Day 27: McPherson, KS to Abilene, KS

Day 27: 29 June 2007

McPherson, KS (1490 ft) to Abilene, KS (1155 ft). 
64 Miles.

Blog Address:
http://bikeboyglovach.blogspot.com
Friends – feel free to encourage or make fun of me on this blog.

Videos on the WWW
http://public.box.net//greg98266
Friends – access this link to view some videos I am making with my digital camera. 
 
New Videos:

Day’s Theme:
Halfway there!!

Weather/Terrain:
Another dreary day in Kansas – cool (60s/low 70s), but humid, headwindy, and on/off rain/drizzle.  We left major roads for most of the day and had country roads – this was good….

How I feel:
Still A-OK.  Being careful to conserve energy, enjoy the ride, and keep my ass as smooth as a baby’s – these are my goals in life at this time………..

Notable Events:
The CCC Riders hit their mileage halfway point today! 


Rider Profile: Bill Reinert, 75, from Chesterbrook, PA.



Bill was born near Allentown, PA, and currently lives in Chesterbrook near Valley Forge, PA.  Bill is a actuary.  I don’t really even know what that is, so, look it up if you need to……
Bill is a veteran of several bike tours, and also enjoys dog sledding, and has a few travels to Pakistan/Tibet in which he did some trekking at over 20,000 ft!  Bill enjoys the Buddhist environment in that area.  Like many CCC Riders, riding “across the USA” has been on Bill’s mind for a while, and, this is his year.
 
Bill quotes a beautiful Buddhist saying “Everything is perfect exactly as it is”.
 

Pictures:
What’s Happening:



This morning’s start was as bad as it gets.  The Rocket and I have gotten in this bad habit of being the “last out”, and, today, that meant heading out into cool, rain threatening conditions….
 
 




One of my fans out there asked “Where do you go?”
This is one answer – The Station in Galva, KS.
Oh I went………..
Then I left……….






Approaching Canton, KS, we noticed these kids had a sense of humor.
I know you can’t see this from this photo, but these freaks had 2 water towers, and labeled one “Hot” and one “Cold”.
Crazy bastards!
 
 




Maybe not the “prettiest” brook I could have shot in the last 3 days, it’s just the one I did.
We rode over a dozen or so of these the last 3 days – tree lined brooks in the middle of these vast fields. 
It seems strange to have these trees and brooks in these areas, but, Rocket informed me that Kansas was heavily wooded BEFORE the land was cleared for farming.
Let me tell you, if all this land was cleared, that would be a lot of firewood!!






Wax on, wax off.
I made it to the halfway point so I celebrated with a little Danielson.
We are halfway through our mileage!! 












We are finally off the big roads and onto some nice roads!!  Little traffic, almost no trucks, minimal cow shit, and the opportunity to ride side by side and “talk”.
This is Gypsum Valley Road, near Gypsum, KS. 
 





Along Gypsum Valley Road.
 





At SAG today, Rocket, Marge Bull, and Christine from AbB and I had a nice little chat.
Christine had to wait for Rocket and I to get there, and finish.  Marge saw us and stopped in! 
Marge is the Gypsum Reporter for the  Lynnsburg Review Record.  She stopped and we told her all about the CCC and she took some statistics and the Rocket’s and my info.  She has lived in Gypsum her whole life.

 




Along Country Club Road.






We finally arrive in Abilene, KS.  Cute little town.
There is a museum here for President Dwight Eisenhower – a few folks went to that and said it was good.

Day 26: Great Bend, KS to McPherson

Day 25: 27 June 2007

Great Bend, KS (1843 ft) to McPherson (1490 ft). 
64 Miles.

Blog Address:
http://bikeboyglovach.blogspot.com
Friends – feel free to encourage or make fun of me on this blog.

Videos on the WWW
http://public.box.net//greg98266
Friends – access this link to view some videos I am making with my digital camera.  Not advised while riding, but, at least I have a helmet on…..
 
New Videos:
 

Day’s Theme:
Go slow, enjoy the ride………

Weather/Terrain:
The skies looked threatening, but in fact, it was a good day to ride – cool (70s), overcast, but still the constant and occasionally strong headwinds.
The flat, not so dynamic Kansas terrain is still with us.

How I feel:
Good.  Would like a 4 day butt break, but (ha!), that isn’t happening….

Notable Events:
None for today friends – sorry.  You can’t even make them out here.  Although we tried, see the “Gladiator” pictures below…


Rider Profile: Herb Schon, 75, from Santa Fe, NM.



Herb lived most of his life in NYC.  For many years he was involved with TV commercial production, and then owned his own bakery from 1991 to 1997.  In 1997, he and his wife Irene moved to Sante Fe, and he really enjoys retirement there.
Herb is the oldest rider on our trip, but definitely a strong rider and he is quite a character!  He loves to sing!!
Herb says “You’re only young once, but you can be immature all your life.”
(Clownie – I thought of you baby…..)
 
