I have a Godmother in Norfolk, and whenever we drive there, I always remember my parents talking about 'big sky country'. Kansas, however, takes the biscuit! This place is vast.
I have spent the last week or so cycling with the charity ride that I met earlier in the trip. It is great to have company at the moment, as it is flat, incredibly hot, windy and remote. Today we cycled for 60 miles, without turning a corner, in 38-40 degrees heat, between two towns with nothing in between. Luckily the charity ride have a support vehicle that supplied water and water melon (which I have obviously decided is the best thing since sliced bread in this heat - what a fruit). This part of America is experiencing a heatwave, with the fires in Colorado, and we are cycling straight through it. When the locals are complaining about the heat, and dogs stop chasing you, it is hot.
Otherwise, Kansas is a great state. Some of the other riders have said they find it monotonous, but I think it is beautiful. I have never been to Africa, but it makes me think of the Savannah. At the moment, there is not too much corn/maize farming, but the land is more grassy and 'deserty'. The people in Kansas are also fantastic and more drivers are waving at us. When we come into the towns, which are now straight out of the Wild West, the locals are really pleased to welcome us.
To beat the heat, we have been waking up early, so usually leave at 6.00am. Yesterday, we started cycling at 4.00am as it was a 100 mile day! It was awesome to cycle in convoy through the dark, with one of the members explaining all the stars to us as the sky was crystal clear. The sunrise was fantastic and the planet Venus was shining. What a morning that was. Most of the towns we stay at have swimming pools, so that is where we spend the afternoon.
On Wednesday, is in Independence Day, so it will be nice to be here for that. It is also the last day with the charity ride, as they carry on West through Colorado, were as I will head North towards Montana. Hopefully the fires will not prevent this. Another English guy, James, and an Australian girl, Laura, are also heading in the same direction as me, so we might possibly stick together. We have been meeting a lot of people coming in the other direction, and the way they rave about the Rockies makes me super excited to get out there. It will also be much cooler. Apparently you do not need to worry about the gradients of the climbs, as the roads slowly wind their way up.
At the moment I am really in this trip and loving it. The bike is running smoothly, and the rides are great fun, particularly with others to have a laugh with - like minded people! I am also enjoying the evenings and camping out under the stars. I will be in Colorado in a few days, but I will certainly leave Kansas with fond memories. This is a great place!
Saturday 30 June 2012
Monday 25 June 2012
Headwinds, sidewinds, tailwinds and no shelter!
When I first planned this trip, for some reason, I was most nervous about Kansas! The heat, wind, remoteness - it all seemed daunting. It was also a big part of the trip, as a transition from East to West and the exciting land of the Rockies. Well I have made it!
Today my wheels rolled into the city of Pittsburg, where I am to take my first rest day. On first impressions, Kansas is remote - I cycled 30 miles (without a corner) between two towns. It is also windy - I had a slight headwind the whole way today. But the hardest part is the heat - 104 today, which is 40 celcius! That is oppressive when on a bicycle with no shade!
But it is nothing I cannot handle, as I have acclimatized to this trip over the last few weeks. I am actually very excited about crossing this state, contrary to most cyclists opinions, and if the countryside is dull, the people certainly make up for it. So far they have been more than hospitable. When taking pictures just off the road of the Kansas state sign, a big pick up stopped and the couple inside asked if I was alright? They would have given me a lift into town otherwise!
Having said all of this, it is sad to leave Missouri. Crossing the Mississippi was the most incredible way to enter a state, and it had everything - prarie, woods, hills, rivers, agriculture, pretty towns and lovely people. Last night I stayed in a small place called Ash Grove, and I was welcomed by the sheriff, who came to check on me later in the evening. He pointed out all the facilities in the city park, which I camped in, and that included a swimming pool!
If you are a farmer, you would love this part of the world, as arable agriculture dominates everything! Massive tractors, vast corn/maise fields, towering silos and grain elevators and most impressively (and very American) I saw planes spraying fields - how cool is that!
Pittsburg has a feel of the wild west, with a main strip with all the buildings off it. I imagine that the Western feel will increase as I go West (stupid!), but it is a start.
