Todays Distance: 109 miles
Cycling time: 7 hrs 27 mins
Average Speed: 14.7 mph
Today’s cumulative ascent: 3672 ft
Average Heart rate: 112 bpm
Distance so far: 2053 miles
Distance so far: 2053 miles
Ascent so far: 66,502ft.
Centuries so far: 6
Punctures so far: 3
Today’s Profile:
Centuries so far: 6
Punctures so far: 3
Today’s Profile:
Today’s Route:
Dedication: Today is for all the children in Providence including Bansara, Banrap, Sylvester, Jeet, Angelene, Robistar, George, Kitbok and Stanley who work well with their good teachers.
Today was our 6th Century of this trip and our last full day in Kansas and a day of rolling green hills.
At set-out this morning everyone donned raingear as drops started to fall just as we were loading. It wasn’t as ugly-looking as yesterday morning but heavy black skies were all about. We had escaped yesterday so we couldn’t be as lucky again. As it turned out we were. I was given credit for bringing ‘the luck of the Irish’. Once I don’t bring ‘the weather of the Irish’, my well-being is safe. Within half-an-hour of leaving Abilene the rain-gear was discarded and we settled down to covering those miles. After 15 miles to the south of us fork-lightning was visible for a short period but didn’t interfere. The morning was cool and cloud cover was there till noon. And no wind worth talking about. A perfect day for a century.
Today we saw very little grain although there was plenty of young soya on either side. Grass rather than grain was the flavour of the day and the ripples on the landscape together with plenty of trees made it homely. In the distance the silhouette of grain silos looked like Norman castles or keeps
At the 56 mile mark today as I approached Eskridge I came to the half-way point of my trek from San Francisco to Providence. (marked on the profile with cross-hairs) I marked it with chalk on the road for posterity. It’s there for the next one to take on this challenge. Decision time? Would I go back or go on? That was a no-brainer. More adventures ahead to be experienced and all for the sake of the lads in Providence.
So 2000 miles covered in 158 hours of cycling over 28 days having burned 122,719 calories, climbed 66463 feet and given back 65,502 of them. And now the same all over again. I t was a moment to savour.
All of today we had some shelter from hedges and trees should the wind blow up. It added variation to the route wondering what might be around the next stand of trees. More birdsong to be heard than previously and on one occasion we .were followed for a long period by a beautiful golden song bird flitting from one side to the other of the road.
It was all up and down today but never a long grinding climb. After a short uphill it was give-her-holly on the down slope to build up a bit of momentum and free the muscles of lactic acid. And the road ahead looked like a mild roller-coaster as it stretched away. The navigation today was longer than other days as we were on country roads from start to finish. But reading the cue-sheet now has become very straight-forward for me.
Today wasn’t as full of interest as yesterday. But two items caught my eye but not a sinner within miles to shed light on them. On the left hand side I spotted this rather forlorn tree with items such as ties, golf-balls, golf club, fishing rod etc hanging as if ceremoniously placed there. Very much like bushes near wells at home as in St Sednas in Clonbeg. No one within miles to explain. Outside a farmers place stood an unusual piece of art consisting of bicycles in all shapes of destruction. This is what could happen should you smack into one of those mighty trucks.
It seems that the farms (ranches) around east Kansas tend to be family owned from my observation. Often enough, small places were situated by the roadside with the usual farm machinery about. And no sign of irrigation but the hollows in fields held small permanent lakes. Cattle around here are spared life in the feed-lots, for the time being at least.
I reached the Holiday Inn Motel in Topeka at 3.45 pm as the day was warming up. Only in the last hour did high temperatures become noticeable. They had been in the 70’s for most of the day.
It was a smooth century free from rain, wind, big heat and stiff climbs. I cycled most of it on my own to stretch the legs and expand the lungs at my own pace and to get in before the big heat and the chance that a headwind would pick up. Really enjoyed it.
