Todays Distance: 90 miles
Cycling time: 5 hrs 45 mins
Average Speed: 15.6 mph
Today’s cumulative ascent: 3566 ft
Average Heart rate: 127 bpm
Distance so far: 2226 miles
Distance so far: 2226 miles
Ascent so far: 73,459 ft.
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 Br Steve and Br Peter in St Edmunds and all the other Brothers on St Edmund’s campus who have contributed to our experiences. And for Br Dinny (RIP) who made us feel so much at home there always. God reward you all. Thank youBack on the road again after a relaxing Rest Day and all very keen to get going. We have four new riders – Leslie and Virginia (GA) on a tandem who did the first half last year and Joe and Danny, a grandfather/grandson pair (Joe on a recumbent). Shortly after 7 am we set out from St Joseph (referred to as St Joe locally) on Route 6 East.
As usual the low morning sun was in our eyes for the first few miles. I needed a quick job done on the rear hub before setting out. A quick tightening and the play in the back wheel was rectified. Assuming that I was the last to leave I pedalled off attempting to catch up with the usual group. Only later in the morning did I find out that they were behind the luggage trailer fixing a flat for another cyclist. (I didn’t remember what I’d heard about assume.) 
Soon the group gradually broke into the usual sub-groups and we were back on the rolling flint hills. In Nevada I got a new understanding of the words vast and infinity. Here in Missouri I’m getting a deeper insight into everlasting. These rollers are everlasting – they come at you like the waves on the seashore. One after another after another etc. we had 50 miles of them. It was an advantage to ride alone in that I could descend at my own pace and use the momentum to climb the next one. None of them were too long, but everlasting.
As the last section of the cycle finished off, so did this section begin. Dogs. I couldn’t but think of the Baha Men song ‘Who Let the Dogs Out’. At about the 16 mile mark two brutes came out from the right and proceeded to have an early lunch. Again, I decided not to go for the camera but burst into a sprint and left them in my wake. My sprinting is improving as a result. 3 miles further on two more appeared and repeated the process. Eventually these gave up the chase possibly because of the sprint or that they understood Irish or didn’t like the shaking of fists or just because of my persuasive personality. Saved again. Dogs appeared again at the 40 mile mark but only gave token chase. I think word had spread on www doggie.com to leave the lad with the Providence shirt alone; you haven’t a chance.
More than any other day I noticed flowers along the way. Granted there was a lot of meadows on both sides (as well as soya at the early stages).
The milkweed (left)was plentiful and still in flower. When a stem is broken a milky substance quickly appears. Later in the season after flowering, pods form and burst open in August scattering seeds like the dandelion. It is a great favourite with the Monarch butterfly, the best known of the North American butterflies.
We are coming near to the Mississipi and today we saw the first of the flooding just before we came to Chillicothe near to the Thompson River. Floods were on both sides of the road and fields were still under a considerable amount of water. I thought that the surfaces of the roads near the end of the cycle were rough possibly also as a spin-off of the flooding. The ferries that usually take trucks etc over the river are out of commission for the next 3 months. Our bikes will be transported across as the bridges are unsafe for cycling due to the increased vehicular traffic.
Our second SAG was in Jamesport where there is a large Amish community an Anabaptist denomination found mostly in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana. They use horses for farming and transportation, dress in a traditional manner and forbid electricity or telephones in the home even zippers are shunned. The aesthetic value is one of plainness with absolutely no ostentation. A large number of carts were up and down the street while we were at the SAG.
Just as I came out of a confectionary shop in Jamesport after treating myself I met two men an as is usual they enquired where were off to, where we started and where we all came from. I told him ‘from Tipperary, you probably heard of the song’. He ( the one in the yellow top) told me there was a Tipperary up near his place about 74 miles away. Nice to hear but pity it was so far, especially for a bike. He said it was just a few houses now, used to be a mining town. I found out later that it is just 5 miles off our route tomorrow, so I intend doing the bit extra to pay a visit and conduct a twinning ceremony with Tipperary, Missouri. More about this tomorrow, hopefully.
Destination after 90 miles appeared in the town of Chillicothe (pop 9000). Chillicothe prides itself as the Home of Sliced Bread and a large mural on the Main St proclaims that pride. Sliced bread was first offered for sale here in 1928. The town capitalises on its claim by offering themed t-shirts, aprons, posters and even candles that give off the fragrance of freshly baked bread.
For the last two segments of todays cycle I joined up with Gary (Il) and Forest (MD) and we kept up a respectable pace for the period. We arrived at the Best Western Motel at 2.30 when the temperature was reading 88 degrees.Felt good to be back on the bike again after the lay-off. An up and down day literally but enjoyable. The wind left us alone but not the dogs. I look forward to tomorrow and visiting Tipperary.
Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.
