7-2 Thursday

Dighton, KS to Eads, CO - 128 miles

Today was our epic day that defined our determination. Woke up to an amazing tailwind and got on the road as quick as possible. We rode 128 miles with an average speed of over 19, unbelievable.

Continuing ours views endless flat land, railroad, and the graineries that fully support the towns that surround them, usually of a population of less than 200.

We finally got out of the plains of the heartland though and into Colorado.

The landscape changed about 5 miles into CO. with dry, arid landscape, rocky and sagebrush as far as the eye can see. We also finally crossed into mountain timezone.

7-1 Wednesday

Larned, KS to Dighton, KS - 95.11 miles

Continuing to follow the endless railroad from town to town in the middle of nowhere, connecting one grainery to another.

Stopped in Ness City, KS. and set up shop on the side of the road. A man who has MS, as well as his sister and mother, stopped by the tent and talked for a while.

Continued on another 30 miles to Dighton City. Here we stayed in the city park and listened to the kids set off fireworks till midnight. Had some great games of knockout in the city pool to cool off.

6-30 Tuesday

Nickerson, KS to Larned, KS - 60 miles

Awesome biking conditions this morning; calm winds, cool temperatures and everyone rode together until the first stop which we haven't done in a while.

All I can see is wheat and corn as far as I can see. Unbelievable to see all the combines moving like tanks in the fields clearing hundreds of acres a day.

Things have been getting a little grimey around here and showers at the pool are always welcome, let alone the pool to cool you off. Funny what the hair can do...

All you can eat pizza buffet with the crew at Pizza Hut for only $5. Thanks! And thankyou to Wendy who I met there. Her son was very curious about the trip and we chatted for a while. She was so kind to give a random donation!

6-29 Monday

Cassoday, KS to Nickerson, KS - 90.33 miles

Another long day. The land still wasn't as flat as I was expecting for Kansas but apparently that's in the western part of the state. Don spoiled us with egg sandwhich from the grill as we crawled out of our tents. Not a very eventful day beyond 90 miles in hot weather, atleast it's a lot drier out here that previously. A week ago I would find myself drooling at some points, just cranking out the miles without worrying about anything else. Now I find that I can barely talk after breathing the dry air in for so long.

Stopped at a cafe for a smoothie after 50 miles or so.

The cool thing about being in Kansas right now is that it's harvest season for wheat and there's a lot of activity around. The locals like to joke that there's 10 times more traffic on the roads because of harvesting. We noticed...

6-28 Sunday

Chanute, KS to Cassoday, KS - 98.21 miles

Beautiful morning riding outof town. We were out of the campsite by 5:30 am and were delighted by the lower temperatures on the day.

Hands have been going slightly numb with strength almost completely gone from my finger tips so I bought some more handlebar tap and double wrapped my handlebars... so much better. Had blueberry pancakes and a milkshake at our second stop about 40 miles in. Really riding into the middle of no where now. Pushed through the Flint Hills which are the last hills in the terrain until the Rockies in Colorado. Very scenic.

Came into Cassosday in the early afternoon and took what must have been a 4 hour nap in the grass. The flys were real bad here!

6-27 Saturday

Pittsburg, KS to Chanute, KS - 57.85 miles

What a day this was. Our new friend Tess rode with us about 15 miles out of town. While riding one of the local firefighters pulled along side of us while riding and offered to pick up the tab at the next gas station for snacks and drinks. Thanks Seabass!

Then on to Chanute where we met met up with a 10 year old boy, Chase, who has MS. We found out he was a fan of wrestling and has a wrestling match right there on the side of the road! The Demyelinator (Kevin) vs. the MS Avenger (Dustin). It was great and the people from the local MS chapter brought us snacks and great conversation. Thanks!

6-26 Friday

Ash Grove, MO to Pittsburg, Kansas - 81.58 miles

Great morning, not too hot. Today was our last day in Missouri and to celebrate we stopped in Golden City to have some famous pie. After some blueberry pancakes I dedcided to go with the blueberry pie, amazing.

As the mornnig continued the temperature kept climbing and by the time we arrived in Pittsburg, KS it was already 101 degrees. I've never been to Kansas so all I have to go on is the stories I've heard of how flat and boring the state is. But so far not so flat, with continued rolling hills, and great attitudes from locals, I'm very much enjoying myself.

Thanks Wheat State Pizza for hooking us up with free pizza buffet. I went into a food coma and fell asleep on the stool against the wall. When we left it was 103 outside with a heat index of "easily 110" as the weather man put it. Our new friend Tess was kind enough to haggle a great rate at the Comfort Inn as beds, showers, and A/C was more than welcome. We had dinner at Sacred Heart Parish Hall in Frontenac, KS where they were so kind to us and provided us with a feast, which accrued yet another food coma. We met some great people here and had some great conversation, thanks again!