Wind, Wide Views & Wonderful Company

I got up early this morning when my alarm went off, after a night of thunder and rain that had rumbled through while I was trying to sleep. By the time I stepped outside just before 7am, the road still showed signs of the earlier rain, but the sky looked clear. The forecast promised heat rather than more rain, so I figured I better get going before it got too hot.

I started out on Highway 54—the one road I’d be on all day. Over 30 miles, straight ahead. I settled into a slow but steady pace, still working on keeping the impact on my legs low. The first 10 miles went okay. Nothing fast, nothing flashy, just steady forward motion.

Then came the hills… and the wind. Oh, the wind.

It’s wild how something invisible can feel so overpowering. Running against the wind, especially when it comes in gusts, is one of the biggest challenges out here. At times I felt like I was barely moving. When trucks passed, the force of the wind around them was enough to make my feet stumble mid-air. And though my buggy is often annoying to push, in moments like these I’m grateful for something to hold onto.

What gets to me just as much as the physical push is the sound. The wind isn’t just forceful—it’s loud. That constant roaring in your ears becomes incredibly draining. And then, every once in a while, I’d hit a spot that was completely still and quiet. Just for a few steps. The contrast was unreal. I wanted to just stop and stay in that peace. But I had miles to go, so I kept moving.

On the upside: the views were vast and spectacular. It’s so flat in places that I felt like I could see the whole Earth around me. Just wide open Kansas. The road rolled on with long, slow inclines and descents. I had to remind myself often: don’t fight the wind. Stay loose, don’t tighten up, don’t get injured. Do what’s possible and keep it gentle.

Eventually, I made it to El Dorado. First stop: groceries for tomorrow. Then I ran to the home of Marcella and Virginia, two sisters who welcomed me warmly—thanks to Donna and Ed for setting that up! We sat out front and chatted, then went to visit their longtime friend Morgan. From there, we headed to dinner with a third sister, Von. Chinese food—noodles with veggies and tofu. Mmmh. After that, we visited a fourth sister, Rachel, and her husband Steve. More good conversations, laughter, and warmth.

Back home, Virginia offered me her homemade chocolate chip cookies (yes please!), and Marcella showed me some of her beautiful handmade quilts. I could’ve stayed up talking with them for hours, but I’ve still got a blog to write, a shower to take, and a bed that’s calling my name.

Thanks for sticking with me—today was tough, but I’m okay. I’ll figure it out. See you tomorrow.