Day 26 - Emporia, KS to Topeka, KS - 67 miles - 2,359 feet of climbing - 3:37 hours in the saddle

Today the group seemed to have renewed energy (both mental and physical) after the Rest Day.  It was a short 67 miles with a pie stop.  The road was smooth with rolling hills and verdant farms.  No threat of rain today, as the storms went through the Topeka area last night.  Just smooth sailing with a tailwind!

Due to road construction, our route was slightly altered at the beginning of the day. Although it caused some riders consternation, I rolled with it and enjoyed the residential street as we rode through town.  Right from the beginning the Fasties (Simon, David, Peter) went off the front (as usual), but never widened the gap too much.  At around mile 8 Mark S wanted to ride past Simon, so I offered to be his lead out man and pull him up to the Fasties.  We caught them around mile 9, Mark surged ahead of Simon and all got a good laugh.  I ended up staying with the Fasties until the SAG at 36.  I took my turn in the front and contributed to the 20+ mph pace.  Perhaps this will get me some cycling street cred!!

While riding with the Fasties was fun, I don’t know if I could keep that pace for 67 miles!  Also, going that fast in a pace line, there are no opportunities to take pics (that my story/excuse and I’m sticking to it!).  After SAG I rode solo enjoying the sights and sounds (birds, frogs, cows, etc).

This ride on Kansas Route 4 was the prettiest ride since Santa Fe. No disrespect to the feedlots of Dalhart, TX!  At mile 52 we came to the pie stop at the Sommerset Cafe.  When in doubt on which slice to get, strawberry rhubarb or coconut cream……get both!

Needless to say, I was a little sluggish for the last 13 miles of the ride!

We have passed the halfway point with over 1,700 miles of the 3,400 miles completed.  Still looking east in earnest.

                                             May need a special beard/moustache edition of this blog!

Savor the Journey // Achieve the Goal

 Day 25 - Rest Day in Emporia, KS

Tour stats to date 1,662 miles - 44,973 feet ascending (8.50 miles) - 104 hours in the saddle

Took it easy on Rest Day.  Washed bike.  Talked to Erika.  Sent postcards to Grandkids.  Mid afternoon took the only taxi to downtown to check it out.  Signs of preparation for the Unbound gravel race.  Had beers and dinner at Radius Brewing with Barbara, Spencer and Chad.  Lots of chatter among riders about route revision for tomorrow’s trip to Topeka.

Savor the Journey // Achieve the Goal

 Day 24 - McPherson, KS to Emporia, KS - 81 miles - 745 feet climbing - 4:55 hours in the saddle

Deja Vu!  Still in Kansas. Still riding due East. Still have crosswinds from the south/southeast.  But the terrain is more rolling as we rode through the Flint Hills.  Here are a few scenery pics from today’s ride.

We rolled out of McPherson under sunny skies and quickly formed a pace line to counteract the crosswinds.  When it was my turn to take the lead, the shoulder narrowed and I quickly ran out of tarmac and ended up in the gravel.  With a 3” lip to get back on the pavement, I decided it was safer to come to a stop before climbing back on to the pavement!  Unbound, a major gravel cycling event,  is next weekend in Emporia, but I have already had my encounter with gravel!

After that Joel and I teamed up, with each of us riding in front for 1 mile, then switching.  We kept a good pace together and the miles flew by until the 50 mile mark.  At the Flint Hills, we each went solo.

SAG 2 was near the Flint Hills Rodeo at mile 63.  The apple slices with caramel dipping sauce were a big hit with me.  When I ran out of apple slices, I just used my finger in the caramel sauce.  It was similar to the energy gels!

The last 20 miles were a hard slog.  I was getting hot and tired.  We have ridden 9 consecutive days covering 712 miles. With a rest day tomorrow, I was ready to get to the hotel.  But I had to deal with annoying rumble strips that go across the whole shoulder.  I have seem so many different ways that rumble strips have been used and these bone jarring, momentum killing rumble strips are my least favorite.  Fortunately, new road construction asphalted over sections of these rumble strips.

Many restaurants and bars in Emporia were closed for Memorial Day.  So beers were at Applebees, where I had an interesting conversation with Tom, Crossroads staff.  And dinner at Pizza Ranch.  Rest day tomorrow and I plan on sleeping in, completing my bike chores and exploring Emporia.  Oh and relaxing before we start our next 7 day section of riding.  Our next rest day is in Champaign, IL, where I went to college and 60 miles from my childhood home.  Erika will join me for the next rest day.  

