Members of the Knights of Columbus, the Lions’ Club, and the Spearville community played host to approximately 900 bicyclers as they stopped for the night on their way across Kansas.

Dozens of tents were set up on the high school lawn adjacent to the school football field, and on the lawns of several generous home-owners.

Knights and Lions served hamburgers and bratwurst in the parish hall; the Windmill Restaurant cooked up a Mexican-American buffet; the MAYB sports program offered baked potatoes and a salad bar, and Spearville Library employees sold ice cream to benefit the library.

After setting up their tents, several riders made their way toward the scent of burgers grilling on an outdoor barbecue, while others rode slowly around town, waving to the locals and taking in the small town atmosphere.

Under a cool, blue sky with little wind, it was impossible to walk near the high school without seeing one or more tents perched on someone’s front lawn, laundry hanging on a make-shift line.

Rose Thomas, editor of the Spearville News, got to talking to a couple while out taking photos for the News.

"They were so friendly," she said of the couple. "If they hadn’t already had their tent set up, we would have invited them to stay at our home."

The 31st annual Biking Across Kansas event included 530 miles of riding, with participants averaging 65 miles per day -- enough to humble this reporter who became winded walking the five blocks to the high school.

The bikers, which this year came from 39 states and Canada, also rode through Ellinwood, Lindsborg, Chapman, Onaga and Hiawatha before reaching their final destination, White Cloud.

One group began in Elkhart on June 3, while the other began June 4. The ride was expected to take seven days.