Today’s Date: June 29, 2024

Today’s Start Point: Sterling, Kansas

Today’s End Point: Newton, Kansas

Today’s Miles: 62.05 Miles

Cumulative Miles: 2,535.76 Miles

Today’s routine was driven by my usual junior meteorologist badge, what’s the temperature and the wind. I know it’s not that exciting of stuff, but in Kansas it is what it is.

The weather report said that there would be cooler temperatures (a high of “only” 87 degrees). Winds would be less and most of it a crosswind, although I would be blessed with five miles of tailwind. Also the report stated a possibility of rain.

The route would be primarily east with a couple of jogs to the south. My final destination was the city of Newton (population 18,000), a veritable megalopolis compared to other towns on my route.

As has been my practice, I awoke at 5:00 am to get an early start. Sunrise is at 6:10, so I like to get going a little before the sun comes up.

With less wind comes more humidity, but that only is a problem when I stop. I don’t generally feel the humid air while I am moving.

I left Sterling (and my ice cream shop) and headed south. The wind was from the north so I blissfully pedaled easily with good speed. The benefit of leaving early is watching the sun rise over the fields, it provides some visual interest to a rather monotonous landscape.

The road curved east and I stopped in the town of Nickerson, Kansas, which was about ten miles out. I was already stocking up on Gatorade, because the humidity can really fool with your hydration. While taking a break, I had a long conversation with a guy who was fascinated with my trip. He was local but laid pipelines for a living and would travel throughout the country to do his job. He was a very nice guy and if I hadn’t broken off the conversation I would probably still be standing in a convenience store parking lot in Nickerson, Kansas.

With low wind, the ride was pleasant. About 35 miles in, I came across Dan, another bike traveler. Dan was not doing the full Transam route, having already done so in 2016. He was from Florida and was only going as far as Pueblo. He was spending the night where I was last night and I was spending the night where he was last night. This meant we needed to compare notes on ice cream places in the respective towns. He also mentioned he had bought a tent (just like mine) for the trip but had yet to use it. The heat is driving everyone indoors. After a fun conversation, we wished each other luck and continued on our ways.

A little later, I came across a couple of young guys (I actually think they were young, but at my age if you are under 35 years old you are a kid). They were doing the Transam route having started in Maryland. Ah youth, they were tackling longer segments than I could go and it appeared more willing and able to ride in the heat of the day. They too, had been driven to hotels by the Kansas heat.

I made one more stop in Hesston, Kansas with about 10 miles to go. Throughout the day the sun would go in and out of storm clouds and the difference was pronounced, I was almost hoping for rain (which never came).

From Hesston I went due south with a great tailwind, getting back up to 20 mph. Oh how I wish I could have more of a tailwind. As I approached Newton, I observed many Mennonite churches. According to Google, the town was settled by a large number of Russian and Polish Mennonite’s in the late 1800’s.

I rolled into Newton at about 11:30 am, and it looks like at one time it was a thriving town. As I mentioned, it is larger than other towns I have seen, but like most of the small towns it looks as if the 21st Century has passed it by. The city had multiple empty storefronts and had also the clearest indication of a downward trend, no younger people. I have noticed that in many of these small towns that most of the population is elderly.

I found my hotel (admittedly after getting lost a couple of times), checked in and settled in. Although today is not as hot, the “feels like” temperature is about 10 degrees higher. Tomorrow is supposed to be a rainy one, so it looks like I will have a wet 70 mile ride (but that should cool it down).