Today’s Date: June 28, 2024

Today’s Start Point: Great Bend, Kansas

Today’s End Point: Sterling, Kansas

Today’s Miles: 48.95 Miles

Cumulative Miles: 2,473.71 Miles

I decided on a short route because the weather forecast was for another 100 degree day. The cumulative effect of these multiple hot days is kind of rough, so I figure as long as I get some mileage in, I will eventually make it to Camp Lejuene.

I left before the sun was up and headed south for 14 or 15 miles. The wind was coming straight out of the south so the beginning was slow going. The scenery was farmland, farmland, farmland, not much to blog about. This beginning part was on a two lane state highway with a very wide shoulder with thankfully no rumble strip down the middle.

With the headwind, it took about two hours to cover the first stretch going south. But then the route turned east, and I picked up a crosswind with a little tailwind. I began to pick up speed. Editors Note: I apologize for the detailed description of the wind, but in Kansas it means everything.

The road was what I imagined the Kansas segment of the ride was going to be-country roads with very little traffic. It reminded me of back home when we would ride west of the Fox River. In addition, trees reemerged along the route. I didn’t realize until halfway through the ride today that they were back. It seems like I have been riding in a treeless landscape for so long.

When I started, the skies were a little cloudy (it had rained during the night), so the sun was not beating down on me. But at about 10:00 am, the sun fully emerged and the heat was brutal. The sun’s rays were reflecting off the black road surface, increasing the on the road temperature.

Today was a no supply zone region so I just had enough water to get to my destination. My hotel is in Sterling, Kansas, which is about two and a half miles north of the route.

I rolled into town about 11:00 am, which was good because the temperature was pretty intolerable. The town looks nice, but it has a lot of empty storefronts. The best part of town is that right next to my hotel is a DQ-like establishment. I stopped by and had a shake before I even checked in.

It’s just too hot to venture out, so I need to do some repairs and cleaning (clean tent fly, patch air mattress, lube chain, redistribute weight on bike, fix fenders). Oh, and eat more ice cream and nap.