Kansas Blog

There are things in life that should not be rushed…the aging process of a fine wine or scotch, watching a sunset, and riding the Kansas Byways are all on my list of experiences to enjoy without being rushed. Spring of 2013 in Kansas has been tumultuous as best. We’ve seen many cool days, much needed rain and record setting snow in early May. Mother Nature has saved her best days for mid-week when two working parents have a tough time getting away to play on the Wide Glide. All this has added up to a 63-mile journey over a two-day period. The Glacial Hills Scenic Byway is nearly in our backyard, seemingly short and easy to both plan and execute. However, just to get there and home adds another 140 miles, making it a much longer journey, one that we just couldn’t do in an evening and still take in the entire experience without feeling rushed. Being on a bike isn’t about the destination so much as it is the journey along the way. 

The story of the Flint Hills is largely a story about limestone. Now don't wince at the thought of learning about rocks; the story of the flinty-hard layers of stone in the Kansas Flint Hills is as fascinating as any adventure into the wild places of our state. So recently, when warm weather started to melt the piles of snow that had built up around our driveway, my wife and I decided to reacquaint ourselves with the story of rocks and remember again why we love the Flint Hills. For that, we took the drive along Kansas' Native Stone Scenic Byway, passing through Dover, Keene, Eskridge, and Alma along State Highways 4 and 99.