I am currently escaping the heat, but tomorrow I have chores to do - bike shop to fix back wheel (on that note, I did my first wheel trueing by myself, which is very satisfying if you have never done it!), I have booked an appointment with a lady to sow up my ripped tent bag and I need to get a new mobile phone - the current one is useless (never use Verizon!!!). Otherwise there is a Mexican restaurant next to my motel, and highlights of Wimbledon on ESPN!!
I have been asked by a few people if I am enjoying this trip. Well, it was certainly tough at the beginning, but I knew that would be the case. Cycle touring, for this amount of time, is not a holiday. It is an experience and there are good and bad days, you just hope that the good days outnumber the bad! I usually wake up and dread getting on my saddle, but once you have warmed the legs up, the miles fly by. What is noticable, though, is that time (and miles) go by very quickly, and that must mean I am enjoying it. Once you have reached your destination for the day, there is an increadible sense of achievement, and I like that. You meet amazing people, you see incredible landscapes and wildlife and you never know what is going to happen from day to day. That is what I like about cycling!
I do a lot of thinking when cycling by myself - about the next adventure mainly! - and today I was thinking about how I will feel if I make it to Vancouver. I ultimately concluded that I would be sad to finish, even though I want to finish (a slight contradiction I know), so there is the answer to the question!
Finally, Andrea is flying out to Portland in mid to late August to meet me at the Pacific and cycling to Vancouver. I cannot wait, but my wheels have many rotations to make till then!
Today my wheels rolled into the city of Pittsburg, where I am to take my first rest day. On first impressions, Kansas is remote - I cycled 30 miles (without a corner) between two towns. It is also windy - I had a slight headwind the whole way today. But the hardest part is the heat - 104 today, which is 40 celcius! That is oppressive when on a bicycle with no shade!
But it is nothing I cannot handle, as I have acclimatized to this trip over the last few weeks. I am actually very excited about crossing this state, contrary to most cyclists opinions, and if the countryside is dull, the people certainly make up for it. So far they have been more than hospitable. When taking pictures just off the road of the Kansas state sign, a big pick up stopped and the couple inside asked if I was alright? They would have given me a lift into town otherwise!
Having said all of this, it is sad to leave Missouri. Crossing the Mississippi was the most incredible way to enter a state, and it had everything - prarie, woods, hills, rivers, agriculture, pretty towns and lovely people. Last night I stayed in a small place called Ash Grove, and I was welcomed by the sheriff, who came to check on me later in the evening. He pointed out all the facilities in the city park, which I camped in, and that included a swimming pool!
If you are a farmer, you would love this part of the world, as arable agriculture dominates everything! Massive tractors, vast corn/maise fields, towering silos and grain elevators and most impressively (and very American) I saw planes spraying fields - how cool is that!
Pittsburg has a feel of the wild west, with a main strip with all the buildings off it. I imagine that the Western feel will increase as I go West (stupid!), but it is a start.
I am currently escaping the heat, but tomorrow I have chores to do - bike shop to fix back wheel (on that note, I did my first wheel trueing by myself, which is very satisfying if you have never done it!), I have booked an appointment with a lady to sow up my ripped tent bag and I need to get a new mobile phone - the current one is useless (never use Verizon!!!). Otherwise there is a Mexican restaurant next to my motel, and highlights of Wimbledon on ESPN!!
I have been asked by a few people if I am enjoying this trip. Well, it was certainly tough at the beginning, but I knew that would be the case. Cycle touring, for this amount of time, is not a holiday. It is an experience and there are good and bad days, you just hope that the good days outnumber the bad! I usually wake up and dread getting on my saddle, but once you have warmed the legs up, the miles fly by. What is noticable, though, is that time (and miles) go by very quickly, and that must mean I am enjoying it. Once you have reached your destination for the day, there is an increadible sense of achievement, and I like that. You meet amazing people, you see incredible landscapes and wildlife and you never know what is going to happen from day to day. That is what I like about cycling!
I do a lot of thinking when cycling by myself - about the next adventure mainly! - and today I was thinking about how I will feel if I make it to Vancouver. I ultimately concluded that I would be sad to finish, even though I want to finish (a slight contradiction I know), so there is the answer to the question!
Finally, Andrea is flying out to Portland in mid to late August to meet me at the Pacific and cycling to Vancouver. I cannot wait, but my wheels have many rotations to make till then!
Saturday 23 June 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)