Gimme Shelter...Day 18...Cameron to Kirksville...Weds 11/05/11

I set-off last from our motel and knew that thunderstorms were on the cards...joy. And unease, quite frankly: although you probably know that the lightning strikes are miles away, they don't half look a bit too close, especially when you are perched on a load of metal...

Sense prevailed after 15 miles or so as our boss called us in to take shelter in a truck-stop. Not sure what the correct collective for a load of lycra is...a shower?

And here is Mike (doing well for 253) consulting the weather gods/Apple apps and trying to decide when he can release us back into the wilds of MO...after 30 minutes, as it happens.

Slight navigational pfaff by myself after our first scheduled stop in Chilliclothe (great name)...I managed to get myself temporarily situationally-confused (thus giving myself a couple of bonus miles) and was pleased to find the support team who gave me a lead out of town.
"Follow that van...".

This meant a from-then-on solo day as I was too far behind most of the other riders to catch-up, and indeed lacking in either speed or inclination to do so. Sight-seeing it was then, and a long day in the saddle...

Made in the shade...by the 100 mile-mark I was glad of the occasional shelter from the sun...it was warm enough at a high of 93F but nowhere near as bad as the past two days. Still went through over 10 litres of water though.
We climbed over a mile today, and certainly now we all respect the state of Missouri- not one to be taken lightly.

Was I glad to see the Crossroads Motel? Hell yes!

Althoug I did take an aeon to finish, I actually wasn't that far behind the chaps that I usually cycle with/near...it's a funny old game, this bike nonsense.

Tomorrow...The Mississippi, Illinois and adventure awaits.

Stats...stats...stats...nothing to hurry about down here...

Disraeli Gears...Day 17...Topeka to Cameron, MO...Tues 10/05/11

We rolled out of Topeka at 7am and led a charmed life for the first 70 miles or so...it was too good to last of course, hah-hah!

One of the last residences that we passed in Kansas...Marlboro Man mailbox.

The bridge over the River Missouri in Atchison. I tried to take some shots of the water but the results were even worse than usual due to the narrow lanes and grid-like surface...I did well not to drop the sodding camera!

An out-take from the State Tourism brochure.

Team Felt (that's the make of bike, alright?) in varying degrees of distress...from the left: Craig, me and T.C..

Some very manicured residences in this neck of the woods.

A novelty to see water, although pretty soon we may see what too much of the stuff can do when we come to cross the Mississippi. I saw this quote on the BBC's website...

"Further inland, Graceland, the famous home of rock and roll legend Elvis Presley, was out of harm's way, as was Beale Street, a tourist attraction known for Blues music.
"I want to say this: Graceland is safe. And we would charge hell with a water pistol to keep it that way and I'd be willing to lead the charge," director of the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency Bob Nations Jr said."

Best quote I've read in ages, Bob Jr....and best of luck too.

I know I said no more 'road goes on forever' shots but this is to show the relentless, rolling terrain...it's one rise after another. We climbed around 6500' over the 120 miles, and must've changed gear 10,000 times, or so it felt.

"I am a lineman for the county.
And I drive the mainroad.
Searching in the sun for another overload.
I hear you singing in the wire.
I can hear you thru the whine.
And the Wichita Lineman,
is still on the line."

Genius from Jimmy Webb...although the bloke below was about 500 miles from Wichita.

Alright, perhaps cows aren't the most visually expressive of all animals, but I swear I could detect a look that said,
"Quick, Mabel...look! Have you ever seen such a sight...well I never...I think he's going to keel over...ain't that the darnedest thing?"

Could well be more of the same tomorrow...we'll see what we see.

You want dodgy numbers?    The curse of Garmin strikes again...the rest of the data is good...

Blazing Saddles...Day 16...Abilene to Topeka, Mon 09/05/11

Yeah, here we go again on the road for 7.02am and already it was warm...and that was only gonna go one way...up.

Well if that's your attitude, we will leave town!

Leaving Abilene, early-doors.

Tough drag through here.

What's up, horses? Why the long face?

