Today they had a parade through town.  Practically the whole town showed up with about half of the people taking part in the parade.  There were floats, queens of this or that atop convertibles, fire trucks, ambulances, local political candidates, tractors, pickups, horses, mules, people walking, riding bicycles, and any other manner of conveyance.  The kids of all ages had a blast.  They threw candy to people watching on the side of the street.

The parade started at the high school, rolled up the main street, and around the town turn about.  This street happens to be Highway-56.  The local police and sheriff closed the highway for about half an hour.

After that, we were on Highway-56 all day.  It leads almost all the way to Dodge City, KS.  It is two-lane and has a gentle but persistent washboard.  There was constantly wind, some tail wind, but mostly side and pretty strong.  Having gotten a late start due to our watching the parade, it was fatiguing.

We have been watching the weather each day.  Boy are we glad we did not arrive on the east coast.  It may have been awful.  So much rain and wind, may have spent a lot of time holed up in a hotel.

A few photos from the Boise City parade.

Many more parade photos can be seen here.

Elkhart, OK, Hugoton, KS, Sublette, KS
Many little towns along the way.  The approach of each one is announced first with the appearance of a set of grain silos and a water tower.  Between the little towns, the highway is straight for miles and miles.  I guess when there is nothing but flat farmland, the best path between two points...

Dodge City, Kansas
Dodge City seems to have many personalities.  Originally a railhead where cattle were driven for shipping east.  It still has the railroad aspect.  It also has a thriving tourism mini-industry.  Neither of these provides sufficient economic advantages to support the city.  Lately, there have been a large number of workers for the wind turbines that are becoming ubiquitous.  They overnight in the city and then head out to work during the day.  Young, largely blue collar, away from home, they tend to be boisterous.  Last night they were loudly partying outside our motel room.

Speaking of our motel, yesterday it was almost impossible to find a motel room.  We only got one because someone had canceled.  We are in an America's Best Value Inn.  If you get a chance, don't.  This seems to be a chain that purchases old, failing motels and then tries to make them work by lowering the overhead.  Not a working model for the traveler.

Last night about 9:00, the skies let loose with a full up thunder storm.

Boise City, OK to Dodge City, KS