Pictures:
What’s Happening:



This one farm we went by this morning had all this old farm equipment near the road.
Good stuff.
 
 




More stuff.






Three riders carrying packs (the old way!) went the other way.
When we stopped to take their picture, the first dude (very kindly) said “Do you need help?”
I felt like saying, “Dude, you are pedaling a 300 pound bike and you’re asking me if I need help?  God bless you…..”
 
 




A little history for the kids out there….






As you can see in this picture, everything is NOT a joke with Rocket. 
Christine from AbB, in the middle, stopped to check on Rocket, Erin, and me as we were 40 miles behind all the other riders on a 66 mile day.  She brought us all caffeine products.  I think we needed Riddelin today.






The wheat fields are quite pretty……
 




But, that didn’t stop us from making a joke about them!
Just before this, Erin asked me what my favorite movie was, and I answered Gladiator.  Then I got the idea to walk in the field feeling the wheat – so we all did.

Gladiator Erin Go Bike.
 









Gladiator Rocket.









 


Gladiator Bike Boy.






The Kansas Road.
It is long, and headwindy (that is the word I invented the other day).
 





These guys were happy to see us.
Happy to see us leave that is……
 
I’m out!

Day 25: Dodge City, KS to Great Bend, KS

Day 25: 27 June 2007

Dodge City, KS (2500 ft) to Great Bend, KS (1843 ft).
86 Miles.

Blog Address:
http://bikeboyglovach.blogspot.com
Friends – feel free to encourage or make fun of me on this blog.

Videos on the WWW
http://public.box.net//greg98266
Friends – access this link to view some videos I am making with my digital camera. Not advised while riding, but, at least I have a helmet on…..

New Videos:


Day’s Theme:
It had to happen eventually……

Weather/Terrain:
Well, the weather gods had been kind to us overall this trip, so, today, they evened it up a bit. The temps were cool, but the rain came and, coupled with the wind and the cow poop on the road, made this a long day. It was a long road – into the wind and rain, with the continued poop smell of Kansas…

How I feel:
I am hanging in there – left knee is a little sore, and I feel like 3 days on a couch would be nice. I was concerned about the rain today – does NASTY things to people’s butt and groin areas, but, I think I made out OK today….

Notable Events:
Absolutely nothing for today. Today was a grind….


Rider Profile: Jeff, 33, and Tim, 36 Glover from Michigan.


Jeff and Tim are brothers and decided to do this trip together this year as Jeff moved back to the States from Australia and they hadn’t seem much of each other in like 10 years. They both also felt like they needed “a challenge”.
Jeff is a chef and recently moved back to the US with his wife Alicia.
Tim is a Certified Athletic Trainer for Ferris State University (note his shirt – I will get that one on the “t-shirt swap”).
The boys quote:
Jeff: “The only good wind is the one that makes people leave the room.”
Tim: “In the Cross Country Challenge you only have two choices – uphill or into the wind”

Check out Jeff’s Blog http://tg.jedi.googlepages.com

Good guys – good fun…………….

Pictures:
What’s Happening:





I felt like riding today – but not my bike.
The horseshoe bull was not as exciting as it looked…………..










Well, apparently it isn’t just corn and cattle in Kansas – we have some wind farms too……







We’ve seen a few of these babies the last couple days – I think they are called grain elevators. It seems every town or county has one, and I gather farmers take their grain here for sale.
These thinks are big, and from a distance as you approach these things they look like skyscrapers!




Colorado and Kansas had several of these wall murals – very nice.
For a moment, I stepped into this Kansas Fantasy and boarded the railroad.






SAG I today was in Midway, KS – halfway between San Francisco and New York.
Tomorrow will be our midway point for days to ride, and I think we hit our mileage midway pint in Thursday or Friday.






SAG II was right near Subway – so, we decided to eat fresh.
That is Mike “Rocket”, Arlene, Tim, and “Erin Go Bike”.
FYI – Arlene bought a brand new bike last weekend in Pueblo. She is super fast now!!






We stopped along the road to read this historical marker.
We have been surrounded by these all through Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and Kansas – all about the US Western Migration.
It was raining at this time……….







Well, we are in Kansas, and there is hay.






The road behind us as we approached Dundee, KS.
Grain elevators in the distance….






Sorry to be gross, but, what the hell – this is about the Cross Country Challenge, including the good and the bad.
This is what I washed off myself as I finished the day.
These roads are filthy and every day we wash incredible grime off ourselves.

Day 24: Garden City, KS to Dodge City, KS

Day 24: 26 June 2007

Garden City, KS (2830 ft) to Dodge City, KS (2500 ft).
51, I mean 61 Miles….

Blog Address:
http://bikeboyglovach.blogspot.com
Friends – feel free to encourage or make fun of me on this blog.

Videos on the WWW
http://public.box.net//greg98266
Friends – access this link to view some videos I am making with my digital camera. Not advised while riding, but, at least I have a helmet on…..

