Called the bike shop in Newton yesterday afternoon to see what time they opened today. They don’t open until 10am, but said we would have to make an appointment to have someone look at our bikes because they are backed up with Race Across America Cyclists needing repairs. The first appointment they had available was at 3pm. I was planning to be in Newton around 7am and was willing to wait until 10 to have someone replace my spoke, but not excited about spending the entire day there. So, I went to the gas station last night where we ate and there was a guy there who had an adjustable wrench in his truck that he loaned me—that’s all I needed to fix the spoke myself—I had picked up spare spokes and the other speciality tools at a bike shop a few days ago. So, I replaced the spoke myself last night and now all I’ll need Newton for today is Breakfast 🙂
Rob wanted to have someone at the shop look at his bike just to make sure everything was fine, but he decided to skip it as well—spending an entire day there wasn’t part of our plans.
Up at 3.30 this morning. If I described last night in a word, it would be train. If there was one train that went by last night there were 20….didn’t sleep that well and I felt it all day today. Not having great luck getting a good nights sleep when we camp in city parks—problem is, in some locations that’s all that is available.
Nice cool breeze this morning.
Was packed up and hit the road about 4:45. There are no services until Newton, 40 miles away, so had to work for my breakfast this morning 🙂 Rolled into Newton about 8:30 and had a good breakfast buffet at the Breadbasket on Main Street. Been craving cold pineapple and grapefruit and they had both. Rob stopped by the bike shop and the owner was outside and he asked Rob if he could help him. Rob explained that he wanted to have his bike looked at but couldn’t wait until 3pm…the owner took his bike in, looked it over, and replaced his chain — Rob was in and out in about 30 min before the store even opened….great service. I have already fixed my spoke so just stopped in and picked up a couple C02 cartridges.
Feeling sleepy all morning due to not getting much sleep last night. Stopped on side of the road before Hesston….drank Gatorade and tried to wake up….sat there for about 15 min then got back on the road and made it to Hesston a few miles down the road. Stopped at a gas station…resting and drinking orange juice and Diet Coke with ice. Not tired, just sleepy. 37 miles to Nickerson where I’m staying tonight—should be easy to do if I could just stay awake.
As I was rolling out of Hesston, I saw a Tru Value Hardware Store, so stopped in and bought an adjustable wrench….last tool I need to fix any future spoke problems—now that I have all the tools and am carrying the 4 lb or so of extra weight, I most likely won’t have anymore spoke problems 🙂 Which will be just fine with me.
The last 37 Miles were HOT, WINDY, and HARD. I caked on the sunblock this morning but not sure it was entirely effective. The sun was beaming and there was no shade to be found. The wind was coming out of the Southwest hard and I was riding West all day. It was a blessing and a curse—the wind was the only thing keeping the sun from roasting me—was riding on freshly paved roads and you could see the heat waves coming off the pavement—but the wind also made me work hard for every mile. I wasn’t flying across Kansas today—more like crawling.
The wind here is relentless—it starts picking up when the sun comes up and by about 8am it’s blowing pretty hard. Seems to always be coming out of the south or southwest. You only need to look at the way all the trees are bent here to know that is the norm.
Finally made it to Nickerson and there is city park camping here, but I just can’t do that tonight. I’ve been having a hard time all day from lack of sleep…I feel plenty strong enough to do the miles but I was having a hard time staying awake on the bike all day long. I need a good, long, comfortable nights sleep.
Rob got to town before me and found this B&B called Hendrick Exotic Animal Farm and Bed & Breakfast. It’s a pretty cool place all decked out like a little Western Town. I’m staying in the Camel room. Walked around a bit and took some pics of the animals—have mixed feelings since I would much rather see these animals free in the wild where they’re from instead of in pens and cages here, but they are well cared for. When the owner found out I was from Lexington he said the Red Mile Track was trying to get him to bring some of his animals there to race—not sure which ones since I thought they only raced horses there. Anyway, at under $70 this is a bargain—the AC in the room alone is worth that to me right now 🙂
Rob and I are strategizing for tomorrow. Calling for thunderstorms starting at around midnight through 10am tomorrow morning. Rob is on a mission to get out of Kansas so he plans to get up at 3:30 am again and roll regardless to do another 90 or so mile day. I’m going to get up but if it’s storming I’m going back to bed and will wait it out. I don’t mind riding in a storm when I’m caught out in one like I have been more than once on this trip, but not eager to start out in one when I have a comfortable bed I could stay in until it stops 🙂
It was a hard day, but other than the effects of a lack of sleep, still feeling strong!
