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Week Two: 5 May through 11 May, 2002
Click
www.bamacyclist.com and navigate to "Where's Mike", then to "2002Fast" to see our ride leader's site
(complete with lots of photos!).
A special HELLO to Mrs. Thompson's class from the Collaborative School!
Day 14 - Saturday, May 11, Great Bend, KS to Abilene, KS. 127.8 miles.
Woke this AM to hear wind roaring, streets wet, warm (60?), and not raining
when we left about 6:45AM. Lifting my foot in parking lot, I rolled gaining
speed out to the road, where unfortunately I had to turn right. That's when the
crosswind hit..., and stayed until mile 76 (when we turned from 56E to 304N).
The wind was so strong, it would blow me across the 3-bike-wide breakdown lane
out to the rumble strip. I seemed to be consistently able to 'rescue it' within
5-6ft and so stay out of the actual road; but needless to say nerve wracking.
I learned better how to lean, and to only take my hand off to drink when I
passed behind any trees..., then I could drink, but I was running pretty 'dry'.
Stopped at 30 miles at Hotel in Lyons where a biker-volunteer had us to his
place for coffee/cinnamon buns. That was much appreciated break. Day turned
humid, 70 or so, sky was cloudy but not locally threatening looking. I just
focused on the wind and managed an 'angled' 18mph, until "the big turn".
Fearless Leader Mike was riding with me when we turned onto rural route 304N,
and we rode 20+ miles at 24-27mph, just sitting up talking 2 across the
road. The color green really kicked in since new wheat fields in this part of
KS are knee-high. Horses, cattle, small neat houses buried in trees. Day
turned sunny. We crossed the trip HALF WAY point where ABBIKE had marked the
road, and Karen, not getting blown off the top of the van took photo of us.
We stopped in small town Guynman for pie and soda at the only restaurant in town.
Old place, center table row populated with farmers in overalls who asked us
where we were going and wished us luck. A 10-11 yr old boy riding his BMX
bike told us we were only "minutes behind" when we rolled in. Later he
came into the restaurant to ask me about the 'whole trip', not just today,
but the WHOLE trip. When we went outside, leaned against the restaurant were
about 4-5 titanium bikes, and at the end of the row, this kid's BMX bike!
Rest of the ride into Abilene was A-OK, on curving back roads. Enjoyed a little
bit of the 'real' tree-lined, small house residential houses before once
again being routed out to "the strip" to motel/fast food land. No wonder I
have trouble remembering where I am in the evening! Sometimes it is easier to
escape one street off of mall-land, sometimes not. Tonight went to excellent
Chinese food buffet with Norm and Joe. Tornado watch all around, sky is
intense. We had T-shirt swap in the pool area at 6:30, where Mike explained
the tornado policy of the motel (siren, over to lobby where there's cellar
area..., no bikes allowed! ). T-shirt swap was fun..., like Yankee Gift Swap idea,
where a very coveted shirt was Walmart special with a map of Kansas printed all
over it. One more day...., Mother's Day ..., until rest day. Rain and cold (55'
temp predicted). ... oh yeah, wind outta the North, should be a cross-'breeze'.
Click
here to see the approximate route for day 14 (Route 304 isn't on this map).
Day 13 - Friday, May 10, Dodge City, KS to Great Bend, KS. 84.5 miles.
This is the state of wind. Today was strong crosswind all day. 25-30mph
steady with gusts to 40. Stayed in the 50's all day, overcast, but dry. Woke
to a "motel flat" (my second, back wheel). Could not find root cause, but, yes
it is much easier to change in room versus on the road. Spent day riding with Karen. Rt50,
Rt56..., good 2-3 bike wide not-too-rough shoulder with moderate traffic. We rode
"medium", main goal to NOT get blown into each other or out into the road.
