The Thin Blue Ride - Part 2 Day 63 - Pittsburg, KS (+5 to Missouri State Line) to Ash Grove, MO

Saturday, August 10th, 2019

Ride Report: 65 Miles, 2,758 Total Miles, 16.2 Avg. mph, 2,411 Ft. Climbing, 5,433 Calories.  Today, readers, was the most difficult ride of the trip to date.  While things didn’t start out too badly, the humidity still came into play early.  But as we worked our way further into Missouri, the hills became more...prominent, and the temperatures combined with the humidity reached insane levels.  I tracked the weather in Pittsburgh, Golden City and Ash Grove as the ride progressed.  All were in heat advisories starting as early as 1100.  It seemed I couldn’t drink enough.  On a typical ride I go thru a bottle of water in about 20ish miles.  Toward the end of today’s ride I went thru two in fifteen miles and ran out just as I made it to The Rig..

But enough of this - it is what it is - and no amount of wishing it wasn't what it is will change what is to something that might be.  You can quote me on that.  (Call my support line for an explanation if necessary: 1-800-266-3873.  That's 1-800-CON-FUSE)  Today's version of what is follows in pics.

The morning started off humid - fog again in Pittsburg.  But we had to dump tanks in the RV and then get some propane so the fridge would keep running, then we needed to drive to the Missouri State line (recall that's where we stopped when last I rode before the Rest Day) in order to start the day.  The fog had lifted by then. This pic was taken before the real sweating started.  There was a lot of corn early in the day.  On one occasion I could smell the corn field a couple of hundred yards before I got to it.  It has that uniquely sweet "corny" smell.  If you've ever smelled it, ya know what I'm talking about.

FINALLY!  Every Trans-Am'er whose blog I've ever read has a picture of them saving a turtle.  Some keep a tally.  Mostly they're encountered in Kansas, at least on the blogs I've read. I've seen tons of these things on the roads of Kansas over the years.  But when I'm riding the T/A?  Nope.  Well, one showed up on the road today in Missouri.  The tradition is that the rider takes the turtle to whatever side of the road they're headed toward and sets them loose - thus saving the turtle from being squashed by, oh, something like The Rig.  Susan saw this one when she went past.  Fortunately she left him in one piece for me to save.  It was much more pleasant for both the turtle and I that way.

And not a quarter mile later, Delta saw this one - and of course wanted the honors.  So he picked the turtle up and to the far side of the road it went.  This one is just a baby.  Note that he's so small he is barely bigger than Delta's pedal.  So, our tally for the day is two.

We crossed another Inter-State Highway today.  This time I-49.  Let's see, KC or Joplin?  How about neither.  We continued East.

OK - apologies to Coronado fans out there, but the guy wandered around how long and failed to find even one of the fabled seven cities of gold?  I'm just 30 miles in to today's route and I'm already in the money.  How much more obvious could it be?  Hey Coronado - next time buy an ACA map.

The reader should note the green sign on the post to the right.  Missouri has done an excellent job of marking the T/A route thus far.  These signs are placed at every turn, wherever highway numbers change, on the way in to and out of the various towns thru which the route passes, etc.  I'm pretty sure I could have navigated the route today even without an ACA map.  Just follow the green bicycle route signs.  They even give a nod to history - the "76" represents the year the T/A was first traveled - in honor of the nations bi-centennial.  I have one of the original T/A route signs on the wall of my garage at home.  Found it in an antique store in Abilene several years ago and bought it then, thinking that I'd some day ride the route myself. 

It was a challenge drying my gear between breaks today.  It was too humid outside for the stuff to dry before I showed up at The Rig for my next break.  So Susan adapted yesterday's trick with the fan (sitting on the floor in this pic) so that it could dry my headgear and base layer at the same time.  I think it's just a riot that the fan blows up the head gear like a balloon.  She has it clothes pinned and taped to the fan.  Hey - it works.  Who am I to complain?

While the first third/half of today's route had lots of crop land, by the time we got past the half way point, Missouri was starting to look like I imagined it to be.  Translate that as, the hills got both bigger and more frequent.  T/A'ers describe Missouri as one continuous, self-propelled, roller coaster.  All I know is, I saw my first 12% hill in ages on today's route.  Listen, 12% in the mountains with temps in the 50s and humidity non-existent is an entirely different ball of wax than with humidity running over 80% and the heat index in the 100s.  I'll take the mountains any day.  This pic is Missouri as I imagined it.