New Videos:


Day’s Theme:
Easy day – maybe not……

Weather/Terrain:
This was supposed to be an easy day, but, on route sheets were wrong and we all started pedaling this morning heading west. So, our easy 51 mile day turned into a still pretty easy 61 mile day….,.
It was a pleasant day to ride – low 80s, overcast, with slight headwinds.

How I feel:
Good. The butt is good, the cleats are good – but I need a haircut and of course that is starting to bother me.
My computer is totally f’d, so, sorry if these e-mails/blog are not up to date ASAP – hotel wireless networks and their security and Windows Vista and my stupidity all add up to some frustrating nights…..
Also, my camera is about dead – sounds like my left knee when I try to zoom the lens – it’s days are numbered…….,. If it breaks, I will write you poetry every day!

Notable Events:
I met Crystal and Mike – a married couple who work for the Discovery Channel – see them below.

Pictures:
What’s Happening:



Well, AFTER we had eggs and sausages, we came across this little message.
Too late – maybe tomorrow………






Many miles of farms and fields/prairie.
I am not sure what they are drilling for out here – water or oil??






So, we are riding along Rt. 50 East towards Dodge City and we see this sign.
Well, I guess we can’t really complain – they did NOT say scenic overlook!!
It was an overlook of a REALLY LARGE cattle feed. Stinky.






But, all things change, and soon the prairie and it’s life we’re with us.






I pulled off the road for a stop at a historical marker for the Sante Fe Trail.
I met Kristen and Mike Dixon – they work for the Discovery Channel and they are riding bikes and hiking their way from the east coast to the west coast over 300 days. They are doing some documentary that will be aired next summer.






Prairie flowers.

Roses are red
Violets are blue
Prairie flowers
Are pretty too

You don’t see many
So when you do
Stop your bike
And enjoy the view

Ride your bike
But don’t forget
Smell the flowers
So you won’t regret






This is a famous welcome sign.






After dinner, we walked down to Dodge City and Boot Hill.
Reminds me of the song “Billy 4” from “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid” by Bob Dylan –
“Out to Boot Hill they’d like to send you
Billy they don’t like you to be so free…”
We walked to Boot Hill from the left of this photo. We are heading into Boot Hill tomorrow on our way out of Dodge. That flag is an indicator of the wind we have had the last two days – in our face. L







When we tried to sneak into the Boot Hill Museum Area, this cowboy here caught us and made us back down.

Once we backed off, then he ran off saying “I gotta go rob a bank……..”




We have seen lots of trains the last few weeks. This is an old steam engine in Boot Hill.

Day 23: Lamar, CO to Garden City, KS

Day 23: 25 June 2007

Lamar, CO (3690 ft) to Garden City, KS (2830 ft).
105 Miles.

Blog Address:
http://bikeboyglovach.blogspot.com
Friends – feel free to encourage or make fun of me on this blog.

Videos on the WWW
http://public.box.net//greg98266
Friends – access this link to view some videos I am making with my digital camera. Not advised while riding, but, at least I have a helmet on…..

New Videos:


Day’s Theme:
Keep the faith, focus, and keep pedaling….

Weather/Terrain:
There were longer days, hotter days, days with more climbing, days with snow – but, many riders felt this was the “toughest day” so far. I agree.
Following yesterday’s long ride, we had rough roads, heat and humidity (a bit), and incredible side and head winds today – like over 20 MPH most of the day. We lost an hour while riding – most people had “had enough” by the end of this ride….

How I feel:
I am well and continue to be optimistic about completing the whole ride. The little left butt thing is getting better, and my dear friend Donna is sending me a new seat to help “keep me going”.
We get to sleep in tomorrow and have only 50 miles each for the next two days, so, we all should recover a bit. If the winds would turn some, that would be most welcomed!

Notable Events:
Nothing today – it was a grind.

Pictures:
What’s Happening:



It is definitely flat territory now – plenty of farms and fields of corn, wheat, and other foods.
For a minute here, I thought I was going hay wall!!






Wheat fields on a very windy day….






As we rode along Rt. 50, we passed this landmark and the Rocket, myself, and Michelle (from AbB) discussed this unfortunate decision made by the US Government.






The Rocket, Brian, and I rode most of the day together – that is helpful on long days.
As we passed the state line, we snapped some photos.
As I am not familiar with being lifted like a champion, you can see I almost ripped off Brian’s head in fear. He loves that shit……






In a bit, we also passed into Central Time.






And seconds later, took some rest and shelter in this cemetery.
Brian here, doesn’t really sleep or eat. He is like the Terminator – he goes into suspended animation when “not in use”. He is a freak!






The long, hot, headwindy (new word I just invented), boring road ahead…..






But all roads lead to a Dairy Queen.






Approaching Garden City, I paused to rest and snap this picture of this farm.






Close to Garden City was yet another cattle feed. These guys weren’t as crowded as other feeds, and they definitely didn’t like me giving them the eye.
I almost went in there and punched them in the head, but, I’ll admit, I was intimidated by them.
Am I NOT “the wolf”???????