We finally made it!!!!!!! (to the end of KS)

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Day 34 Toronto, KS to Pittsburg, KS
Total Miles: 103.5mi (2249.4 to date)

Our day started a big sluggish despite the fact that Jess had 3 cups of coffee that Caroline left out for us. The farther east we go the more humid it becomes and everything just seems to feel wet all the time. Nothing seems to dry out. There was amazing light this morning as the storm from last night was attempting to make its’ way out of the area. I kept looking to the sky thinking that it was going to rain at any moment, but it held off all day. Jess was having a very low motivation day and at one point decided she was no longer speaking but only roaring much like a lion would (or how she though a lion would). The hills really started to roll today (as far as Kansas is concerned) and we felt that it would be a real stretch to make it to Pittsburg, KS in a reasonable time.

We decided that it was a good idea to get our bikes checked out at a bike shop there since they hadn’t had a tune up or a chain changed out in over 2000 miles (I probably should have done this when I wrecked that rear wheel in CO but I didn’t think of it then). We could not find our rhythm today and it felt like we were dragging until about noon when Jess had a quick power nap and I ate a bunch of sardines and had some energy drink. It seemed to jump start both of our systems and we started really riding. We eventually started making it onto smaller and smaller roads that had pretty good surfaces so that helped a lot as well. I think I am going to look into why it is that when we moo at the cows they run alongside us for as long as they can because it might be because they are heavily stressed out by my mooing and that isn’t my aim at all; I may have to stop the mooing.

I had my first animal saves today by rescuing two turtles that were definitely going to suffer the same fate as some many we have already seen on the roads, I hope they were thankful and that I didn’t ruin some sort of suicide attempt on their behalf. We are now a few miles from entering Missouri where I hear there will be some serious climbing, although climbing is tiring we need a change from the slow going of the wind, I may regret these words but I will go ahead and say it, I welcome the climbing, I look forward to it.

It’s been a few days since we have seen any other riders and in some ways I miss them and the chance to talk to anyone other than Jess (for clarity’s sake it’s not because I don’t like to it’s because we need any little bit of change in our lives on the bikes to stay sane). This post is a bit of a ramble but I am a bit tired.

In a bit of good news, 100-mile days are feeling easier for us and are getting done faster. We got in the saddle today at 7am and made it 103.5miles by 5:30pm with an actual ride time (not counting breaks) of 8hrs. Not too bad for a couple of climbers with motivational deficiencies.

Tomorrow it’s off to the Ozarks as we bid adieu to Kansas and the Plains.

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Comments

[Sylvia]

Are you bringing me a turtle home as a pet?

[josh]

best...blog...since the last blog
Good thing you didn't tell any anti-Bush jokes in Kansas. One time I did. Never seen a comedy club brawl like that before.

[Katttttyyyyyy]

:)
Jess gimme a call, I would do anything to hear you roar like a lion right about now