Today’s Date: June 26, 2024

Today’s Start Point: Leoti, Kansas

Today’s End Point: Alexander, Kansas

Total Miles: 98.79 Miles

Cumulative Miles: 2,378.96 Miles

I am going to keep this brief today since I only got off the bike at 7:00 pm. In its lead up to statehood, Kansas was called Bloody Kansas because of the battles between pro and anti slavery factions. After today, I think it has more to do with bugs, heat, headwinds and lack of civilization.

Unlike previous days on this trip, I was not sure where I would end up. This part of Kansas has few hotels and supply points. Therefore, I pretty much knew that I would be camping and I wanted to get as far as possible.

The weather called for a cooler day, a balmy 97 degrees after yesterday’s 105 degrees. The wind was a 17 mph headwind. With those facts in mind, I left at 6:00 am (later than yesterday due to the new time zone).

The headwind was stronger than I thought and it was coming directly from the east. I really don’t get it, everyone said that the west to east route was best because of the westerly prevailing winds-I am just not seeing it.

I was on the same road all day, and except for one right turn and then left turn, I never turned the handlebar. The scenery was flat, filled with farmland and farm machinery. I also saw oil pumps and wind farms. There were few towns with stores or gas stations along the way so I made sure to stop at Scott City (25 miles), Dighton (48 miles), and Ness City (80 miles).

Many of the trucks that went by me were transporting huge agricultural machines. They were as wide if not wider than the car lane. As I struggled with the wind, I did discover a game I like to call wind surfing. When I could hear a big truck coming up behind me, I would try to speed up and catch his draft the same way you can catch a wave at the beach. Of course this would be offset by trucks coming in the opposite direction which would create a wall of air, stopping me in my tracks.

As with most headwinds, the ride was difficult. The benefit of the wind was that I did not feel as hot, but my water bottles would heat up after only about 20 minutes.

I took a long break at the 80 mile mark in Ness City, and tried to figure out whether to camp there or push on to a literal rest stop in Alexander, Kansas. By going to Alexander, my ride for tomorrow would only be 45 miles. The downside is that there is no food in Alexander. Rain is in the forecast for tomorrow so I thought a shorter ride would be better. Ness City had food and a nice city park, but part of me wants to put Kansas in the rear view mirror.

I picked Alexander and I guess I will just have to wait to see how it works out. I bought food in Ness City (there is water at the rest stop) and brought it with me for later.

It is supposed to start raining at 4:00 am, so depending on how long and how hard, I assume I will be packing up and riding in the wet. I have only had two days of rain so I guess I was due.