Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Abilene to Topeka, KS: 106 miles




The first photo was supposed to be photo of the day, but the phone would not work!


Warren said this was a 4-H day: hot, hilly, humid, and hard winds. That describes our day exactly. We spent all except about 12 miles on Kansas Hwy 4 E, which went every direction but west... that is it went south for miles, then east, zig zagged around, and then took us north into Topeka. We passed through the Flint Hills area, much hillier than I had thought we would see in Kansas! Someone on the tour staff said yesterday that it was 106 miles and 106 hills.. I believe it! We climbed 6,300 feet today, unbelievable considering we were not anywhere near mountains! We passed the halfway point of our ride today. Is it all downhill from here!????


We had winds from every angle--much of the day was cross wind or quartering headwind, but we had the occasional break with a tailwind or quartering tailwind... I started out slowly, and could not keep up with the guys in the pace line. I felt like I was dragging all day, into and out of the first sag (at 35 miles into the ride). I did not stop much in the next leg: stopped to take photos of buffalo and elk, and ate a little something while I was stopped.


I got to the second sag (76 miles) feeling as if I was dragging my tail, but found out I was the 4th or 5th person to arrive there! After that, a lot of us stopped for pie at a nice little cafe... it was great! I looked at my watch when leaving the cafe (91 miles) and made a deal with myself to not look at it again until I finished the ride!


I stopped to take a photo of a sculpture, did not look at my watch... phone would not turn on to take the photo, so I used the real camera. Got to the hotel, looked at my watch and it wasn't there!!!! Found out it was 4:08. Not too bad for 106 miles in the 4 Hs!


We (finally) leave Kansas tomorrow. Guess I'll have to get another watch... One of the riders said he saw a watch on the road a couple of miles out. CrossRoads staff offered to take me out there after dinner to see if it's mine. Not sure what's wrong with the phone. Guess I'll put it on the charger and see if it wakes up.


B-If I don't call you tonight you'll know why.


Hi to Gerry in Ireland from Damien. Of course he was one of the 4 that were ahead of me! He's always one of the first ones in!
Quote of the day from Paula: This is so scenic it's like riding through a postcard! It was indeed.

3 comments:

Gerry said...

Thanks for passing the message from Damien Linda. Give him my best and tell him I'm sorry I missed his calls. I wouldn't expect him to be anywhere else but at the front.Tell him I'm getting saddle sore just reading about your trip.Loved your pictures today . Gerry

historicstitcher said...

Pop the battery out of the phone to reset it. It might work then.

Dr. Bill (William L.) Smith said...

Loved your commentary on how flat the Kansas Flint Hills ARE NOT! Hwy 4 is certainly a challenge. Enjoyed the photos! Hope you can stop back in the Flint Hills and spend more time enjoying the peace, quiet and vastness.

I really enjoy my Google Alert for Blogs on “Kansas Flint Hills!”
Yours came up today!
Our 22 county Flint Hills Tourism Coalition, Inc. promotes visits to the Kansas Flint Hills – the website is: http://www.kansasflinthills.travel/
Hard to believe it has been over a year now since the 22 page color photo spread in National Geographic’s April 2007 Issue on the Kansas Flint Hills, as a distinctive landscape. We are now working to get the Kansas Flint Hills designated as a National Heritage Area.
We would appreciate a link from your site, to ours, if you are willing to do so. THANKS!
Best wishes!
Dr. Bill ;-)
Personal Blog: http://flinthillsofkansas.blogspot.com/