud cover most of the night. I know, as I like to look up at the stars, and out here you can see them ALL. Except when there is cloud cover. And the other thing that we listened to much of the night were the coyotes! I thought we had some interesting sounds from them at Robson Ranch, but they were in rare form last night on the High Plains!

So I titled today's blog Flies Flies and BITING Flies for a very good reason. I have never seen the sheer number of flies that get in the coach and just land on you and BITE. It has been building for a couple of days, but today, I took the dogs out while parked on the dirt next to the road. I have to take my ball cap (the one I got in Costa Rica with my best friend Mickie Dye!) just to swish at the flies. Not only on me, but on the dogs. When I turned around to go back to the coach, I noticed there must have been 100 of them sitting on the side wall. I mean, what is it about the coach that attracts them? We have to hurry in and out of the door, and even then we are killing flies for a long time. We have 2 fly swatters, and they are both in action many times! I also use that high DEET Off, and although it says it works for biting flies, I'm here to tell you that they still land and bite your legs! I can't or won't spray it on the dogs, though. I just have to swish my hat at them. I thought about taking a pic of all the flies on the coach, but didn't figure the flies would actually show up.

So today was more of the same. Several small towns along the railroad, and miles and miles of farm land. Dry, dusty, farmland. There are irrigation pivots out here, but some of the fields just seem to be dry, or hoping on rains. Speaking of rains, when it rains here, it must really be something. There are numerous creeks and such that are nothing but dry washes. I imagine that flash flooding could be a problem...

Look! Bumps!

And there is plenty of wind out here, too! Thankfully. It really helps keep this from being just miserable when it gets hot and sunny in the afternoon.

There are more of the small towns here. I pulled into one and parked at the little city park that was right on the highway. Waited for Jeff to come along, then it was my turn to get on the road and let him have a nice lunch break. So, off I go, as usual, expecting Jeff to come along and swap out after about half an hour. I try to do 2 sections of about 2 miles each. That keeps us moving down the road while he is resting. Otherwise, long rests could cost us too much time. So, I got to 2 miles. Then 2 1/2, then 3. I was considering texting him, but figured there was no guarantee he would get it in a timely manner. For all I knew, he had fallen asleep or something! Finally, after 3 1/2 miles, and about 45 minutes, here he came slowly down the road. I asked him if he got lost or something. He said actually he had gotten stuck in town. Since he usually walks through the towns and looks for interesting items to photograph, he decided to drive since I was past the town. He actually got stuck with his rear wheels off the ground when he went over a gully in the road for water run off! He had to flag down a farmer and his tractor to help extricate him from the predicament. I'm really trying not to laugh. I know he doesn't like driving the Big Beast!

Really, that thing scrapes the rear hitch at the slightest dip.
I never thought about getting stuck on one of these! I usually try
to take them at an angle too. That helps a lot.

Not sure what the reason for this mural is.
But it is CUTE! I LIKE it!

And they have a bank...

One of the things about these little towns. They all have huge grain elevators! I'm wondering if the ones that are not on the railroad line are the same way. Or if we will even find as many towns off the rail way.

Jeff didn't find much on the side of the road today, except a new friend. Thankfully these friends weren't the biting kind! I guess Jeff believes in the saying, Keep Your Friends Close, and Your Enemies Closer!

And who doesn't know what a relief that mile 26 is to a runner!?

I bet these cows are really glad to see that sign!

The Road Ahead.... the same as the road behind!

We decided to change highways in order to avoid having to use the interstate. There is a smaller highway north that looks like it will work well. So, we drove on in to Colby after Jeff finished today. There is a truck stop here, and it even has a Starbucks! Which is where I am getting all this internet stuff done. I'm not sure how much access we will have without driving to the interstate. But, for now, we are staying at the Walmart parking lot tonight. Actually, I think that will be the last Walmart for about 100 miles! But the truck stop, called The Oasis, had some interesting fake palm trees!

There were no flowers today on the side of the road, or anywhere else. But, Jeff did snag a Mailbox of the Day!