Day 12: 6/30/24: Eureka to Emporia, KS

It's amazing how the weather significantly impacts physical activities.  Since the start of this trip, the daily temperature has been scorching hot.  At the end of each day, I have felt zapped of energy.  There was a big change today.  The temperature stayed in the 70s.  However, the wind direction changed from being out of the south to north, which made it a little more difficult.  Still, the cooler weather made the ride today much more enjoyable.  Tomorrow is forecasted to return to a hotter temperature.

Yesterday I made a change in my plans for today.  I had intended to go to Cottonwood Falls, KS today, but changed that to Emporia.

When I made it to Eureka yesterday I checked with the sheriff's department to confirm it was okay to pitch a tent at the park for the night.  They told me that would be fine.  When I got to the park, it was still hot and there was no one out playing there.  However, as it got cooler, probably about 7:00 p.m., people started showing up at the park with their kids.  I sat and talked with a couple of locals for awhile while their kids were playing. It's funny how the first thing kids notice is the duck on the front of my bicycle.  Everyone left about 8:30 p.m., and I ended up getting in my tent about 9:00.  For a couple of hours, I heard numerous sets of fireworks going off around the parks perimeter.  I eventually dozed off and got a restful night's sleep. 

As has been common on this trip, I woke up about 3:30 a.m.  For a few minutes I laid there debating whether to get up or try to go back to sleep.  I saw lightning in the distance, so I decided to go ahead and get up to beat possible rain.  The rain never came.  

I have been fortunate this trip when it comes to rain.  I have only ridden in one storm the day I left Oak Grove, but there have been several thunderstorms around me on other days.

Sunrise pics below.  Notice the low, thick cloud cover.

Pics around downtown Hamilton below.

I also rode through the towns of Madison and Olpe before I made it to Emporia.  Pics below contain an interesting fact about Emporia.

These signs got my interest up in the founding of Veterans Day and I found the following information online at Visit Emporia KS:

"The reason Americans set aside November 11th to remember those who have served in all wars and conflicts is due to the efforts of an Emporian whose beloved nephew was killed in the World War II.

In 1953, shoe salesman Alvin J. King proposed either creating a special day to honor all veterans or adapting Armistice Day so that it was dedicated to all veterans since, at that time, Armistice Day honored only the veterans of World War I. King had been grieving the loss of his nephew, John Cooper, whom he had raised. Cooper had been killed in action in 1944 during World War II while serving with Rifle Company B of the 137th Infantry Regiment.

The Emporia community rallied around King, and held the very first Veterans Day celebration right here in Emporia in 1953. That same year, the Emporia community raised enough money to send King and his wife, Gertrude, to Washington, D.C. to garner support for an official nationwide veterans day. King had a friend and supporter in Representative Ed Rees of Emporia, Kansas, who was strongly in favor of King’s idea and said ‘‘it would give the holiday a new meaning and more widespread patriotic observance.’’

On June 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was also raised in Kansas, signed into law the Act proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day (Public Law 380 of the 83rd Congress). On October 8, 1954, President Eisenhower issued a presidential proclamation concerning Veterans Day in 1954 in which he stated, ‘‘On that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.’’

The first nationwide observance of Veterans Day was on November 11, 1954."

On October 31, 2003, Congress passed a  resolution recognizing Alvin King, Representative Ed Rees, and Emporia, Kansas for their contributions to history.

So, here's the reason for today's route change. Lisa and I found out last week that Alyssa is scheduled to be induced on July 2.  I am scheduled to arrive at her house on July 1, and Lisa also wants to arrive there that same day.  However, she wanted to drive on Sunday, 6/30, to avoid possible traffic delays due to work traffic in the larger cities she will be driving through.  We decided just to meet in Emporia today, spend the night in a hotel, and travel to Alyssa's tomorrow.

Yeah!!!!  Lisa made it to the hotel (pic below).

Total miles today: 51.9