Saga Continues

Saga Continues
Saturday 2^nd June, 2019
Day 23

Location: Great Bend to McPherson, KS

Distance: 65 miles
Temp: 66 – 80 F 

    AM cloudy with 13 mph headwind

    PM sunny with Wind 10 mph headwind

Cumulative climbing distance:  843 ft

Cumulative descending distance:  1184 ft

 

Today was a GRIND.  We started with a constant 13 MPH headwind from the east that did not decrease to 10 mph until the last hour of biking.  By then everyone was so exhausted to notice the effect.  To add to the grind, we were biking straight east on US route 56 with nothing to break the wind and scenery that was basically the same as the last 3 days so there was no visual relief to distract or occupy your mind.

The elevation is now below 2000’.  Since we spent more than 12 days biking at elevations between 4000 and 7500’, one can definitely notice the effect of the biking at lower elevations as less effort is required to maintain the same speed.

The weather on this trip has been the main issue. According to Rick, the senior bike mechanic who has been on all 21 cross country bike trips conducted by CrossRoads, we have experienced more severe weather in the first 2 weeks of this year’s tour than any trip had experienced in the entire 7 weeks.  We have seen 105 F temps with winds in the California desert, wind chill of 27 F as we departed Flagstaff, AZ with snow, ice pellets and then heavy rain.   Crosswinds of greater than 30 mph for 2 days in New Mexico and then head winds gusting to 55 mph as we entered the high plains in New Mexico.  And now the winds in Kansas.  Collectively AFTER the trip, these severe weather events will make for good stories but at the present time biking in them is exhausting and sometimes scary to the point of dangerous with the adjacent car and truck traffic.

 

 

Break time on this windy, exhausting day.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Like yesterday, one photograph captures most of today's scenery:  1000's of wind turbines (nope),  1000's of oil welds, wheat fields, flat terrain, and flooded fields. 

 

Long horn cattle together with other breeds.

 

Native Americans in central Kansas and Coronado visit in 1541.

 

Interesting historical note:  Buffalo Bill Cody (of famous circa late 1800's wild west show) began his career as a buffalo hunter in this part of central Kansas.

 

We are still following the Santa Fe trail. 

 

 

   Recent flood waters washed away a portion of the shoulder of our US highway.  

 

 

 When biking long distances one is always hungry.  Advertising billboards don't help.

 A large banana split for an afternoon - post biking - snack.

 And then a pasta - carbo loading - dinner.