We packed up and got out of Ordway early this morning - partly to beat the heat & the fact that I had a pretty long day ahead of me . . . and partly because the camping situ was pretty unsavory. Today's ride was truly the first that was flat, flat, and then more flat. Luckily the winds were (largely) cooperative - at least never had any true headwinds . . . mostly wind from my right side (from the south) although there were some times were I did get some tailwinds, too.
| Sorta changes your mental image of Colorado, huh? |
|
Scorcher of a day - temps by the end in the mid-90's although the humidity out here in Western Kansas remains mercifully low (still in the mid-20%'s)
|
"Howdy! Where ya' headed? . . . I can carry you as far as . . . " Luckily my bike is a single-occupancy vehicle.
Not exactly sure what this suggests as far as their security?!?? |
|
About 30 miles from Ordway I met up with a couple of West-bounders. Micah & Dave are from Ithaca, NY and are headed to San Francisco via Utah and Nevada. They too had managed to make their way thru Eastern Kansas without too much issue - although there were some detours that they had to follow to get around some of the worst of the flood damage. I guess Chanute, KS has been in the news quite a bit with all of the flooding. Well, the route goes right through Chanute - so we're just going to have to play things by ear when we get out there.
| Arlington Cemetery - High Plains-style |
|
At one point I passed an older dude on a mountain bike with an absolutely MONSTER trailer tagging along behind. Had to have been stacked at least five feet high with junk (including 2 extra mountain bike wheels with tires). It appeared that all of his earthly possessions were on that trailer. Older dude with monster trailer was WALKING Westbound. I slowed, gave him a "howdy" (elicited a doleful wave while continuing to walk West and stare at the ground) then asked "can I give you a hand?" (elicited a second doleful wave while continuing to walk West and stare at the ground). Didn't feel too bad about leaving older dude with monster trailer behind. Numbskull.
Caught up with Eastbound father & son Arthur and Raleigh (the guys I met at the convenience store in Ordway yesterday) today as well. They planned to make it here to Tribune tonight too but as of right now they still haven't appeared (there is only a single camping option in Tribune - at the city park). We had a quick chat before I motored ahead (still feel sometimes like I'm cheating that I'm not carrying all of my gear) - mostly commentary on the road conditions.
With that I will now say conclusively that road surfaces in Colorado - as a rule - are LOUSY. Lots & lots of chip & seal, and most of the roads have bone-shattering cracks in them about every 15-20 yards that are mentally and physically devastating after a few miles. The contrast with Kansas road surfaces (at least for the 20 miles I've done in Kansas) when I rolled into this state is stark. Beginning right at the border SR 96 offered up some really smooth buffed out asphalt that made the final 20 miles of my 120-miler today a real pleasure.
| Kansas - State #5 and home of buttery-smooth road surfaces! |
|
Upon entry into Tribune saw a girl with a fully loaded touring bike holding up a sign that read "Need a ride WEST". I should have stopped to talk to her to get her story but after almost seven hours on the bike I was too shelled to care.
Nearly every little town in Kansas has free camping in their city park (Tribune included!) and a community pool that is free for all to use (Tribune included!). Took a very hot shower after my ride then went for a swim. My laser-tan lines - especially on my arms - are attention-getting, but the dip felt too good to pass up.
PREVIOUS - TRIP INDEX - NEXT