The Thin Blue Ride - Part 2 Day 60 - Eureka, KS to Chanute, KS

Wednesday, August 7th, 2019

Ride Report:  62 Miles, 2,629 Total Miles, 16.4 Avg. mph, 1,365 Ft. Climbing, 4,403 Calories.  In the main, an unremarkable day.  The average speed for the day was significantly, and negatively, impacted by the wind.

One would think that eventually the weather pattern would change to something that didn't include humidity in excess of 90% every day.  But this morning - 93% when we left the dock.  There were also several times throughout the day when thunderstorms are a possibility.  I'm left trying to figure out what's holding that 93% humidity in the air.  Shouldn't it precipitate out in some form?  I mean, if The Rig was 93% full of Oreos, wouldn't ya hafta to get some of em out before there'd be room for a whole bunch more?  So - how is all that predicted rain gonna fit in the remaining 7% of space available?  These are the questions that should keep the reader up at night. 

A typical morning pic - note the clouds.  They would be with us pretty much all day today.  At least they keep the temperature a bit lower.

Beans, beans, everywhere there's beans.  The reader shouldn't be taken in by my bean ploy and rather, should focus on the blessedly flat road.  We were following a river valley at the time.

While the humidity may have kept the temps down, it did nothing to lessen the sweat rolling down my bald pate to lodge itself in my head gear - which can only hold so much before it starts running into my eyes.  Hence the need to change out head gear.  What the reader sees in this pic is Susan's answer to the age old question, "How do I dry headgear when it's cloudy and humid outside?"  That's the previously mentioned fan purchased in Hays, America.  Note how it perfectly rounds out the head gear hung ingeniously above.

People are apparently patriotic in Toronto.  No - not that one.  Toronto, KS.  The observant reader will see two bald eagles on the posts to either side of the flag.

Sig took this pic standing on Main Street in Toronto, KS.  Yes - that's The Rig pulling away from us.  It was the only traffic we saw in the entire town.  There's a pick up truck down there on the left, but none of us saw it move.  

Yeah...those clouds are startin to gang up and get all ominous looking.  Better get moving - we still have 30 miles to go.

This, readers, would be Coyville, KS.  I liked this pic because it has a relatively well kept old house, the Coyville sign hanging from the fence, the bike route sign, and a sign on the pole at the intersection that says "Toronto" with an arrow pointing to the right.  A good portion of the day summed up in one pic. 

This is Andrew.  I caught up with him during the final 16 miles on the way into Chanute.  He's from Australia and works overseas teaching the children of US ex-pats.  We were both watching the weather, which was worsening by the minute.  He was aiming to make it to the Missouri state line East of Pittsburg by tonight.  Pittsburg is our goal for tomorrow - some 60 miles down the road.  He's ambitious, I'll say that for him.

Well - it appears that Chanute is also a railroad town.  I'm fine with that - so long as they don't railroad past the back of the RV tonight.

Me, draining my cycling gloves after arriving at The Rig in Chanute.  The reader should note those muscly forearms...

And within about 10 minutes of getting The Rig plugged in and the slides out, this was happening.  I hope Andrew at least made it to Chanute before the skies opened up.

And with that - it's time to call it a day here at The Thin Blue Ride.

Till next time.