Nickerson to Newton, Kan. - July 19

We again started riding as soon as it was light enough and only had 48 miles into Newton, so we arrived at about 10:30, thereby avoiding all the oppressive afternoon heat.

We're staying at the house of Damian and Marla Rowe, who I know from Eastern Mennonite University. It is wonderful, because it is one thing to not have to ride in the afternoon heat, but it is quite another to have to be in the heat at all.

Typically, we stop for the day and sit in a park under tall trees, but today we're sitting inside in the air-conditioning where I'm currently eating an oatmeal cookie with three Rowe kids and two others. I feel really relaxed.