And I continue East!

Savor the Journey // Achieve the Goal

Day 23 - Great Bend, KS to McPherson, KS - 64 miles - No climbing - 3:55 hours in the saddle

Still in Kansas and still windy (but less wind turbines).  The terrain is a little more rolling with more trees.  I did not see many irrigated fields today (nor does my Relive show many round green fields!) OUr route today was due east with the wind blowing out of the south / southeast.  That made for a strong crosswind for the entire ride.  

Early on Joel (Indiana) and Spencer (Oregon) and I arranged ourselves in an echelon formation to counteract the crosswinds.  This formation is where each successive cyclist in the line is slightly behind and to the left in our case because of the winds from the south.  Every mile the front cyclist would drop to the back and the next in line would assume the front position breaking the wind.  This provides for protection from the wind for the other cyclists.  Unfortunately at mile 10, I had a flat in my rear tire, caused by a 1.5 inch nail.  This is my 8th flat of the tour.  Greg and Peyton came along and helped me change the flat.  Being the last rider on the road, I felt like I was playing catch up.  Greg and I traded turns breaking the wind until mile 25, when Greg rode with another rider.   I rode solo into SAG at mile 32.

Had a short SAG since I wanted to leave with some of the other riders for the last 30+ miles.  Around Conway, KS we came across many gas pipeline and storage facilities.  The natural gas liquids (NGL) are stored underground in large caverns carved into the underlying salt beds.  These natural caverns can store millions of barrels of NGL.

Despite the flat, I still rolled into McPherson by noon.  I typically ride through the downtown of our host towns, but today being Sunday I assumed everything would be closed.  Well, I hear from my fellow cyclists that I missed a good one in Noffy’s Sandwich Shop and Pub.  However, Braum’s provided an excellent shake and interesting lunch conversation learning about David’s (Virginia) time in the Navy and on a submarine.  Also heard more about Peter (UK) generously opening his home to Ukrainian refugees.  Everyone on this trip has an interesting story!

I’ve ridden 558 miles in the last week, which is the most ever for me.  On Memorial Day we ride to Emporia, KS, then enjoy a well deserved rest day on Tuesday.

Savor the Journey // Achieve the Goal

Day 22 - Dodge City, KS to Great Bend, KS - 88 miles - no climbing - 5:25 hours in the saddle

Another day of riding in Kansas….flat….windy….wheat fields….wind turbines….grain elevators.  I noticed more trees today on the landscape.  We traveled most of the day back on the Santa Fe Trail.

We had plenty of cloud cover today and also plenty on wind.  Crosswinds all day, but the first 40 miles the crosswinds included a dose of slight headwind.  The next 40 miles the crosswinds included a dose of slight tailwind.  My speed picked up 4 - 5 mph with no additional effort.  The last 10 miles felt like we were back to the crosswind with a touch of headwind.  Below is me measuring the angle of the wind.

We stopped in Kinsley, KS, whose claim to fame is being midway between two other places (San Francisco and NewYork).  But that is not our journey’s half way point.  I think it comes in a few days.  At the stop there was also a sod house museum.  The museum also displayed a bicycle of a gentleman that rode his bike from NYC to Kinsley in 1900.  I am thankful one for the advancements in bike technology!  Also frolicked on the playground!

50 yards out of the SAG 2 at Mile 52, I got my 7th flat tire of the tour.  Rather than change the tire on the side of the road I walked it back to the SAG, where I had a proper pump (and help from Greg Bell).  That put me behind most of the group and I rode the next 20 miles in solitude.

A quick detour to see Pawnee Rock with Stephanie.  It is a rocky point of elevation that was a notable landmark along the Santa Fe Trail in the 1800’s.  I suspect it was more impressive to the early pioneers than to me today.

Rode into town about 2:00 and checked into the hotel.  Then, as is my practice of late, rode to downtown, where I “happened” upon a brewery, Dry Lake Brewery.  My friend Barbara joined me for a cold Pale Ale.

Tomorrow is a shorter ride for 6o miles due east.  The difficulty will depend on the weather (wind or rain), but we will ride it no matter what!

Savor the Journey // Achieve the Goal