Kansas (part two)

After Salina I began to experience the Kansas I was told to expect. I was concerned about the heat and long stretches with little to no services. Between Salina and Buhler was one of those stretches with a strong head wind and temperatures of 105•F (40•C).

People warned me about the boredom I would experience in Kansas, but I enjoyed the solitude the wide open landscape had to offer. There were times when I was cycling in sunshine, with visible rain storms a few miles along side me. When the winds were good to me I managed to cover a lot of mileage with ease. I enjoyed spending more time in the small towns dotted every 30 or so miles and getting to know the locals. Some towns seems friendlier than others, I would like to give the others the benefit of the doubt and put it down to the time of day I was passing through.

If I didn't have Colorado ahead I would have gladly spent a few more days in Kansas.

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Kansas (part one)

My first week in Kansas was nothing like what the warning had geared me up for. I was concerned about being stuck in the middle of nowhere for 4th July. Luckily enough I just happened to arrive in Lawrence for the most widely known American holiday. It was exactly what I was looking for; a fun night with some loud people.

I was told that the surrounding area is extremely fertile and there are quite a few people practicing a self sustainable lifestyle.

I'm looking forward to spending more than a week in one state, it have been a while since I have done so. I hope to get to know Kansas more than I did Missouri and Illinois.

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Missouri

Since Kentucy I have been traveling with 5 other cyclists. A couple from New York, a set of twins from Phoenix and a guy from Tennessee. We all went our own pace during the day and would meet at a decided location in the evening. It was nice knowing there was going to be someone to spend the night with after a long hot day. On the advice of the New Yorkers we all took a detour up to St Louis, I was happy to get to cross the Mississippi at the Gateway to the West.

From St Louis we took the Katy trail (an old rail line) west, avoiding the Ozarks. It was a change not dealing with traffic but it got pretty monotonous and at times I felt a little gerbil trapped in a wheel. It was a small price to pay for the great people I met along the way. Jefferson City and Columbia were particularly good experiences, and two places I found it hard to leave.

I'm a little ahead of schedule and I sometimes fear that I might be missing out on some places.

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Illinois

My first morning in Illinois was stunning. I have started getting up early to beat the heat. As the sun was rising the morning dew was turning into mist and rising. The sight of this was enough to tell me that my time in Illinois was going to be good, if a little brief.

Drivers would beep their horns as they passed me by, but this time around it was to wave and show their support, it was an incouraging change. The landscape has openned up considerably since crossing the Ohio River and I now have this new sense of freedom as well as a more defined tan line.

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Kentucky

Kentucky, where men introduce themselves by their full name. Home of narrow shoulders with rumble strips and angry dogs. I have found a difference in between all the states I have visited so far, but nothing as vast a the one I experienced crossing into Kentucky. There were areas with plenty of No Tresspassing signs which I understood as "I will shoot you".

Roads were long and lonely for most it, with very few people hanging around to talk with. There were some instances when I received abuse from drivers. For the most part people were friendly but as I travelled west I felt that they became a little bit more reserved and needed a bit of push.

 

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Virginia (part three)

The last stretch of Virginia was something that was on my mind before I started this trip. From what I gathered it was going to be the hardest part on the road, physically at least.  From Afton the climb started up towards the Blue Ridge Parkway. I expected this to be the toughest section, turns out it was the easiest day in the mountain range. As the days when on the climbs seem to increase in difficulty, I put it down to a decrease in my endurance and an increase in temperature rather than the terrain itself. Every up hill struggle was quickly forgotten once I got to see what views were on offer on the top, followed the fast and breezy down hill ride. As the days went by the landscape continued to leave me in awe.

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Virginia (part two)

Mineral was the first time I encountered other tourers. I was expecting this during the preceding days, I wasn't sure how I would feel about it after haveing the road to myself for the last couple of weeks. Part of me was looking forward to having the company and another part feared that it would distract me from the task at hand.

Turns out it was the nice change from making myself laugh about past encounters and silly nights out. Since then I have met more riders and we now seem to interweave and met at different points. There is a sense of community on the road now, but  I still enjoy the time I have to myself.

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