Day 109
East of Manhattan.
Today’s Walk:
D: Manhattan, Kansas
A: Zeandale, Kansas
21.0 miles
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Elevation:
↑220 • ↓407
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Conditions:
↓63° ↑91° ☀️
In looking for volunteers for the Susan B. Anthony Ride for Women’s Rights, I (Susan) reached out to Mennonites in eastern Kansas. (I married into the Mennonite Church, and know the denomination to include many open and affirming, peace-loving, justice-seeking, service-oriented congregations.) Folks at Manhattan Mennonite Church responded positively, with open arms. Marguerite and I have been generously put up for three days by Merv and Cathy Coons Bitikofer, and were given a wonderful tour of Manhattan by Dave Redmon.
Dave’s tour included buildings from the late 1870s at Kansas State University, Goodnow House, City Hall, old Manhattan neighborhoods with beautiful big trees, the new meetinghouse being built by the Mennonite Church, and the Blue River. (The Blue River was named by the Kansa or Kaw Native American tribe, because of the dark blue-gray mud on its banks.)
Dave joined and navigated today’s ride across the Flint Hills, into and out of Manhattan. He and Susan rode for the first 14 miles of the day together. In the afternoon, Susan rode another 7 miles, to a point east of Manhattan. Susan has now ridden approximately 250 miles and has 45 miles to go to reach the Kansas State Capitol Building!