At 9 am this morning, as already organised by phone during the week, I met with Bishop Ray Boland O’Brien of Kansas City and St Joseph who attended the Abbey in 1945/46. He heard through the grapevine that I was passing close so he drove up from Kansas City (1 hour) to meet me on the rest day and add support to the cause. I was thrilled to meet him and we spoke for a long period about the school then and now and about the town and his relations still in Tipp. With him came Jack Smith the editor of The Catholic Way and he interviewed me concerning the cycle, the Abbey India Project and Providence School. It will appear in an early July issue and a copy will be on its way to the Abbey
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. 
In the afternoon I went for a stroll down Frederick Boulevard for a break and I spotted a Mexican restaurant called Carlos O’Kelly ….. not a name you’d expect down Mexico way. A spell in the swimming pool followed to ease out any tension that may remain in the muscles.
All is now ready for The Heartlands Tour as far as Indianapolis starting tomorrow and continuing for the next 7 days.
PS: In fact the TV item did appear on the 6 pm News and a number of the group viewed it in the lobby. I'll try to get a copy from the station.
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!
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.
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.
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.
