Day 57: 7/16/19: Hastings, NE to Concordia, KS

I woke up about 3 a.m. with the wind weighing heavy on my mind.  Decided to give it another go leaving early. I stopped by a 24-hour McDonald's for a big breakfast with pancakes.  I found out only the drive-thru is open 24-hours, the lobby didn't open until 5 a.m.  I got there at a little after 4 a.m. so I went to the drive-thru and placed my order.  When I pulled up to the window, the cashier told me I would not be served again if I came through the drive-thru by bike, but they would honor my sale today.  Sounds like discrimination against cyclists to me.  I sat on the sidewalk, no outdoor tables, and ate my breakfast.

Then I needed to use the restroom.  I didn't want to wait 30 minutes for the lobby to open so I went to the convenience store next door.  The bathrooms there were closed for cleaning. I head through town wondering where I could go to the bathroom, and I get my sign, a big blue "H" sign.  So I went to the ER.  Glad Lisa didn't check the tracker right at that moment.

There were storms to the north that provided a good tailwind for about 15 miles.  However, about 7 of those miles were on a gravel/mud road, some of it in the dark with it raining.  (pics below)

As I rode, I could tell the wind then changed to the east, and later on became full out from the south.  At one point, it took me about an hour and 15 minutes to go 8 miles south.

Below is a pic of Guide Rock, the last town in Nebraska before entering Kansas.

A couple of pics below taken before leaving Nebraska.

I made it to Kansas, the State my youngest daughter, Alyssa, now calls home.  The first town I went through was Burr Oak (pics below).

A little Kansas scenery below.  Kansas is deceivingly hilly.

Below is a pic of downtown Mankato.  I like the old motel sign pictured below that is in Mankato.  Notice what the big sell is?  Color TV. : )

About 15 miles from Concordia, my stopping place for the night, my rear tire went flat.  So off goes all the gear from the bike.  I flipped it upside down and put on a new tire and tube.  I couldn't get the tire bead to completely seat, so I rode the last 15 miles with my rear tire having a low spot.  Do you know how annoying it is to ride with a thump, thump, thump for 15 miles?  When I got to the campground I took off the wheel again and was able to get the bead to seat using soap.  The patch I put on yesterday came loose and caused the flat.

At the campground, a nice gentleman who is camping in an RV gave me an ear of corn that he had extra.  It was very tasty.  What a nice gesture to end a very difficult, hot day of riding.

Total miles today: 114.1