Mood:  a-ok

Before going to sleep last night, I studied the maps for today's journey.  I wanted to make motel reservations in Rush Center.  It was going to be a long ride, 75-80 miles, on Friday, so I didn't want to have to waste time breaking camp.  I just wanted to go.

Unfortunately, as I read the map (this is the map put out by the American Cycling Association, which lists motels and camping facilities available in a particular town.) I noticed for the first time that there were no motels in Rush Center, my destination for the night.  Purusing further, there was camping but no bathrooms were available.  Hmm, that won't work.  But there is a town 4.5 miles north of Rush Center that has motels.  Of course this means the 64 mile ride becomes a 68.5 mile ride, and Friday's long ride gets extended by 4.5 miles.  Oh well, I thought as I nodded off, I guess that is what I'll have to do.

I woke sharply at 4 AM, and an idea had been planted in my head:  what was available past Rush Center.  So I turned on the lamp, opened the map, and studied the possibilities.  They were slim--but wait!  If I got an early start, and had the help of a little tailwind, I might be able to get to Great Bend.  It was 32 miles further, but, of course, that would shorten the next day's ride by 32 miles. 

Let's try it!  After devotions, I packed hurriedly, had something of a homemade breakfast, and was on the road before 5:30 AM.  It was dark.  My eyes adjusted well to the darkness, and I turned on both rear flashing lights to warn approaching motorists.  Only 2 passed me before sunrise.

It was surprisingly breezy for that time of the morning, but the wind was coming from the southwest.  Since I was headed east, that meant that the breeze would push me a bit.  How long would that last?

The land is beautiful.  It is very flat with long rolling hills, but not steep or high ones.   You can see the next town 5-8 miles off by its grain elevators.  The dark green of the corn and milo contrast sharply with the tawny wheat stubble left by the recent harvest.  Trees in the distance indicate a farm somewhere back off the road, or it could be a stream.  Two deer, startled by my presence, bound off through the fields.

The first town that would have food was 32 miles away.  A little after 8 AM, I pulled into town and asked a gentleman where a person might get a good breakfast.  He pointed at a seedy looking bar called the Cactus Club.  I thanked him, then rode on, once he wasn't looking.  Not finding anything else, I returned to the Cactus Club, and sure enough they did have breakfast, and it was good.

My next plan was to stop in Alexander, 20 miles further, to get a burger and fries, then stop again in Rush Center, 12 miles past Alexander, and have another burger and fries (this is part of my trying to increase my caloric intake so that I may start gaining weight back that I had lost).  It  was a great plan, and I'm sure it would have worked if Alexander had a restaurant.  Since it didn't (it used to have one), I kept pedalling for Rush Center.

The picking were slim for eateries in Rush Center.  It, like many others, is quite small--you pass through it with the blink of an eye (even on a bicycle).  My theory is to look for a bunch of vehicles, and I found them by this bar.  That's where I had this huge lunch.   When I left, with another coat of sunscreen 45 slapped on, it was a couple of minutes past noon. 

Okay, I was tired, but it was only another 32 miles.  Even if the wind changed, I should be able to do that with my eyes closed.  Don't think about 96 miles.  Just focus on the next 32. 

As luck would have it, the terrain changed.  Larger, longer hills began to crop up, with long slow (6-7 mph) climbs, then quick descents followed by another long slow climb.  This was starting to take its toll when suddenly the longer hills decided they had had enough of me and things flattened out nicely. 

The landscape, however, was changing.  It was hilly enough to not see so far, and there were lots of trees.  In addition to wheat, corn and milo, farmers had planted different crops.  One, which from a distance looked almost like lavender, and had a purple hue, had a heavenly scent.  The patchwork quilt of different colored crops, bordered by the wild sunflowers, was really a pretty sight.

The road to Great Bend curved slowly southward.  I knew this and suspected that it would mean that I'd lose my tailwind.  I did.  It started to slow me down, not that I needed much encouragement because of fatigue.  The last ten miles or so were at 7-8 mph.  I didn't care, because I knew that I was almost at a stopping point.  The winds were getting rambunctious, gusting in the 20-30 mph range.  It was well because the outside temperature was 96 degrees.  The wind kept me cool-but I was sensitive to keeping properly hydrated.

One sad thing about undertaking this journey across America is that I am forced to miss the McMahan Family Reunion in Tennessee.  It starts today.  Because school starts in August back there, they had to schedule it in July.  I may not be at the reunion in person, but rest assured that I am there in spirit.

Tomorrow should now be a relatively short day (I still can't believe how many miles I have had to pedal this last week!), and I will arrive in Little River.  My cousin, Kendall Hodgson, may come out with one or two of his sons to ride the last several miles with me (I think he suspects I might get lost :-).

A cool indoor swimming pool is beckoning.  Then lots of food.  I want to be on the road before 7 AM.  It lessens the risk of the uncertain wind.  Its a bit cooler too.

Will McMahan