July 5, 2016
Day 37: Eads to Scott City (Kansas): "The relentless energy of Kansas"
DAILY STATS
Mileage: 105.72
Average Speed: 14.5 mph
Maximum Speed: 23.3 mph
Today was slated to be hot, sunny, and windy, so an early departure was in order.
Roberto and I decided to leave Eads no later than 5am. We were up at 4:30am and rolling by 4:45am. with just a tinge of dawn bringing life to the otherwise black sky.
Biking through the high plains of eastern Colorado at this time was a surreal, introspective experience. The sulfuric sputtering of distant prairie oil rigs gave sound and smell to the morning; twittering birds came and went across the eastern sky; and the lights of distant vehicles meandered their way across the vast expanse of earth.
The sky soon burst to life with color and shortly thereafter the sun began its searing waltz into th fee depths of my epidermis. A quick stop in Sheridan Lake to apply sunscreen and get some coffee quelled things nicely.
I entered Kansas amidst fields of corn and wheat. Kansas is the first of four states on the TransAm that I haven't yet visited, so naturally I was happy to put a check mark next to it on my mental map.
I like Kansas, much more than I expected. And it's not just because the gently rolling terrain is a nice break from the constant climbs and descents of the west (although that is definitely a factor). There's a constant, raw energy here amongst the farms. Combines line the roadways and fields, whirring away in the acres of wheat, corn, rye, sorghum, and barley; trucks barrel by as they make their ways to and from the countless grain silos dotting the side of the road; and folks are traveling in every which direction, trying their darnest to get out of the plains as fast as possible. It's a pity they don't realize what their missing.
Roberto and I plugged away, stopping in Tribune and Leoti to refill our water. The wind was out of the Southwest for most of the day, giving us a mild tailwind. However, the last twenty miles to Scott City were fraught with consistent sidewinds. Luckily, I had recently downloaded Audible, so I happily plugged away while listening to Jack Kerouack's "On the Road," which I thought would be an appropriate book for the occasion.
| Heart | 0 | Comment | 0 | Link |
The sun and heat was intense, as predicted, but we were soon in Scott City, where we stayed with Ben, a warmshowers host and local crop duster and FBO operator. His house was recessed into the ground, meaning it was cool and refreshing. He took Roberto and I to the grocery store, and I bought a dinner that consisted of everything I can't usually eat on the road.
| Heart | 0 | Comment | 0 | Link |
We all chatted a lot before Ben jetted off to go spray a field before dark.
Today's ride: 106 miles (171 km)
Total: 2,426 miles (3,904 km)
| Rate this entry's writing | Heart | 0 |
| Comment on this entry | Comment | 0 |