Location: Adrian, MO (City Park) We had a pleasant ride today, a seventy mile ride across the rolling farmland of eastern Kansas and western Missouri. Our route away from the traditional Transamerica Trail continues to be exciting and worthwhile. We have visited some splendid small towns, including the one we’re staying in tonight, Adrian. The […]
Cycling Across Kansas – Bike Across America Day 47
Location: Ottowa, KS (City Park) No super early wake-up call today. But we did rise early, eat quickly, and start riding as soon as we could to take advantage of a strong WNW wind. The wind blew hard throughout the night, waking me up on occasion. It didn’t dawn on me until I woke up […]
Blazing seventy five miles across Kansas on a bike – Bike Across America Day 46
Location: Council Grove, KS (camped at Fairgrounds) At six o’clock this morning, several cars pulled up to the covered picnic area where Brian and I had made camp. I heard several women’s voices at first, and then I heard a couple men. One of the women said, “Someone is sleeping here. There are their tents […]
Bike Tire Explosion outside Great Bend – Bike Across America Day 45
Location: McPherson, KS (Lakeside City Park) Brian and I stayed late in the locker room where the firefighters let us stay. The room was pitch black dark. Light did not even come under the door. I set an alarm for 8:00 so that we didn’t sleep in embarrassingly late, but then I reset the alarm […]
Firemen provide cyclists rest on September 11 – Bike Across America Day 44
Location: Great Bend, KS (Sleeping at the fire station) I had set my alarm for 6:45am so that Brian and I wouldn’t be late to breakfast. I woke at 7:15, having either not heard the alarm or having turned it off in a daze when it sounded. We weren’t late for breakfast, but we rolled […]
Rest at Elaine’s Bicycle Oasis in Bazine – Bike Across America Day 43
Location: Bazine, KS (Elaine’s Bicycle Oasis) The wind blew hard this sunless morning. The gray clouds hung low over Dighton, and I could see several tattered American flags snapping in the strong south winds as I cleared my eyes and came to dread the morning. Brian was even slower than I to climb out of […]
Biking across Kansas into headwinds – Bike Across America Day 42
Location: Dighton, KS (camped at city park) I slept well in the tin shed on a soft but lumpy pile of sawdust. The shed kept the wind off us and was significantly warmer than outside in the park. Animals rustled in the walls a bit, but none bothered us, so I slept well. I packed […]
Cycling across Kansas – Bike Across America Day 41
Location: Tribune, KS (Shed at the city park) The wind blew hard last night, and a misty rain soaked my tent and gear. At some point in the night, the winds switched from southeast to north, and the temperatures dropped substantially. I woke up around 6:00, just as it was getting light. The wind and […]