Day 41: Larned, KS to Ness City, KS

Friday, June 29, 2012,  65 miles - Total so far: 552 miles*
    * Miles ridden on the TransAm route
    Odometer miles - Today - 64.7 Total to date - 589.5 miles
 
A reminder not to prejudge

We left again this morning at 6am.  There was a beautiful sunrise to our backs as we began, enhanced by a thin layer of cloud cover.  I had assumed this would be a tougher day than yesterday.  The weather forecast was pretty much the same, but the distance was 65 miles instead of 54.  Of course, I was wrong (thankfully).

Sunrise to our backs as we rode away from Larned, KS

The first 12.5 miles were due west into a pretty stiff breeze from the SSW.  But because of the early hour it was pretty comfortable.  When we reached the intersection of Kansas Hwy. 156 with U.S. 183 we turned north for a 19 mile stretch to Rush Center, KS.  For me it was the best 19 miles so far.  With about a 20mph tailwind we flew.  I made that stretch in under an hour, averaging 21.4mph - pretty unheard of for me.

Clouds continue to obscure the sun on the run to Rush Center - moderating the temperature very nicely!

Mailbox alongside the road to Rush Center, KS

At Rush Center we turned west onto Kansas Hwy 96 - which will be our route for the next 305 miles into Pueblo, CO.  Today's route was the first 33 miles of it, through Alexander, KS, Bazine, KS and into Ness City, KS.

Fortunately, the clouds continued to partially obscure the sun almost all the way to Bazine, the first 21 miles of this stretch.  This kept the temperature from rising so quickly today.  The wind was still crossing to a slight headwind, about like yesterday but not nearly as bothersome without the extreme heat.

Wendy, Gina and Judy head down Hwy 96 toward Alexander (12 miles) and Ness City (31 miles)

Cows seek shelter from the heat under a railroad trestle alongside the highway.

A large mower tidying up the roadside.

Along this road there are many stone fenceposts like the one at this corner and a few in the distance.

When we got to Bazine there was a small cafe which was open for lunch.  Judy, Wendy, Gina, Paul and I (the slower riders) stopped for lunch - good food, 2 tall glasses of root beer for me and ice water to fill our water bottles as we headed down the road.

Me, Gina, Wendy, Paul and Judy at the Good Eats diner in Bazine, KS.

The last 12 miles to Ness City could have been as bad as yesterday's finishing stretch because the sun was now out in full force.  However, the wind had calmed significantly and was barely a factor on this last hour of the ride.  We arrived in Ness City about 12:45pm to see 97F displayed on the bank sign downtown.  Several degrees cooler than yesterday.  As we talked with the earlier riders we found they didn't stop in Bazine because the diner wasn't open when they passed through.  They also said the headwinds were very bad when they rode that 12 mile stretch.

So the reminder for me is that I shouldn't make any assumptions about how hard a day is going to be - just ride them and enjoy whatever conditions we get.  As someone pointed out during the ride today, we could all be at work instead of out riding our bikes.  (Apologies to all my former colleagues.) 

When we arrived we got our things situated while the first group was shuttled to the city pool for showers.  We got our turn about 2:30pm.  The showers at the pool were ice cold, but better than nothing after a hard day of riding.  We're staying at the United Methodist Church - another great place with air conditioning, a full kitchen and lots of rooms for everyone to spread out.  The church accommodations have generally been great and very appreciated.  Many thanks to Nicole and Paul for hustling up church overnights the past few days of record heat in Kansas.

United Methodist Church, Ness City, KS

My room at the church - the Infants and Toddlers room.

The Ness Co Bank in downtown, built 1890.

Three stone fence posts from the surrounding area re-purposed as a decorative corner marking in downtown Ness City.