Seen Today: Possibly as a result of the downturn in property, one ranch had its name in large letters over its entrance ‘El Rancho Bankruptus’
At 9 am this morning, as already organised by phone during the week, 
Just as they finished I got a tap on the shoulder and was asked by a TV journalist if I was Richard Walsh and that she, Ariane Aramburo, was here from KQTV, the local television station to conduct an interview. Again I spoke to her about the cycle and the Abbey India Project in front of the motel and it so happened other cyclists were out cleaning the bikes just then. The item may appear on their news this evening at 6. I hope all this extra exposure will ensure that Providence will benefit and the kids there will get a better opportunity. 
No adverse weather signs this morning as we loaded up the luggage and set out for another day’s cycle. We have now been cycling for 4 weeks with only 2 days off. Today was a mere 88 miles to St Joseph. As usual we set off into the rising sun through the up and down streets of Topeka.
In the city centre we crossed over the wide Kansas Riverin full flow, which eventually joins the Missouri. Some local connections with Topeka – it is referred to as the Golden City 
All day we were up and down but especially when we crossed into Missouri. These were serious rollers just like Tuscany. There was no relief on reaching the top, as I knew that it was going to start all over again. But a good number of the roads were sheltered with trees – very like yesterday. In Missouri especially, corn (maize) seemed to be the dominant crop
First SAG came after 30 miles and the next would be almost 40 miles further on. So bottles filled and the extra bananas and bars in the pocket after signing in.
I noticed more flowers today than on previous days. A good number, especially golden Aubretia but they were on down slopes and I was reluctant to stop to take a photo. All possible momentum was needed for the coming climb. I was making good progress without any tiredness or fatigue and had 40 miles (almost half way) done before Mass time in Kilfeacle. I felt quite pleased with myself and the day’s work. I should get to the motel before the hottest part of the day.
Not as many silos to be seen as a few days ago so I snapped this one – it might be the last one I’ll see for a while. Not right. They continued to crop up and in Atchinson our last town in Kansas there was the mother and father of a complex with silos lining the roadside for almost quarter of a mile.
At Atchinson I finally came to the Missouri and crossed it on a narrow but busy bridge. Usually at this time of the year, I am told, it is a mere trickle but the heavy rains up-country have ensured a strong flow and carrying plenty of silt. I believe crossing the Mississippi on Thursday will be a different matter.
Just across a photo opportunity presented itself at the Welcome to Missouri sign. Luckily Forrest was there at the same time and we accommodated each other with the cameras. Otherwise it would be difficult to capture that special moment. Missouri is referred to as the ‘Show-Me’ state and that appears on the car reg plates. One explanation is that Congressman Vandiver from Missouri in 1899 stated that he was not impressed by talk or eloquence ‘I’m from Missouri. You have got to show me’ Good yarn anyhow! So this is our 6th state. All the large square states are done. The other ones will topple in relatively quick succession. [Kansas is known as the Sunflower State]
All our cycling in Missouri today was on country roads and shadows could cover a hazard especially when wearing sunglasses. I got my first experience with dogs today. Two well-fed (I hope) animals suddenly ‘appeared out of nowhere’ and started snapping at my heels. No use in roaring ‘Suigh síos’ to those…they wouldn’t understand like the ones at home. The thought of canine teeth grinding against human bone enabled me to make a quick decision. Out of the saddle, big gear and pedal like hell. The plan worked and I left them for dead in about 20 yards. Sorry, that I have no photo. Didn’t seem to be a good idea to hang about. Still, over 2000 miles before I was treated like the proverbial postman. Not bad.
St Joseph was taken to be the gateway to the Wild West this due largely to the fact that it was the westernmost point in the United States accessible by rail until after the Civil War. During 1860, 1861 the Pony Express started here and transferred mail to Sacramento in California. I appreciate that distance now…June 2 to June 29 by bicycle on good roads. I wouldn’t fancy it cross country on a horse. In 1882 Jesse James was shot in his home here, now a museum and the hole in the wall made by the bullet is still to be seen. He was living under the alias ‘Mr Howard’ and the song records "...that dirty little coward that shot Mr. Howard has laid poor Jesse in his grave."
I cycled through the city’s Parkway, a 26 mile green-belt park that runs through the city. Wooded, peaceful and lots of sports facilities in certain areas. Just as I entered the Parkway there was an unexpected but welcome unofficial SAG sto organised bt Gerry and Sandra on their front lawn. Gerry is a keen cyclist and heard we were passing the way…lemonade, water, ice tea, trail mix, chairs etc. Thanks Gerry and Sandra, it came just at the right time. He was telling me that St Joseph is much greener this year than previously. Other years grass would just be turning brown at this stage.
I reached the Motel at 2.15 pm ahead of our luggage so the badly needed shower had to wait a while. The European Final was on the TV in the lobby but I was more excited to hear that Golden had beaten the Kickhams and qualified to take on Eire Og in the West semi. I also see that Taoiseach Brian Cowan is coming to New York on July 16. We’ll be in upstate new York that day. I suppose him joining us for a day is out of the question!