At set-out this morning everyone donned raingear as drops started to fall just as we were loading. It wasn’t as ugly-looking as yesterday morning but heavy black skies were all about. We had escaped yesterday so we couldn’t be as lucky again. As it turned out we were. I was given credit for bringing ‘the luck of the Irish’. Once I don’t bring ‘the weather of the Irish’, my well-being is safe. Within half-an-hour of leaving Abilene the rain-gear was discarded and we settled down to covering those miles. After 15 miles to the south of us fork-lightning was visible for a short period but didn’t interfere. The morning was cool and cloud cover was there till noon. And no wind worth talking about. A perfect day for a century. Today we saw very little grain although there was plenty of young soya on either side. Grass rather than grain was the flavour of the day and the ripples on the landscape together with plenty of trees made it homely. In the distance the silhouette of grain silos looked like Norman castles or keeps At the 56 mile mark today as I approached Eskridge I came to the half-way point of my trek from San Francisco to Providence. (marked on the profile with cross-hairs) I marked it with chalk on the road for posterity. It’s there for the next one to take on this challenge. Decision time? Would I go back or go on? That was a no-brainer. More adventures ahead to be experienced and all for the sake of the lads in Providence.So 2000 miles covered in 158 hours of cycling over 28 days having burned 122,719 calories, climbed 66463 feet and given back 65,502 of them. And now the same all over again. I t was a moment to savour.
All of today we had some shelter from hedges and trees should the wind blow up. It added variation to the route wondering what might be around the next stand of trees. More birdsong to be heard than previously and on one occasion we .were followed for a long period by a beautiful golden song bird flitting from one side to the other of the road. It was all up and down today but never a long grinding climb. After a short uphill it was give-her-holly on the down slope to build up a bit of momentum and free the muscles of lactic acid. And the road ahead looked like a mild roller-coaster as it stretched away. The navigation today was longer than other days as we were on country roads from start to finish. But reading the cue-sheet now has become very straight-forward for me.
Today wasn’t as full of interest as yesterday. But two items caught my eye but not a sinner within miles to shed light on them. On the left hand side I spotted this rather forlorn tree with items such as ties, golf-balls, golf club, fishing rod etc hanging as if ceremoniously placed there. Very much like bushes near wells at home as in St Sednas in Clonbeg. No one within miles to explain. Outside a farmers place stood an unusual piece of art consisting of bicycles in all shapes of destruction. This is what could happen should you smack into one of those mighty trucks.
It seems that the farms (ranches) around east Kansas tend to be family owned from my observation. Often enough, small places were situated by the roadside with the usual farm machinery about. And no sign of irrigation but the hollows in fields held small permanent lakes. Cattle around here are spared life in the feed-lots, for the time being at least. I reached the Holiday Inn Motel in Topeka at 3.45 pm as the day was warming up. Only in the last hour did high temperatures become noticeable. They had been in the 70’s for most of the day.It was a smooth century free from rain, wind, big heat and stiff climbs. I cycled most of it on my own to stretch the legs and expand the lungs at my own pace and to get in before the big heat and the chance that a headwind would pick up. Really enjoyed it.
Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.
Spotted Today: I noticed so many familiar place names either on the route or on sign-posts like Dover, Manhattan, Detroit, Woodbine, Enterprise, White City, Keene, Holland and Hope.
Spotted Today: I noticed so many familiar place names either on the route or on sign-posts like Dover, Manhattan, Detroit, Woodbine, Enterprise, White City, Keene, Holland and Hope.
Result of Competition: The winner of Name the Bike competition is Sinead Mullins who showed great imagination in her choice. Using the VW PASSAT as a base her suggested name was RW PACAT ..... RW obvious, PAC for the starting point at the PACific (soft 'c') and AT for destination at the ATlantic. Well done, Sinead. Your prize will be winging its way to you in the post. Thanks to all those who submitted a name.
Alarm went off at 6am and I decided that today I wanted to be finished before the big heat of the day arrived. Then I opened the door and was faced with a downpour of rain, howling wind and sheets of lightning. Heat now wasn’t an issue In thee breakfast room the TV was giving updates on the storm that was sweeping up over Kansas with the odd shot of flooding. Spirits were down a bit. Then on the other hand we had had 26 days of uninterrupted sunny pleasant warm weather. For me that doesn’t happen too often. So be grateful and complain not, man. . Sure, didn’t the bit of rain just ensure that we(those of us from Ireland, Wales and England) wouldn’t be homesick.
