The day started out lovely. We stayed overnight at S&H Motel in Belleville, KS for $55. Despite it being a motel on the side of the road, it was a very nice place. Highly recommended for all of you who plan to visit Belleville.
We then had a nice breakfast at the Bel Villa Restaurant.
We also visited the geographical center of the continental U.S. in the tiny town of Lebanon, KS (population 217).
When we stopped for gas in the town the attendant started up a conversation with Brian about how far from home we were. He believes life in his tiny town is better than in New York where everyone gets stabbed.
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| Monument marking the Geographic Center of the US |
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| Another "monument" |
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| Lebanon, Kansas (Pop. 217) |
Our troubles all started about 1/2 way into our 7 hour drive when I ran over a small piece of metal just as we were approaching the Colorado border. Yup, we got a flat.
We call roadside assistance and about 45 minutes later the most stereotypical tow truck driver shows up to put on our spare. He says "I came right away when I heard you were stuck in the middle if nowhere." Meanwhile we had been driving through the middle of nowhere for hours! Guess it's all relative. Luckily we had a jack for him to use because for some reason he came without one.
So after that, we drive 10 miles back to St. Francis, Kansas to get a new tire. The people at the tire repair shop couldn't have been nicer, but unfortunately they didn't have the right size tire. Hertz wouldn't let us put on the tire that was just slightly the wrong size so the people at the car shop called another place about 40 miles away in a fairly big town (population 4,500) to see if they had it. Luckily they did!
So we started out on a trek 40 miles south going 45 mph. Of course on the way we come to a construction zone, but this is no regular construction zone. No, in Kansas you have to sit and wait at the beginning of the zone until this lead car gets back from the other end of the construction zone. Then everyone follows behind this lead car in a convoy to the other end about 5 miles away.
So we started out on a trek 40 miles south going 45 mph. Of course on the way we come to a construction zone, but this is no regular construction zone. No, in Kansas you have to sit and wait at the beginning of the zone until this lead car gets back from the other end of the construction zone. Then everyone follows behind this lead car in a convoy to the other end about 5 miles away.
So eventually we make it to the tire shop, but then Brian goes to grab the rental car paperwork and it's not in the car! We left it on the counter at the last shop. However, a couple minutes later one of the men from the shop in St. Francis arrives on his Harley to save the day! He brought our paperwork down to us! :)
4 hours later we are back on the road with another 3 hours until we reach our cousins in Denver.
Hopefully nothing else happens along the way!
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