Click below to review today's route and ride stats:
Holy Rollers! I Don't Think we're in Kansas Anymore
Today was a brutally difficult day. 185 miles in 90+ degree heat and humidity of Missouri. We rode from Yates Center about 60 miles to the Missouri boarder. It was a good feeling to finally get windy Kansas behind us. With the exception of a few turns along the way, I don't believe we got any favorable winds out of Kansas. Missouri was not much different thus far. Winds still blowing out of the northeast during most of the morning.
We rode the first 60 miles to the Missouri border, and just at about that time, the terrain began to make a significant change. Kansas from west to east is pretty much dead flat, with some rolling terrain beginning in the eastern section of the state. Missouri, on the other hand is incredibly hilly most the way across thus far. We spent most of the afternoon yo-yo-ing up and down this hill and that. These "rollers" are a bit different than the ones I have riden frequently in south-central Wisconsin. Missouri rollers are much longer in their duration, making the rider slog up one side at 8 mph, and down the back side at 25 mph. Repeat about 100 times, and well, you've made a day of it. Add to that humidity and temps in the mid 90's and you've got a very long day.
Me and Lynn somewhere between points A and B
Today I rode with Lynn from start to finish. Lynn is an incredibly strong rider who kept me in the game throughout the day. The legs did not seem to have the get-up-and-go which I have had thoughout most of the tour thus far, so Lynn and I decided to take it "easy" today. We didnt smash any records, but we got in at about 6:45 this evening, just over 12 hours of riding for the day. The countryside was very pretty to look at but apparently very hazzardous for wildlife.
Our roadkill survey this day puts turtles at the top of the mortality list, followed by armadillos, snakes and frogs. I was amazed at the number of turtles Missouri has. Lynn and I did do our part to save as many as we could as we rode. We took one young lad who was traveling with traffic to the side, gave him a good talking to, and released him to his watering hole.
Sorry I do have to run. I am really beat and need to get to sleep! Tomorrow's journey to St. Louis will be very scenic, but as difficult, if not moreso than today. After St. Louis, we will get some "shorter" and "flatter" days as we enter Illinois and Indiana.
Here are a few pics I took today:
Camera shy - Perhaps because we scolded him for walking on the roadway.
So long Kansas, welcome Missura
Susan cooking up a favorite, grilled cheese and tomato.
Lunch is a favorite time of the day!
You can find Nemo about 5 miles to the south.
Y? Sometimes I ask myself the same question. ... because it's PAC Tour!
Me and Lynn, happy to have made it through a very tough day.
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