The wind roared in our right ears all day. Farms, flat, early wheat, houses all
proteted in a cluster of trees. Saw dead owl (huge!) on the road, and two
llamas chased us as we road past their pen. Low key SAG and lunch. So much of
these small towns we roll through every 10-20 miles is boarded up. Grain
elevator and boarded up small shops, houses. Cars and trucks almost all very
nice on the road, either waiting at cross streets, or pulling wide on the
road. Riding into Great Bend there was a sign in tribute to Jack Kirby's 2000
Nobel Prize for Physics..., local boy makes good! We 'rode the strip' down to
the Holiday Inn, which has a nice indoor whirlpool/sauna/laundry..., all got done. Ate
a good meal at Perkins and walked a few streets with a lot of small houses and dogs,
Saw a (baying) beagle which of course brought thoughts of home. Tonight we
have Road Rap at 6:30..., apparently so Mike can tell us how to hide from
lightening and we can try to prep for the 'iffy' (more
windy/thunderstorm/hail?) weather of next few days.
Click
here to see the route for day 13.
Day 12 - Thursday, May 9, Liberal, KS to Dodge City, KS. (only) 85.6 miles.
Well, the century string stopped at eleven days of 100+ mileage. Hurrah! We
went to sleep with massive tornado warnings just to our east and a 30+ mph wind
roaring around the motel. We were still in cattle country, and our room was
"around back", which meant "cattle smell" would waft into the room,
particularly noticeable when I got down on the floor to stretch this AM. But
the morning looked OK..., not too cold, maybe mid 40's, some wind, some clouds.
Shoved off about 7:15 from (another) The Pancake House, where the crowd was
split between some 'lodge guys' and us (increasingly) weird looking biker types. In
terms of 'weird', for example, in spite of A LOT of sunscreen, I have a pretty
big-time 'goggle-tan'...., which means my nose is kinda brown (hey, where is
this going...). Anyway, it occurred to me I look like the Scarecrow in Wizard
of Oz..., you know, the one without a brain? Did I mention the KEY attraction in
Liberal was a trip to Dorothy's House? Back to riding. I rode all day with the
J's. We held a nice, easy, steady pace in the 12-17 mph range depending on the exact
location of the crosswind. The road was almost completely flat with few rises. Very open
country without much growing this time of year. A guy at breakfast said Kansas is as
dry now as it was in Depression in 1930's. We stopped at the Dalton Gang Hideout
Museum just before lunch. In addition to pictures of, ... the dead Daltons, and
paying $2 to walk the tunnel escape route between the house and barn, there was also
old West memorabilia including rattle snake skins, types of barbed wire and
branding irons. Lunch was cool, maybe warmed up to 60-65 in the sun. After
lunch the road shoulder turned very grainy/gritty for 15 miles or so, I could not
tell when I was on the rumble strip or not. Then better pavement returned and
we cruised into Dodge City, a metropolis compared to Liberal. Before going to
the motel, I saw the Boot Hill Museum, complete with a computer display on all famous
Dodge TV shows (Wyatt Earp, Bat Matterson, Gunsmoke). Downtown area was
nicely reclaimed to handle summer tourist season, even as trains rolled by
the giant long-horn steer statue that marks the town center. I felt good
today..., first day in 11 where I did not exceed my aerobic threshold..., finally
catching some 'active rest'. Hot shower on shoulder, better feeling stomach
without stress of a hard ride. Spent time walking the neighborhood streets after chow.
The Iris are coming into full bloom. Dodge houses the Kansas Teachers Hall of
Fame, the oldest Teachers Hall of Fame in US. Off for dessert; and perhaps
a glance at 'the world ' through CNN.
Click
here to see the route for day 12.
Day 11 - Wednesday, May 8, Dalhart, TX to Liberal, KS. 113.6 miles.
