Mile 10428.6 - Hutchinson, KS, Starbucks

Geez, Dorothy didn't need a tornado to send her to Oz. All she had to do is go outside.

I was on the road by 8:15 a.m. By 8:45 a.m. another fierce wind from the South arose, causing severe crosswinds again whenever I would go east or west and a strong headwind when I would go south. I prefer the headwind at least because it doesn't lead to knocking the bike over.

Getting here, I went through numerous farming communities. All of these communities are largely indistinguishable, with the water towers, farm co-op granaries and birds sitting on the power wires.

Last night wasn't too bad. Nothing like a night sleeping outside. Not. Between the crickets, some passing trains, and my ear plugs losing their effectiveness again as well as my thermarest not providing my shoulders with enough cushioning when I lay on my side, it was not such a restful night. But then again, it was free.

I think that there is something about me not getting along well with those whose birthdays are within one or two days of mine. There is A, whose birthday is the same as mine, and she can get on my nerves in about 10 minutes. There is B, whose birthday is two days after mine, and each time we interact, I almost instantly lose my temper. And finally, there is C, whose birthday is two days before mine, and though we've been friends for over 20 years, we've had rough periods and times when we absolutely don't get along or understand each other.

The rest of the world? I pretty much get along with everyone. So why is that that these three people specifically get on my nerves other than that their birthdays (in the calendar year) are all within two days of me?