Day 10: 5/25/10 Pratt, KS to Yates Center, KS

Click below to review today's route and ride stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/34590344

We awoke today in Pratt under the threat of rain.  Got up and poked my head out of the room, and all was dry.  Got dressed and went out 15 minutes later and there was a pretty steady rain.  Went back in and got my rain gear.  And by the time we left the rain had essentially stopped.

Ready for rain - just before setting out from Pratt.

When you sign up for this sort of thing, you realize that you will be riding in a variety of weather conditions.  You dont have to like it, but you do need to accept it.  We were geared up for a pretty miserable day slogging away in the rain.  As it turned out, today was quite pleasant the whole day.

The morning part of the ride was wet with lots of road splash but as afternoon arrived, the sun came out and it was a beautiful day.  We did have one rider crash on some wet railroad tracks, but she appears to be OK which is a relief.  The rides are hard enough already without having to nurse injuries.

John (right) was popular to follow today.  He went with the fenders today.

There is not much more I can say about Kansas except for that it is a very long state and the terrain is pretty much the same ... flat.  As we are moving toward the eastern edge of the state, we are starting to encounter more rolling terrain which leads us into a pretty tough day tomorrow as we enter Missouri.

Perhaps the biggest reason today was such a long day was a preponderance of mechanical issues with bicycles, mostly flat tires.  Of the roughly 18 riders on the road today, there were more than 30 flats.  I was fortunate to have only one.  The record goes to the one tandem on the trip, which I believe had more than 5.  The tandem also broke a bottom bracket (the thingy the crank arms go into).  Lon and the crew worked flawlessly to keep everyone rolling down the road. 

My only flat today.

Things warmed/dried up nicely toward the end of the day.

But ... the next set of thuderstorms brewing in the distance.

Tomorrow we move into Missouri which I am told gets to be very hilly, and at 185 miles will be another long hard day.  Looking forward to leaving Kansas and into a new state.

Eureka!  We are half way there.

Finally, today we crossed the half way point on our journey with only nine days to go untill we arrive at the Atlantic Ocean.  In many respects, this trip is long and difficult, but in others, you are already starting to realize it wont be that much longer until this adventure will come to an end.  Thus far, it has been a wonderful experience.  I have met many wonderful new people and have seen some amazing countryside and I am truly coming to grips with just how large this country is.

Old-Time Motel Tonight - The Townsman

We are staying at the Townsman Motel tonight.  Wow, what a throwback to the olden days!  Complete with dark brown shag carpeting, dark wood paneling, and linoleum tile and lamenate countertops in the bathroom, this is the most rustic of our accomodations thus far.  Has Wi-Fi ... go figure!

Any way, its getting late, big day tomorrow.

I had the camera bagged up most of the day, I will try to post a few pics tomorrow.