80 Mile Loop
The thermometer on the back of the house (in the shade) showed it was close to 60 degrees. I just had to go for a ride - my favorite short route was just the ticket. I-435 took me north over the Kansas River, past the Kansas Speedway and the new Cerner buildings to the Highway 5 (Wolcott Road) exit. Highway 5 is designated as the Historic Frontier Military Byway. I rode 5 north through a few twisties, past the minimum security prison and the National Cemetery to Leavenworth. Hwy 5 ends in Leavenworth where it intersects with Hwy 7. I rode 7 south a few blocks to Eisenhower Road and then west to Tonganoxie Road. It may surprise you that Tonganoxie Road goes to Tonganoxie, Kansas. From Tonganoxie I went south on Leavenworth County Road 1 over I-70 to Hwy 32, west to Leavenworth County 26, south and then east to Leavenworth County 2, which took me to the bridge over the Kansas River into DeSoto. As I crossed the bridge I could see numerous geese sitting on the ice on the river. At