Then, the gloom left and we had some blue sky and fluffy clouds....
Topeka is the county seat of Shawnee County, and it is in the northeast part of the state. In 2010, 127,473 people lived there.
Topeka was established in 1854 when nine white men founded the Topeka Town Association. At an election in November 1861, the people of Kansas chose Topeka as the permanent capital of the state.
The name Topeka is made up of three words from the Kaw, Omaha, and Iowa Native American tribes. The first, to, means "potato". The second, pe (short for pekae) is an adjective meaning "good". The third, okae, means "to dig". Thus, the name Topeka means "a good place to dig potatoes.
In 2007 Forbes Magazine saidd Topeka as one of the leading U.S. cities in terms of having the biggest changes in temperature, precipitation, and wind. Topeka has a humid continental climate. It has hot, somewhat humid summers and cool to cold, fairly dry winters. Over the course of a year, the monthly daily average temperature ranges from 29.7 °F in January to 79.0 °F in July. The high temperature reaches 90 °F on average of 41.5 afternoons per year. The high reaches 100 °F an average of 3.5 afternoons per year. The low temperature falls below 0 °F on average of four mornings per year, and there are 21 afternoons per year that stay below freezing. The general time of year for freezing temperatures is October 15 through April 17.
The area gets about 36.5 inches of precipitation during an average year. The most being received in May and June—the April through June period averages 33 days of measurable precipitation. Generally, the spring and summer months have the most rainfall. Autumn and winter are fairly dry. During a typical year the total amount of precipitation may be anywhere from 25 to 47 inches. Much of the rainfall is comes from thunderstorms. These can be very bad. They often have lightning, big hail, and sometimes tornadoes. Winter snowfall averages almost 17.8 inches. Measurable snowfall occurs an average of 12.9 days per year, with at least one inch of snow being received on five of those days. Snow depth of at least an inch happens an average of 20 days per year.
No chicken? No problem. The name may be misleading, but City Chicken is actually made with pork, (you know, the other white meat) and veal, because during The Great Depression, chicken was a bit hard to come by if you lived in the city. The idea behind it is to make the meat look like it's chicken by giving it a good coat of breading and sticking them on a skewer, but no one anticipated just how good or how popular this recipe would become! Whip it up for dinner and we know it'll be a family favorite!
- 2 pounds boneless pork tenderloin and/or veal shoulder, cut into 18 (1-1/2-inch) chunks
- 6 skewers (if using wooden ones, soak 15 minutes before using)
- Salt and black pepper for sprinkling
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 cup Italian-style bread crumbs
- 2 cups vegetable oil
- Thread 3 chunks of meat onto each skewer, alternating between pork and veal, and place on baking sheet. Lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper on both sides. In a shallow dish, combine flour and poultry seasoning; mix well. In another shallow dish, beat eggs and water. Place bread crumbs in a third shallow dish.
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- In a large deep skillet over medium heat, heat oil until hot, but not smoking.
- Dip each meat skewer into flour mixture, then egg, then bread crumbs, coating evenly on all sides. Carefully place skewers in oil, in batches, and fry 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown on both sides. Remove to a baking sheet.
- Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until meat is no longer pink in center. Serve hot.
National Motorcycle Ride Day on the second Saturday in October encourages all motorcyclists in the USA and the world to get out on their motorcycles for a united day of riding.
The month of October offers two significant reasons to ride. First, it’s the end of the riding season for a lot of motorcyclists. It is also the month that John B. Dunlop developed the first practical pneumatic tire in 1887. Without this development in tire technology, motorcycles would not perform as they do or be as enjoyable as they are today. That being said, the day also honors John B. Dunlop and his invention of the first practical pneumatic tire.
Use the day to escape on your motorcycle. Have some fun, relieve some stress, and really enjoy the thrills. Freedom is what riding a motorcycle offers.
The day focuses on riders of all motorcycle disciplines. No matter what type of motorcycle you own or what type of rider you are, enjoy the camaraderie that comes along with owning a motorcycle. If you own a motorcycle, you will understand.
National Motorcycle Ride Day also encourages motorcyclists to support the motorcycle industry. While enjoying some of the last beautiful days of riding, stop by your local motorcycle dealer, too. By supporting your local dealer and other businesses while enjoying your ride, you will help spur growth in your local economy.
How to observe...
Go for a ride with a friend and enjoy the fall weather. Be sure to share the enjoyment of riding while the season lasts. While you are out on your ride or at your local dealer take a picture.
- Relive the thrill of this year’s rides.
- Plan trips for next year.
- While connecting with other riders, find out about their favorite places to ride.
- Join a riding organization.
Chad Geer of Dunlop Tire N.A. founded National Motorcycle Ride Day 2015 to celebrate the riding in the fall weather and the invention of the pneumatic tire.
Q. Are motorcycle laws universal across the United States?
A. No. For example, some states require all motorcycle riders to wear helmets while others require helmet usage based on age. Some states have no laws regarding helmets.
Q. Does any state allow lane splitting?
A. Lane splitting is when a motorcyclist rides between vehicles. It is usually done when there is traffic congestion. However, it is considered dangerous. California is the only state to legalize the practice.
Q. Do any states limit the age of the motorcycle driver?
A. Currently, laws may restrict the age of the driver by requiring the driver to be a minimum age. There are no maximum age limitations. However, most motorcyclists recognize the physical and mental requirements necessary to ride and stop riding when they are no longer able to safely operate a motorcycle.
