After fueling up at a breakfast provided by the Madison High School Cheerleaders, we hit the road under partly cloudy skies.
A few miles out, we hit a fairly steep climb that left everyone panting and sweating at the top. One of the guys who knew the area said, "Save your pictures for Papa Bear", pointing to a high point in the distance. "This was just Mama Bear."
A nice rest stop was found at LeRoy:
Yes, they really do sell some of the best jerky I've ever tasted. (I'm going to get a piece right now.) Also, monster cinnamon rolls -- bigger than your head.
At about the 50 mile mark, a highway mileage sign tempted many riders with an opportunity to get to Garnett in 16 miles, instead of the 22 miles predicted in the route guide. I stuck to the route, and was rewarded with a HUGE cheeseburger-with-grilled-onions-only-please at the diner in Colony. Oh, and wonderful cherry pie, also.
Garnett extended a warm welcome to the BAK-ers. The town square was buzzing with food vendors and entertainment. After downing a fruit smoothie, I continued on to the high school, where the three routes converged. After the now-routine chores of tent-setup and shower, we returned to the town square via shuttle bus to graze and be entertained, including watching the "World's Largest Pillowfight", an event destined for the Guinness Book of World Records. It was fun watching the Garnett Community Concert Band perform from a bar-and-grill's deck across the street.