Back to the rooms and alter the dress for the day. At loading the raingear as well in evidence. Some even took a newspaper to add to protection. Fortunately as we pulled out from the Best Western onto Route 56 East the wind eased and rain stopped and not a sign of lightning. The storm had passed on, clouds were breaking and revealing some blue and things were looking up.
As we covered the first 11 miles we were heading due east with a strong wind hitting us hard on the right shoulder. But we were prepared to put up with it as we just knew things would change. There was plenty of evidence in the fields of the heavy rain last night. No need for irrigation today!
At the town of Canton our route turned due north with a strong tailwind and we knew that the rest of our route today was in that direction all the way to Abiline with the odd piece of road turning east or west for short periods. Now we cycled along country roads and it was a pleasure.
Still it was grain (some cut, some standing) and soya with plenty of greenery. By now, the sun had got the better of the clouds and the windbreaker that I had started out with, was off. Possibly that fear of the big heat wasn’t so far off the mark. As the wind was with us, better make use of it. I didn’t dare imagine what cycling against such a wind would be like. And it could happen over the space of 30 seconds. Make hay while the sun shines.
In so many places the fields (smaller that we have seen for the last few days) were surrounded with hedges and stands of trees. It was like a scene from home except for the long straight roads. Without scarcely pedalling we sailed along at 20 mph as the miles just kept mounting up on the odometer.
At 28 miles out we arrived at the official half-way point of the cycle to New Hampshire. Writing on the road marks the spot and many ceremonial photos were taken. Some lay down on the road, others straddled the line, some built a pyramid of bikers. For me it is not my half-way point; that happens when I clock up the 2000th mile tomorrow. I’ll have that occasion all for myself. That’ll be a pyramid of just one. Shouldn’t be a problem.
The SAG stop came shortly in the town of Gypsum. With O’Reillys Autocare in every large town and Gypsum today, a coachload of Cavan supporters (after been beaten by Meath!) must have ended up here years ago. Gypsum was quiet at this early hour of 9 am with 33 miles under our belt already.
Our SAG stop was at a gazebo in the city park where drivers also stopped to stretch their legs. Only one SAG today but it marked the half-way and cup cakes were on the menu to celebrate. The artistic squad had been up till the late hours formulating an appropriate design….and did a good job. Pity we had to do a demolition on it.
Within 6 miles of Abilene we ran into serious greyhound country with some very large kennels on both sides of the road (Old Route 40). And then there on the left was the HQ of the National Greyhound Association. It had vast kennels, runs, track and offices. I met Katie in the office and enquired about greyhounds in the locality. ‘Yes’, she said ‘you’ll see plenty more as you ride into town.’ Yea, she knew Pat Dalton (Golden) who comes there twice a year for the Spring and Fall meetings. She redirected me to the Greyhound hall of Fame in Abilene itself just across from the Eisenhower Centre. These were the first greyhounds I had seen since I’d left home.
I pedalled on into Abilene(wind in my back) and with the words of the George Hamilton IV song running through my head and hoping they were true
I arrive at the Greyhound Hall of fame and eventually stayed longer than I had planned. At reception I was greeted by the two resident dogs (retired racers who now only chase after your heart and afection). One was hobbling about with a bandaged foot (corns) and with satisfaction I learned that the other was called Abby. Serendipity. Of course there had to be a photo.
The extensive museum gave the history of greyhounds from the time of Ulysses and Argos. I was thrilled to see a full section on Master McGrath, the Waterford three times winner of the Waterloo Cup and a national icon. He was invited to appear before Queen Victoria (a greyhound owner herself) at Windsor Castle. He travelled over by train accompanied by his trainer John Walsh (probably called Sean by his friends!)
I next went to the Hall of Fame established in 1963 by the now National Greyhound Association to recognise great figures in greyhound racing. Both dogs and owners are inducted with suitable citations and is the highest honour in the game. 