Such a change in the landscape from only two days ago...and it was crazy-warm out there: my Garmin read a high of 104F. I drank in the region of 10 litres of water over the day...ridiculous.

After the day's cycling is done there is a window of opportunity to get your bike attended to if you have a problem...this is where Jim's area of expertise lies...

Steve (Sir Clive) is so organised that even his wardrobe is coordinated with his degreasing foam. Takes all sorts, I suppose...

...and the ineffably cool Daryl gets his bike fettled by our technical guru Jim. Lord help him. Top-notch millinery though, Sir!

More nonsense at the same time tomorrow. Turn the heating down a touch, will you?

Stats...stats...stats...More numbers an' that...

Lazy Sunday Afternoon...Day 15...Great Bend to Abilene...Sunday 08/05/11

We headed out of Great Bend as per this morning and faced another 3/4 headwind which meant a lot of us hanging back together trying to find a bit of shelter and conserve energy for the 129 miles to our next home in Abilene.
Eventually Drill Sergeant Manny had us organised into a paceline as best he could, but there were just too many of us to make it work effectively despite Manny's best efforts/barking out orders!

At the first stop of the day at 31 miles in the town of Lyon with a local and vocal mog. Not impressed by my suggested dietary enhancement...

Probably means something else...

I was having a so-so morning with no real drive in the engine room, and frankly could've climbed-off after 45 miles or so...the thought of another 80 wasn't filling me with delight.
It's a bit rubbish when you are giving it your best, concerted effort and yet you are down to barely 10mph: all of us will go through these bad patches, and yet I rallied  before lunch at 70 miles. I know pretty much everyone thought that that was a tough sector.

We had another 6 miles of struggle after the food-stop before a left turn meant that we were sailing along with the wind. More like it.
Somebody in Canton has a sense of humour...

We eventually ran out of road...

...which meant a little bit of cyclo-cross...

               (courtesy Mike Munk)

The rest of the stage was a slog-fest in ever increasing temperatures: my Garmin read a maximum of 101F.
Rarely have I been so glad to see a water-tower!

Tomorrow? A mere 109 miles to Topeka. Winds- please do one!

Here we go with the numbers...Hot stats!

Buffalo Soldier...Day 14...Dodge City to Great Bend...Sat 07/05/11

Sorry for the delay in getting this load of nonsense out there but the hotel's wi-fi was a bit steam-driven and prone to er, not working. Nevermind...

First of many photo-ops today (well, yesterday now) on the way outta Dodge...

At our first stop in Kinsley, although I should add that it's not this trip's midway point...my arse and I both hope that that point is reached sooner rather than...

Buster Keaton lives on...

Into a paceline to battle the 3/4 headwinds. Tedious.

Second detour: Fort Larned...

Where Bob got his 'Buffalo Soldier' idea from...

A car on a pair of step-ladders? Why not.

Another detour to Pawnee Rock look-out. No, no films were made...

The view from the rock...

Where Ohio Bob is believed to have purchased his Cannondale...

It was doing all of 10 mph. Not unlike us, then.

We finished in Great Bend's famous ice cream parlour 'Braums'...recommended!

Almost forgot...THE NUMBERS!

Vanishing Point...Day 13...Liberal to Dodge City...Fri 06/05/11

Right then, I'll not even try and tell you that today's stage was this-or-that...it was as close to a formality as cycling 85 miles could be thanks to a little bit of a kind wind and flat terrain.

Still think my Bruce Forsyth needs work...

Our only stop today was at 38 miles and we had a look at the Dalton Gang Museum which was run by a lady from near Cork. Obviously. She told me that she arrived in New York on December 2nd, 1957. So now you folks know too.

We steamed into Dodge...

...and I spied this mint '70 Challenger.

Beef this, beef that...

At the Boot Hill Museum we felt it prudent to tie-up our horses...

Our kinda museum as it goes, with beer served...

...and a bartender who plays a mean tune.

Tonight we stay right on the city limits- almost as if Mike (doing well for 203) wishes us out of harm's way...

Another short stage tomorrow but this will be one featuring confused winds. We'll see!

Stats...get them here...Three from the top...