July 16, 2014
Today I got up early and got on the road because I wanted to get to Eurika to get some food. I had breakfast at the bowling alley which was pretty good and today I was going to go throught the Flint Hills of Kansas. They It was a bad day for me. They were these hills that had long low grade climbs, with long low grade decents. You had to work a little to get up them and you could not get any speed going down them. THe wind was not really helping today either. It was a cross wind that was slightly in my face. It made for some long miles. Eventually I got to where the road turned north for 19 miles and I was able to get a great tailwind. I made it to the town before a 38 mile stretch with nothing. I went to the only gas station for lunch, but they had only chips and candy. It was slim pickings on food and it was going to be a long 38 miles into the wind.
I called the Newton bike shop because they are a hostel in town and they said I need to be there by 6 pm before they close. I had 4 hours to make it and that was going to be cutting it close with the wind and hills. I pushed really hard and the wind was only getting worse. I was getting angery and this was the first time I actually started yelling at the wind which made no sence to me. I calmed down and figured that I need to keep my speed at around 10 miles per hour to make it in time. It was a cold day and the high was around 70 degrees. The only long sleeve shirt I have is my rain coat. I made it to the bike shop with 15 minutes to spare and talked to the owner for a while. There were about 9 other bikers staying that night and you sleep on air pads throughout the bke shop. You are allowed to use any of the tools for free and they have a bike wash in back. I washed my bike because it was covered in dust from the Katy Trail. It was a pretty awesome spot to stay for the night.
Today I got up early and got on the road because I wanted to get to Eurika to get some food. I had breakfast at the bowling alley which was pretty good and today I was going to go throught the Flint Hills of Kansas. They It was a bad day for me. They were these hills that had long low grade climbs, with long low grade decents. You had to work a little to get up them and you could not get any speed going down them. THe wind was not really helping today either. It was a cross wind that was slightly in my face. It made for some long miles. Eventually I got to where the road turned north for 19 miles and I was able to get a great tailwind. I made it to the town before a 38 mile stretch with nothing. I went to the only gas station for lunch, but they had only chips and candy. It was slim pickings on food and it was going to be a long 38 miles into the wind.
I called the Newton bike shop because they are a hostel in town and they said I need to be there by 6 pm before they close. I had 4 hours to make it and that was going to be cutting it close with the wind and hills. I pushed really hard and the wind was only getting worse. I was getting angery and this was the first time I actually started yelling at the wind which made no sence to me. I calmed down and figured that I need to keep my speed at around 10 miles per hour to make it in time. It was a cold day and the high was around 70 degrees. The only long sleeve shirt I have is my rain coat. I made it to the bike shop with 15 minutes to spare and talked to the owner for a while. There were about 9 other bikers staying that night and you sleep on air pads throughout the bke shop. You are allowed to use any of the tools for free and they have a bike wash in back. I washed my bike because it was covered in dust from the Katy Trail. It was a pretty awesome spot to stay for the night.