RecumBum

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 – 85.63 miles, 05:59:01, 14.31 MPH average

Wow, what a great day!

It was windy as the dickens (at least 25 MPH sustained, with 35-40 MPH gusts) and hot at times, but there was an awesome route and wonderful scenery. This is my favorite day of the trip so far.

Not the easiest day. Hardly. But satisfying. Oh yeah.

Turning North, Anticipating a Tailwind

We were off by 6:15am with no breakfast, and headed north with the stiff tailwind, arriving quickly in Jewell for homemade cinnamon rolls. I had one there and grabbed one for the road.

Then we turned east and were buffered by the cross-winds for the next 15 miles or so, broken only by two short, but very welcome, northerly legs.

The hills began to increase in frequency and amplitude as we moved east through rolling farmland, as did the trees, which began to look more and more like the landscape I’m familiar with in eastern Kansas. Perhaps that’s another reason I felt so comfortable today, despite the conditions.

Rolling Hills of Central Kansas

SAG stops were in short supply on this tough day, with only one SAG in the first 50+ miles. Around mile 45, I pulled out the spare cinnamon roll and munched it on the fly, holding it with one hand, unwrapping it with my teeth, and holding the handlebar with the other. It was sweet, messy, and difficult to unroll and eat while riding and fighting the wind, but I managed, and it was a great pick-me-up.

The first two SAGs offered a wider variety of treats than we’d experienced on earlier days. In addition to the familiar fare of bananas, oranges, and candies, this day’s SAGs added beef jerky and fig newtons, which were a welcome addition.

Examining the Wheat

Lunch was in Cuba, after about 60 miles on the road, with BBQ beef sandwiches, pasta salad, fresh fruit, and cookies. Good stuff.

Lunch at Cuba, Kansas

The last leg of the day’s journey was tough, as we were back on US-36, and the traffic volume had picked up, the shoulders were small and rough, and the wicked wind constantly threatened to push us out into the path of passing cars and trucks.

But still, I finished strong, cruising into Washington a little after one.

Welcome to Washington

First stop was at the Pie Ladies stand, for a slice of strawberry-rhubarb and a thirst-quenching Coke.

After rounding up our bags and grabbing a choice tent spot in front of the school, protected a bit from the wind, we continued our Beer Across Kansas tour with a big draft of Bud Light at a local bar, followed by chicken strips and fries for dinner.

Yes, it was Windy Today

In thinking back, I wonder why I so thoroughly enjoyed today’s wind-fest, when so many other riders were suffering. Reed told me he thought a recumbent had an advantage on a day like this, but I’m not so sure I buy that.

I guess it was just my kind of day. I appreciated the terrain today, which featured rolling farmland, ow which wheat was the predominant crop, but there was also cord, beans, alfalfa, and pastureland. There were also some significant hills today, at least three or four of which required the granny gear.

I think I did a good job of pacing myself, and was constantly marveling at how good I felt and how much I was enjoying the ride. It felt like one of those days that I could just ride and ride, rejoicing at every pedal-stroke.