Day 4: 5/30/23: Pittsburg KS to Ash Grove, MO

Pic below of Jesse and his sidekick, Splinter.  They are from Denver and are biking Bike Route 76 from Virginia to Oregon.

Below is a scenery pic from today.  I liked the red wildflowers next to the golden field.

I rode through a section of short steep hills in Missouri.  On one occasion while I was pedaling 4 miles per hour up a hill, during the hot part of the day, a car passed me with it's emergency flashers on.  When I crested the hill, I discovered the car had stopped in the lane of traffic about half way down the hill.  The emergency flashers were still on, and a lady got out of the car as I approached it.

I thought, "On no, is she mad because I slowed her down - or what?" She actually got out of the car and asked me if I needed some cold water.  I must have looked in pretty bad shape for her to stop, but I was actually feeling pretty good.  I said sure, and she handed me a 1 liter bottle of water.  This wasn't just regular water, it was Hawaiian Volcanic water.  I drank the entire amount over the next few hills and it boosted me over those.

Because she gave me water, I forgive her for committing the ultimate cycling sin - stopping me halfway downhill.  I didn't get to fully enjoy the fruits of my hard labor getting up the hill :)

I'm staying at the cyclists hostel in Ash Grove tonight.  I've stayed here twice before and have always had the house to myself.  Tonight, Brett (pic below), from Maine will be joining me.  He is an experienced cyclist, but this is his first bicycle tour and he is going across the country on Bike Route 76.

Total miles today: 72.5

Day 3: 5/29/23: Toronto to Pittsburg, KS

Last night started off interesting.  There was a bird in a tree that was near my tent that made a distinct click followed by a couple of loud caws over and over again.  This went on well after dark and all the other birds had quietened down.  It became such an annoyance that I got out of my tent and threw a couple of rocks in the tree it was in.  This shut it up for awhile, but it eventually started again.  Either it finally shut up or I was so tired that I fell asleep.  Not sure what exactly happened, but I got a good night's sleep.

Yesterday was definitely a ride through beef country and today was grain country (see pics below).

Below is a pic of Richard and Gage, who are camping at the same campground as I tonight.  They are friends from high school and have been on the road about 2 months.  They initially agreed to walk across the U.S. from coast to coast.  They walked from West Virginia, where they are from, to Baltimore, MD.  They then walked to Pittsburgh, PA, and stayed at a bike hostel there.  They were convinced by cyclists to go talk to folks at a bike shop in Pittsburgh about cycling.  After talking to the folks, they decided to buy bikes and bike across the country.  They are headed to Houston, TX, And then on to CA.  They may then ride up the Pacific coast to Washington.  Gage is a guitarist (has it with him) and Richard is a singer/songwriter.  

Total miles today: 105.4

Day 2: 5/28/23: Cottonwood Falls to Toronto, KS

I started off this morning with a scare.  "The Duck" was missing.

Yep, that duck.  I was beginning to have a "Wilson" moment Tom Hanks had on "Castaway." I have followed that duck a lot of miles and was starting to fill a void.  I searched my camping area thoroughly, and, fortunately, "The Duck" was found.  He's in my bag where will safely make it home so I can decide the best, safest way to put him back on his roost.

Biked by this little fellow this morning and decided it would be best to take it's picture from afar.

A couple of pics below of green eastern Kansas.

I got on US Bike Route 76 by in Cassidy and will remain on it to Marion, KY.

Pic below is Didier.  He was born in France, but has lived in Australia for the past 38 years.  He has a son in Virgina and came to the U.S. to visit him.  He is biking from Virginia to Oregon on Bike Route 76, and has been on the road for about 1month.  He is then going to visit another son that lives in California.

Total miles today: 90.3

Day 1: 5/27/23: Manhattan, KS to Cottonwood Falls, KS

Below are a few pics from my ride today.  After Manhattan, I rode through the small towns of Council Grove, Strong City, and then Cottonwood Falls, where I will be camping in the city park.  

I posted some pics of those small towns in a blog I did a couple of years ago when I rode almost the same route.  In fact, most of my route this trip will mirror my previous trip.  

Today, I had to take a detour because the road I traveled a couple of years ago was closed.  The detour took me on about 10 miles of gravel roads, but they were good to ride on for the most part because they were hard packed.

One of my biggest concerns this trip is a tooth.  About a week ago, I broke a crown on one of my teeth and the majority of it came off the tooth.  I bought some over the counter "dental glue" to try to glue it back on till I can get home and see my dentist.  It stayed on about 6 days and it came off again.  I glued it back on again, and it lasted a couple of days.  It came off again this morning while I was eating breakfast and I glued it on again.  It's just all part of the adventure:)

Total miles today: 74.2