A day of contrasts. Started out "late"..., 7:15 on the road because we just
crossed into Central time. It was upper 40's. The claim for today's route was
..., only 250ft of climbing, one of 2 days where we are in 3 states, tailwind
in AM, but changing to wind out of NE in PM. Well, the first 66 miles was
very smooth..., like a 'wind trainer' set on 27-28mph. I was riding with Karen
and we were discussing a day from 1989 ride where the Trek slugged it out
into Poplar, MT into grueling wind. Right as we were speaking, at mile 66,
the wind turned on a dime, and what had been a 15-20mph push became a
swirling blustery dust-blowing cloud that slowed us instantly to the 10-13mph
range. Hey, only 57 miles to go. Solution formed up as the "J's" (the two
California women) and Karen and I got into 4 person echelon that just fit between the
rumble strip and the blowing weeds. Time passed. The paceline was a lifeline
where I felt I could rest some (why did I ride hard yesterday...., uh), then
pull one out of 4 times. That was Oklahoma! And on into Liberal KS where we
got mooned almost immediately upon pulling into town. Gritty clean-up and good
feed at Golden Corral buffet. Going to wrack early since headwinds and colder
temps predicted for the AM. Shoulder sore with all the holding onto handle
bars, but it's going.
Click
here to see the route for day 11.
Day 10 - Tuesday, May 7, Tucumcari, NM to Dalhart, TX. 100 miles.
Tailwind, flat, 100..., EZ day. Rolling hills but mostly flat. It was really nice
to not have breakfast until 6AM, and then load the van after. I had coffee with
my stretching and thought it was a human way to start the day. AM wasn't
cold, arm warmers only. Nice peaceful wakeup out in the sun with little
traffic, NO elevation effects, just EZ into 30 mile SAG. The "bullet express"
had already passed me once, and I saw them again on way to TX state line. The
state line, flat terrain and blossoming tailwind helped bring everyone
together for lunch. We ate at a roadside park, down off the highway, with some
shade, graffitied shelter and active railroad tracks right by. A lot of joking
around, it was almost like a 2nd roadrap..., except for the
color-of-the-'jokes'. Fearless Leader Mike declared a truce after lunch,
which of course didn't hold for more than a few miles. The road was just too
in tune for speed. Near ZERO traffic, good tailwind, few cars, OK road
(bumpier pavement in TX ... but pretty clean), and so I got 'yanked' along
for last 30, just to be blown onto Mike-and-Mike's wheels. They'd accelerate to
pass anything in sight, and the one time I faded a bit on the hill, they
waited to rope me in for more "torture"..., actually it was a real pleasure
to feel like I had any legs left, since I'd been wondering when/how fatigue
abates. We rolled in Dalhart through the depressing sight of penned cattle
being fattened up as start of the burger-process. Just seemed dusty,
desolate, and, I don't know..., a deterministic "manufacturing process".
Anyway, in leading us to the motel, we missed a turn which in Dalhart is NO
BIG DEAL. Instead a stop at the DQ, then a bike spin around town..., all part of
cooldown to a quick 100. Really great PM..., a few of us went to the town
library (the oldest free library in this TX county), and logged on (it was
like a cool drink of water! ...the"world" (?) reappeared. I read my email,
and also a little bit about Compaq/HP merger happening. Well, I can still wear
the CPQ jersey until the end of this ride! A few of us ate at The Music
Cafe on the windy brick Main Street with 50% occupancy and not too many folks
around. Excellent meal, homemade ice cream. Came back to Mike giving us a
slide show in the lobby. It really helped "fill the ride" out a lot to hear
what different people chipped in about what they knew or noticed. It is hard
to remember sometimes kinda where you are..., part of the adventure. Right now
I'm sitting in the lobby next to a plastic Xmas tree...., white, with flag bows
attached. They put out food for riders, and a meeting of local women
about.... not sure, maybe pregnancy or breast cancer... (can't quite hear) is
taking place in next room. Today felt like vacation, and I was glad to stay
stuck on the train.
Click
here to see the route for day 10.
Day 9 - Monday, May 6, Las Vegas, NM to Tucumcari, NM. 110.5 miles.
FINALLY got nights sleep where I remember darkness then nothing until 5AM
wakeup. Whether it be fatigue, or 'less nerves' about the day..., it was great!
