In Memory of Warmer Summers

Toronto, KS to Cassoday, KS

Friendly horn taps: 5

Rude honks: 1

Miles: 60

Total so far: 2,135

The Fall River near Eureka, KS

Camping at Cassoday City Park

My tent is a modern marvel of materials and design.  It works with an inner shell of breathable material, mostly screen mesh for ventilation and then a rain fly over top of that, designed to shed water.  The design provides for a space between the mesh and the fly, essentially keeping a minimum of material from touching the fly, as that is where leaks may start.

Now, let’s talk about spiders.  Daddy Long Legs in particular (also known as Harvestmen), which are really not spiders at all.  Although they belong to the class of arachnids, they are not really spiders for a variety of technical reasons.  Here’s what is important: 1. They eat bugs — including mosquitoes. 2. They are commonly thought of being dangerous to humans, but they are completely harmless to people.  3.  Anything that eats mosquitoes, is OK in my book when I am camping.

Every morning when I awake, there are maybe a dozen of these creatures on the mesh area of my tent, usually up high, below the rain fly, hanging out, apparently having gorged themselves all night long on the variety of bugs that try to get into my tent.  That’s good stuff.

Here’s the question I have:  How do these not-so-little guys know to flock to tents in the first place (they don’t fly, they walk), and then position themselves up high between the mesh and the fly?  I presume, like mosquitoes they may be attracted to the carbon dioxide I emit when I breathe, but is that the reason they hang out on people’s screens at their houses too?  Even when the windows are closed?

Butler County Kansas today

These are the things I ponder as I cycle across Kansas.

Stan and Margie on a 200 mile jaunt from Wichita, KS to a class reunion in Paola, KS

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Tomorrow’s ride is dedicated to Kegan Johns

Kegan Johns

Kegan Johns, Marion Illinois, was killed 8/18/2004. A night of many bad choices by two 18 year old boys went terribly wrong. My son Kegan trusted his best friend with his life. His 18 year old friend walked in to a liquor store and bought a bottle of vodka, consumed it and Kegan got into the car with him, and was involved in a single vehicle crash that killed Kegan instantly. My heart is forever broken. His shining smile, his loving touch and caring nature are missed by many.

Always & forever I love you and miss you Kegan,

Mom