Saturday, June 27, 2009
Saturday. Caught a break today. Based on the forecast we expected our 80 mile ride to eads, Colorado hot with wind in our face. It turned out cool with a helping wind. I was able to average just under 13 m.p.h. I had always thought mountain time started at the border of Kansas and Colorado. Wrong. We entered mountain time 26 miles east of the Colorado border. I officially logged my 2000th mile about 30 miles into today’s ride. The terrain changed within a short distance after entering Colorado. Hills just started popping up and the foliage looked dessert like with very sandy soil. The elevation rose by about 1000 feet so we’re now just over 4000 feet above sea level. With the gradual rise I don’t think I’ll have an altitude problem like I do when we fly into telluride which at 8700 feet. We’ll see. Getting very spoiled, another motel tonight. I haven’t had to set up my tent since june 13. Between town park pavilions and churches with a few motels thrown in the tent has become obsolete. I’m sure this pattern will not continue much longer.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday. With hot and wind forecast we left before sun up for the 80 mile ride to leoti, Kansas our last stop before Colorado. The first break came at 32 miles. That portion wind was favorable. The next 24 miles was almost directly into the wind but came with a great deli lunch in scott city. The last 24 miles had mixed winds hot sun and big grain trucks. The winter wheat harvest is very serious business out here(see picture). This was probably the longest day on the road time wise. Seven hours in the saddle plus two hours of break and refueling time got us to leoti at 3:00pm Cammie’s step mom drove her rv from las cruces, new mexico and provided us with a very tasty Mexican dinner. We’re have a layover until Saturday morning so it’s the typical relax, get laundry done, stretch the muscles, relax, eat, nap, etc. since the beginning of the ride in Virginia we’ve had an ongoing debate about the virtues of riding this route westbound versus eastbound. There is a commonly held belief that the prevailing winds are west to east which motivates many to travel easterly. I think the misconception arises from the fact that the jet streams are west to east, but we’re not riding at 35,000 feet. So far we have have no definitive prevailing wind. Traveling westbound there’s an argument that the scenery builds to a climax in the rockies. This makes sense to me having driven through most of that area. We have come to a consensus that westbound as we are doing is simply safer and there for best. Most of our riding is done in the morning with the sun at our back so we are much more visible to the drivers whizzing by. We never have cars behind us fighting a low angle sun in their face. That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wednesday. As we rode out of town at 6:30am this morning we were confronted with a spectacular rainbow and beautiful cloud formations( see pictures). Very rural ride with scenery a repeat of the last few days. a few more hills and some very large grain trucks hauling the just harvested winter wheat. The road was wide with a good shoulder so there were no issues. We rode highway 96 which is the same road we ride the rest of the way out of Kansas and continues into Colorado. The first community we hit on the route was Rush Center. This small town was renamed in honor of mr Limbaugh. The streets are all one way and only right turns are permitted. Right now we’re hanging out in ness city, Kansas at the town pool getting cleaned up before heading to the Baptist church. We ride 79 miles tomorrow into leoti, Kansas staying two nights in a motel and a welcome rest day.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday. Easiest ride of the trip. 55 miles, one flat straight road, cooling breeze, nothing but corn, cows, wheat and soy beans. Made it to larned, Kansas by 11:15am. We’re staying in a church that’s air conditioned and a shower in the adjacent pastor’s house. Great hospitality. Last night it was way too hot to cook so out for pizza at gambino’s. I made sure I got a seat facing the door. Even with air conditioning in the motel last night I didn’t stop sweating until about 2:00am so it was terrific to get up and take a shower.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Sunday was hot and windy riding 78 miles from eureka, Kansas to newton, Kansas. The ride ended at the newton town park with a plunge into the town pool. We hung out at the pool, took showers and headed to the air conditioned Episcopal church. The last 38.5 mile were on one road that was straight as a laser with no commercial establishment of any kind. The van was very efficient running up and down the route filling water bottles. It was way too hot to cook so we went out to all you can eat Chinese buffet. I did have my first flat tire since Carbondale. I realized the tire was flat when I tried to pump up the tires as we do each morning. It was a heck of a lot easier changing it inside the church than out on the road in the hot sun. there is not much shade in Kansas. Also, Kansas is not really flat. The hills are very, very gentle, but there are ups and downs with wind 10-15 m.p.h. coming out of the south or south/south/west which is not right in our faces but is only helping the few miles we sometimes head north. When the wind is helping I’m able to maintain 20-25m.p.h. which really makes the miles roll along. The just not enough of a following wind. Today jumped up from a 56 mile ride to a 65 mile ride due to a detour to avoid a road flooded by the little Arkansas river. Except for heat(see photo documentation) today was as close to flat as I think we’ll get. Also had a great 2nd breakfast at joeys diner at the 30 mile mark. The best blueberry pancakes west of newtown. We were supposed to camp at a town park in sterling, Kansas but the the forcasted low temp of 85 tonight andy found us a cheap motel that under any other circumstances I would never consider, but there’s aie conditioning and some hot water and best of all I have my own room so I should be able to get a good night’s sleep and even take a shower in the morning before hitting the road. We bid our co-leader dave an emotional goodbye this morning. While andy is with us the entire ride dave needed to not be away from home so long. Scott joins us and dave goes home. It was a prelude to what I think will be a very emotional parting in Oregon several weeks from now. We are 11 individuals who are thrown together in a virtual 24/7 constant togetherness. Friction can not be avoided but for the most part very strong bonds have been formed and it won’t be easy to say goodbye at the end. Dave was great and will be missed by all.
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