Learned at breakfast that yesterday was our 2nd biggest climbing day with
8300 ft. Today we drop from 6K to 4K elevation. Day started sunny,
cold, probably high 40s but warmed quickly. We climbed up to an incredible
plateau where last year's ride got trapped in the fog. For us it was
spectacular spring. Yellow green rolling fields, endless, sometimes a small
house or some beef cattle, purple flowers lined the road. The road rolled and
wound around the 'buttes. In the distance the mountain tops had snow. Big descent
at mile 30... complete with cattle grates (yes, they hurt my shoulder when I
try to lift the handle bars a bit...). We lunched at mile 75, in what I thought
was a ...dust bowl... but actually there was a golf course across the road. I
mean, you wouldn't guess that..., but there was one flag visible on a spot of
green, and a couple driving around in a cart..., we were pretty far from much
of anything from what I could see. It was hot by then, 90, and the ride into
Tucumcari got a bit long with paving and a few steep up hills (standing in
my 39-28). The town is big enough to have ...dozens... of street lights? We
are outside and within easy reach of restaurants, etc. Did a mega-rehydration
effort upon arriving. I feel like I've been eating enough but trying to get
electrolytes and hydration is today's main drill. We hung out cleaning bikes
this PM. A more leisurely day with some guys 'racing' and some of us enjoying
the view. Saw on the news there is huge forest fire being fought outside Las
Vegas where we just left... - PS: David, yes, I did see the 'landmark'; extremely obvious; but didn't get
around to the hike.
Day 8 - Sunday, May 5, Albuqurque, NM to Las Vegas NM. 126.8 miles.
Slept Ok considering. Got up and prepared to ride. Martina was 'aces' helping
me. I think everyone was psyched to see me show up ready to ride. Normal
6:30Am departure through nice green 'horse farm' neighborhoods, out to road
signed for bike path, and 30 miles through country. Outran two dogs in small
towns. Got on I25 at around 30 miles. But there was less truck traffic
and therefore less debris. We had a group transfer over some construction
where ABBIKE loaded all 13 of us in the van for 2 mile transfer. They are
"RIGHT THERE"... heads up and HARD working. Before lunch (mile 86), the road
turned gorgeous... rolling, more green than previous desert, up and down hills
with pine trees, tad of snow capped mts in distance... some cool
downhill... and then,,, TAILWIND!! People 'rocked' much better into cowboy town
of Las Vegas. Walked for pizza, hot tub, check alignment of planets... and
another ride tomorrow.
Day 7 - Saturday, May 4 - Gallup, NM to Albuqurque, NM. 145 miles.
Long day. Headwind and a crash. Day started out early and cold. About 13
miles out of Gallup, in paceline of 5, pace was easy into headwind... I was
2nd in line and got 'fed' the bike in front of me enough so I overlapped
wheels... tried 1,2,3 times to miss, but failed. Next thing I knew I was
flying horizontal over the red desert earth on the side of the road. Came to
rest in some tumbleweed, still slipped in with my helmet mirror popped off
and looking right back at me. The sky was blue. Next Martina was over me
saying... I'm just going to move the bike... I basically collected, a bit
dirty, no road rash but quasi sharp pain in L shoulder area. We regrouped and
road to SAG1. There Dr Peter (from England) and Jill, our PT rider, walked me
around back and scoped my clavicle. Looked "bruised" but no real reason not
to 'press on'. And we did! For 12 hrs into harsh headwind. Dr Peter bored a
hole through the wind and I rode his wheel. W/o that help... curtains for me.
FINALLY we dropped like a rocket down into Albuquerque; threaded (a million)
red lights and made it in for late chow. Everyone was extremely helpful to
me... Martina bringing me dinner, Barb giving me ice at EVERY SAG, carrying my
bag and making me sandwiches. Dr Pete exceeded my HMO w/ his reassurances. I
had a lot of trouble falling asleep... as much from hours of interstate truck
traffic and wind. Made it. Went to bed w/ 4:30Am wakeup to see what AM would
bring.
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