Day 42
Great Bend KS, 70 miles
We all have days when we question what we’re doing. When you have a day like that, it’s always better to have a purpose behind it.
My immediate purpose is getting to the next town. The ultimate purpose is completing an epic journey. After that, there will be new challenges, but there’s no time to consider them right now.
I have mentioned my good fortune a number of times already. For the record, I feel fortunate once again. The wind is out of the south today, which makes riding west a pleasure. I can’t put up the spinnaker, but it sure doesn’t hurt to have a southerly wind. I’m told that winds in June are typically out of the south. The westerly winds usually precede a storm out of Colorado. I’m hoping I don’t have to deal with any of those.
It is really good to be back on a Brooks #17 saddle. At least for me, it is the most comfortable saddle I have ridden. I’ll be riding one of these from now on. When I can’t tour any more I’ll put one on my stationary bike.
I have discovered that my new thirst quencher of choice is iced tea. Not only does it taste good but it also gives you a nice kick of caffeine. Oddly enough, there are times riding mid-day when you can be overwhelmed by tiredness. There is a strong temptation to close your eyes. That is a very dangerous thing to do on a bike. Iced tea helps to alleviate that hazard.
I saw a sign that said “free water for bikers,” so I stopped. The water bottles were in a cooler of ice and there was even a bench to sit on. Next to the bench was a sign that said leave us a story about where your have come from and where you are heading. that was very sweet. I sat on the bench, drinking my ice cold water and wrote a little story. Before I had finished writing I noticed flies biting my ankles. They were nasty little things. They were leaving my SPF leggings alone, but they could bite right through my wool socks. My ankles itched for a good half an hour after I got going again.
As I was stopped at an intersection, digging through my pannier for a banana, a fellow pulled up in a pick-up truck and asked me if I was okay. (It’s always tempting to say “if I were okay I wouldn’t be doing this,” but that’s not truly how I feel about the experience.) I told the man I was fine. He asked me where I was coming from and where I was headed. I gave him the particulars. He said “I hope to do that some day.” I smiled and said, “if I can do it you can do it!” He seemed very pleased by that comment.
Finally today: For those of you that know the back-story about how this blog gets written, please don’t tell my alumni friends that I am taking editorial advice from an alumna that did not graduate from our alma mater…
That is one nice looking bicycle. It is an amazing machine.