Any regular readers who have followed Frank's route in detail may notice that Frank seems to have made incredible progress during the last week. Three weeks ago he reported from Boonville that he was striking South to avoid Kansas city and the next week reported from Eldorado Springs confirming this change in direction. However, whilst he indicated at this time that he was heading towards Norwich, Kansas, a little way Southwest of Wichita, the next week he reported from Cottonwood Falls about 70 Miles North East of Wichicta, which seemed to indicate a deviation back towards the original route west from Kansas City. Last Friday (7th) he reported from Cottonwood Falls that he was due to get to Norwich, Kansas some time around this weekend the 16th June. However at that time he was around 110 miles away from Norwich so still had a good week's walk to reach it at his average walking pace. This week her reported that he had reached Norwich, Kansas last Saturday (the day after his report) and was now in Ford, Kansas a further 120 miles further West. It seems therefore that for reasons not known he must have used a quicker means of transport to travel from Cottonwood Falls to Norwich, Kansas. This may be down to engagements including a reception which had been planned for his arrival in Norwich. Perhaps his hosts Jim and Carleen Skillen were due to be busy harvesting their wheat this weekend making it imperative he arrived a week earlier, or perhaps they had to fix the date so everyone could attend. He had reported he couldn't get a detailed map until he crossed the stateline into Kansas so maybe he had gone slightly astray. Anyway whatever the reasons he seems to have zoomed across the praries and now is just 20 miles short of Dodge City. The land is much flatter and livestock has given way to wheat, with almost everyone involved in it in one way or another. The locals are often complaining to Frank that the crops this year are not doing as well as in previous years due to this year's weather. Perhaps global warming which is acknowledged by the rest of the world has finally reached the US (what about those floods in Texas?) On Wednesday he had a day off in his tent as it seemed not only too hot but also very windy. It was confirmed later the tempeature had reached body temperature that day at 98F/37C! He has found the praries very beautiful with interesting birdsong aswell as incredible peace and skies that go on and on. This may be why this is also known as God's Country. Frank is going to be in Dodge City very soon looking at the sights and thinking again of the wagon trains that used to pass by. Next stop Garden City followed by the nest state of .Colorado. Watch this space for further news.