Wasn’t I proud to see Pat Dalton of Golden up there with the greats? A full account of his greyhound career and his citation read ‘For outstanding contribution as a kennel operator, owner and breeder of racing greyhounds’ Come on Golden/Kilfeacle. Beside him was Don Cuddy of Raheny, Dublin (For outstanding contribution as internationally recognised trainer of racing greyhounds). A most interesting visit and anyony into greyhounds would really enjoy it. I said goodbye to Abby and came away.
On my way to the hotel (I had arrived in Abilene at noon and it was now well after 2 pm) I called into the Shamrock Gas Station (surely an interesting connection in here) and ended up having a great chat with Rev Charles Huse of Holy Spirit Ministry (USA). He gave me his life testimony and how he had gone preaching the Word of God in India (near Madras) in November 1999 (the same time as when I first went to Shillong). An interesting meeting, gave me his literature and appreciated what I was cycling for. After all that I finally arrived at Holiday Inn Express at 2.45 pm.
Shortly after 7 am we left Great Bend and we headed directly East. At first the shoulder wasn’t the nicest to be riding on with much loose grit but the main carriageway seemed much smoother and more attractive but more dangerous. Resulting possibly from our relaying of the deputy-sheriff’s directions yesterday we all tended to stick to the rougher but safer shoulder.
There seemed to be a lot more nodding oil pumping jacks to be seen today especially soon after leaving Great Bend and they were situated closer to the road. Some of them pump into a pipe system while with others the oil was pumped directly into tanks nearby. They struck oil here in the late 1920’s just in time to keep the local economy out of the Great Depression. The one I visited for a close-up was driven by electric motor and, I believe, that depending on the size of the pump it can produce 5 to 40 litres of a crude oil/water mixture at each stroke.
Grain was being harvested on all sides throughout the day. The major crop in the county of McPherson (pronounced Mc Fur Son) is hard red winter wheat with over 220,000 acres planted annually.(529,000 acres in total in the county). It has beards like barley that led to my mis-identification on June 24. After all, 400 varieties of wheat are grown in the US. 70% of the agricultural economy is sales of crops and 30% is livestock. Didn’t see any feedlots during the course of today’s cycle. Grain sorghum is the number two crop followed by corn and soya beans. Corn (maize) is grown as an irrigated crop. Annual rainfall averages at 30 inches with the highest amounts from May till August.
For a second time since June 1 we cycled through a city called Lyons.... nicely laid out with some impressive municipal architecture. As in other towns large murals tell the story of the early settlers and pioneers. All was quiet as we passed through around 10 am.
I am approaching the halfway point of the journey for Providence and hoping that it will all be really worthwhile for the children there. I have got the odd e-mail re other donations that have come in to the Abbey and it heartens me. Usually, the end of an adventure is the time to acknowledge assistance given. At that point it could all get lost in the euphoria of the moment. I hope that I am not tempting fate here. As regards the cycling a few things over the last year have made a difference. I was notorious for saving water, not drinking anything near sufficient. It was suggested to me that I should hydrate more. Last summer I had a bad experience being caught out with no water and forced to do two long detours. Finally returning late and drained (and after 3 flats) I was looking grey and feeling green. Only then did the suggestions of my hydrating mentors, Margaret and Barrie, really hit home. Since then I drank more, at times it went against the grain but finally I succeeded in internalising the habit. Thanks, Margaret and Barrie. With winter in Ireland not being very conducive to cycling I knew that I would have to do gym work to supplement. At Christmas it was the example and urgings of Richard and Charles that pointed me towards Dundrum House Leisure Centre and its gym and pool. I’d always argued against exercising inside but this upcoming cycle challenge forced me indoors. Couldn’t wait for the long evenings and the good weather. (If I did wait, apparently I wouldn’t be out on the road yet). Thanks Richard and Charles. And I did improve my gear selection since this time last year and it does make a great difference. I’m now getting better performance for the same effort.
Finally, we arrived into the motel on the far side of McPherson at 12.30 with the heat making a quick shower very desirable.
