Hey Dorothy, I’m back in Kansas.

I’m back in the great state of Kansas. I had been gone for a while, but now I’m back. Crusin’ onward en route to Kansas City. I’ve been quite excited to have exited Oklahoma and Texas. Those two states I had been riding through for the past few weeks, and they aren’t the most friendly of bike states. Both with motorists and roadways. I survived, and onward I pedal. One day and mile at a time.

I pedaled north out of Tulsa early in the morning as I attempted to beat the dreaded heat that had been exponentially increasing my hydration levels while also draining my sweat in huge doses. I got to meet Dave’s mom for a midmorning snack in Oologa, OK, which proudly boasts itself as the home of Will Rogers. Dave attended the ballgame with me last night and insisted that I meet up with his mom. His mom, Kay, treated me to a packed lunch, cold water, and some NBA Playoff basketball talk. I’ve been able to watch a few games of The Finals so I was happy to talk about sports. Even if it wasn’t baseball.

Later in the morning, I felt it. I hit the cold front. The breeze became cool, the winds shifted, and the temperatures dropped. I gladly welcomed these cooler temps and pedaled onward to Coffeyville,KS just across the border. I ended up stopping for lunch at a Mexican restaurant just on the border of the town. They’re quickly becoming my favorite because of the endless refills of tortilla chips and salsa. By this time it was only 2 in the afternoon, I had no host, but was tired. That meant one thing. Stealth camping.

I’ve become a pro at stealth camping, I can spot in an instant how good of a stealth spot is. Much like the legends of the Field of Dreams, I disappear into the woods after my ride is over. Only to reemerge with the sun the following morning. This time, I set my tent up in the early afternoon and took a nap in the afternoon sun. You read that right. I was able to take a nap. It felt great. I just relaxed. It felt great.

At around 8PM the rain started falling. It kept falling, and falling and falling. Throughout the night I was awaken to the sounds of thunder and flashes of lightning. It just wouldn’t stop. I don’t mind the constant pitter patter of rainfall, but this rain was endless. By the morning, I began feeling water beneath my feat under my tent. It felt as if I was in a water bed. That’s not a good feeling when you’re in a tent. In the morning I woke up and found three inches of water surrounding my tent. Fortunately, none had leaked into my tent where I was able to keep my gear predominantly dry. Packing up camp was done in my bare feet, splashing in the puddles like a five year old after a rainstorm. My muddy feet quicly transformed into biker cleats as I took off on the day’s ride.

Leaving on the ride, I really wanted to reach Ottawa, KS to be a day ahead of schedule. I had no host in Iola, so why not get a day ahead of schedule? That would require 110 miles of pedaling, so I better start riding.

A few blogposts back, I spoke of all the dogs I’ve been getting chased by and how I wish owners would just keep them leashed up. Today, the  clock struck 12. While riding down a busy U.S. Highway, I saw a dog bolt out to try and chase me. Unfortunately, and oncoming jeep couldn’t stop in time and struck the dog. It was so sad to witness and still is in the back of my head. There was nothing I could have done. Either way, I think the owner may have realized that he should keep his dogs leashed up. I hope that pup is up in dog heaven, and maybe not chasing cyclists.

Later on during the ride, I hit mile 5,000. Yippee! That’s great. I’ve still got plenty to go, but it’s always nice to hit a milestone. Mile 5,000 is a big deal, it’s halfway to 10,000. Not quite halfway on this trip, but we’re getting awfully close. It’s one day at a time. That’s how you gotta do it. Keep on plugging along.

I crossed through the small town of Humboldt, KS which is the hometown to Walter Johnson. A Hall of Famer who was a three time Triple Crown Winner. Seriously, look up his stats, he was an impressive ballplayer. It’s fun to see who these different towns will put on their welcome signs. From Astronauts, to professional cowboys, it really can vary. However, anytime a Hall of Famer is on the list. You’ve got my attention.

I rode along the Prairie Stage Trail, a Rails to Trails trail. I was hesistant to ride it with all the rain in the area, but the trail turned out to be great. A smooth ride, non eventful, and off the busy highway. I welcomed the trail riding with open arms. I’m really looking forward to more bike trails of long distances. They’re safe, quick, and provide unique scenery. All things I love when biking.

I got to Ottawa around 5PM and actually found a host. Jarrod and Dawn opened up their home to me and went all out to spoil me rotten. From a big ole barbeque dinner at a local restaurant to a personal tour of the history of the great city of Ottawa, I was drastically impressed with their hospitality. They wanted me to be comfortable, at rest, and at home. They succeeded. I loved hearing their stories of previous cyclists they hosted and Jarrod was even a big Royals fan of his own.

Jarrod’s knowledge of sports were impeccable. He was so excited about hosting me, and he did a great job. From Miller Lite Beers from Milwaukee to catering for a great breakfast. Thanks for everything guys! You went above and beyond!