Cheyenne Bottoms to Lyons; Distance = 29 Miles; People Met = 11+
The second day of this stretch was one I’ve been looking forward to for awhile. Before our journey started the Lyons Lions Club was one of the most enthusiastic about hosting us, and Anita Wedel has been following our journey. The potluck gathering with the Lyons Lions promised to be rewarding.
Our first night of the stretch was rewarding enough as we stayed with Karen and Tony Schmitt, inside their camper. The UMC Pastor in Ellinwood sent out a message to parishioners on our behalf and they heeded the call. Tony was concerned about us hiking as pheasant hunting season was starting that next morning, and bought for us three orange vests. Karen was concerned about feeding us. We declined supper but gladly accepted breakfast. They have two daughters. one of them had been involved in a Haitian Mission trip.
Karen and Tony
Charlie and Anita were every bit as warm and gregarious as I could imagine them to be. I also spent a bit of time talking to Bob Renollet, now the current president of the Lions Club, while his wife Joan enabled us to gather at the Country Place Living Center she managed. I interviewed Lion Mike Hudson from the club. He became the Lions youngest member when he joined in 1980. Everyone else in the Club at that time died out until he was the only one remaining. He started asking friends to join and the Club has grown to its current membership of 15.
Lion Mike Hudson
I broke out a new message for my presentation to the Club. As we travel though the plains I have heard the same complaint lodged repeatedly, namely that people don’t want to work hard anymore. That doesn’t square with my own experience living on Emerson Street, where most homes now have two wage earners instead of one. Nor does it square with trend data for the past 40 years showing more women working and more people working two jobs. All the while wages have not kept up with productivity, and productivity has not kept up with housing and health care costs. I incorporated these details into my Lyons Lions presentation. I guess my new message was well-received enough because the Lyons Lions graciously made a donation to our cause.
Lyons Lions Gathering
We ended the day in the home of Judith and Will Best, the first a former teacher and the second a former preacher. They both have been involved heavily in charitable ministries; both now are “retired” while instructing at Sterling College. We chatted with Will well past our bedtime, both he and I very interested in the experiences of the other.
Judith, Will and Cindy
Other photos
Great Bend Mayor Mike Allison stopped us after seeing our picture in the Tribune
I wonder what inspired this mailbox
What I first imagined Kansas to be from the Wizard of Oz
A different sort of "twister"
Brings back some memories
