Visit to Abilene, KS

Visit to Abilene, KS

Monday 3^nd June, 2019

Day 24

Location: McPherson to Abilene to Junction City, KS

Distance: 90 miles

Temp: 67 – 87 F 

Dew point:  67 F

    Winds:  non-issue

Cumulative climbing distance:  1,978 ft

Cumulative descending distance:  2,336 ft

 

And we are still biking across Kansas.  This state never seems to end.  The only different is as we entered northeastern Kansas the terrain has transitioned from slightly undulating to hilly.  The fields have become somewhat smaller with an increase in corn acreage and less irrigation.

The other more notable observation is an increase in the humidity.  Yesterday the dew point was 58 F.  Today it was 67 F.  The last 2 days are the first time on the trip that I had perspiration rolling off my checks and back.  I guess this is a harbinger of upcoming biking days as we depart the dryer air of the West and head into the more humid air of the East.

The highlight of the day was a visit to Abilene, the boyhood home of President Eisenhower and location of his presidential library. 

 

 A photo from yesterday at the morning SAG wagon stop.

 

 

 

 

 

 Today's typical scenery captured in 2 photos on this beautiful sunny day.  Wheat and corn fields (both getting smaller in size), still some effects of flooded fields from May's rainfall, starting to see wooded areas and the landscape is getting hilly.

 

Corn is now about 1 ft high.

 

What about bikes??

 

 Milled highway ready from blacktopping  The most torturous 10 miles on the trip so far.  Your arms, which function as shock absorbers, got weaker by the mile and our butts still have not stopped hurting from the bumps. 

 

 

 Still following the Santa Fe Trail route.  One can easily imagine the trail route over this prairie landscape.  I wonder if Judi was imagining the same thing or just focused on the staying close to the white line.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eisenhower Chapel and grave site.

 

In 1919 Eisenhower was in charge of a Transcontinental Motor Convoy of Army trucks from Washington, DC to Oakland, CA, a distance of 3,250 miles.  Trip took 2 months with an average speed of less than 6 mph.

 

Memories of that experience were the foundation for his creation of the Interstate Highway system in 1956.

 

For you golfers, the Eisenhower Tree on the 17th hole at Augusta National Golf Club.

 

 

 

 

 Many homes on main streets in Abilene displayed 1952 Ike election banners.

 Abilene is also the home of the Greyhound International Hall of Fame.

 

 

Wild Bill Hickok also spent time this in the area in the early 1870’s as an stagecoach driver, lawman and Army scout before he headed to Deadwood, SD and met his early death playing poker.

 

 

 

Former railroad and rail station, now a tourist ride.

 

 

 Peyton, our 23 year old bicycle mechanic and daily staff rider.  He can fix anything and rides like a pro.

 

 

  

Two important items for dinner:  meat and fluids (might be some scotch involved).

 

 A fitting way to the end the day, more calories.