This is that 12% hill once we got to the top.  Note how the road disappears and then re-appears as a tiny little smudge of grey in the distance.

And as today's sign that the Apocalypse is upon us, I proffer this pic.  This was the name of the local watering hole in Everton, MO.  Who does this stuff?  (Shakes head.)

And finally, "AccuWeather" predicts two more days of high temps and high humidity.  They're talkin' heat indexes as high as 110 in some locations along the route.  Normally, I'd be comfortable with that and ride in ski pants and a parka, knowing they're usually 180 degrees off base.  But on this occasion my pessimism outweighs "AccuWeather's" incompetence, and I suspect they'll finally get it right.  If I should fail to post over the next two days, call 911 and send out the search parties.  They should be looking for a shriveled, dehydrated, prune shaped body - wearing spandex - on the side of the road.  Please have them shoo the buzzards away, gather up what remains when they find me, and ship my carcass someplace cold for burial.

Till next time.

The Thin Blue Ride - Part 2 Day 62 - Pittsburg, KS (Rest Day)

Friday, August 9th, 2019

Ride Report: None - Rest Day

With nothing else to report (Rest Days can be that way, but I guess that’s kinda the point.) I am forced to let the creative juices flow.  It’s kinda like freestyle ice skating.  It’s still really good, and it looks like they’re just out there just gliding around and winging it, but a lot went on behind the scenes before the crowd throws roses on the ice.  So - get your roses ready...

Laundry time again.  The problem with doing one's laundry early due to rain is that the set I wore to Pittsburg was soaked when I arrived.  So, I broke out the super deluxe model washing machine that doubles as our trash can and flipped the grey handle to the right, which is "washing machine mode".  Like magic - a washing machine appeared.  After the appropriate pre-soak cycle...

...it was time to agitate the load.  This is my back-up agitator.  The primary agitator said she was busy inside cooking bacon so she could feed me next week.  Well - I'm all in favor of that.  Having experience agitating...things, I gave it some extra time.  It seemed the wise thing to do.  Oh - and I left the primary agitator alone for a while, which seemed equally as wise in the moment.

Then it was time for the boys' baths.  Sig is out of the tub already, but Delta is still up there playing in the water.  Someday when they come home with a cute girl's bike, I'll use this pic to embarrass them.  Just look at 'em.  Neither is wearing their saddle bag.

And speaking of Delta, this is his saddle - but the boys have identical saddles.  Trust me, it's just easier that way.  Anyway,  I bring this up so that when I inform the reader that I spent about 20 hours in the saddle last week, they have a greater appreciation of what that actually means.  It means this: even my butt gets sore occasionally.

When I finally let Delta down from his bath he was running around like crazy - at least when he wasn't busy trying to rub his handlebars, and roll around on his back, in the grass.  I finally got him to stand still for a pic.  To date, I think the only pics of Delta the reader has seen are his selfies.  I think he favors Susan.  Just look at those sleek lines.  Readers?

And having mentioned spending 20 hours in the saddle last week, I looked for something a bit wider to spend today on.  I found it.  Not for quite 20 hours, but I gave it my best shot.

I know The Rig has shown up in the background of a couple of shots today, but I included this one as a way of showing that the City of Pittsburg has a nice little campground right on the route as riders enter town.  There are even showers and bathrooms for the self supported tourers.  We don't need them, but I know they're appreciated by those who schlep their tents, cooking gear, clothes, bike parts, water/food, etc. with them every day.  Susan and The Rig take care of all that for me.

Its been a good Rest Day - my legs always appreciate the break.  It gives my quads time to stop aching.  Tomorrow has us headed to Ash Grove, MO.  I think we've got a couple of days (maybe?) before we hit the line of demarcation between normal Missouri (if there is such a thing) and the Ozarks.  Pray for me.  I'm wearing spandex.

(Cue roses.)

Till next time.

The Thin Blue Ride - Part 2 Day 61 - Chanute, KS to Pittsburg, KS (+5 to Missouri Line)

Thursday, August 8th, 2019

Ride Report:  64 Miles, 2,693 Total Miles, 17.3 Avg. mph, 1,266 Ft. Climbing, 4,776 Calories.  It was a soggy day - and not just me, the weather in general...

Today's story starts with yesterday's post.  Apparently the weather gods don't smile kindly on me citing my issues with how they run the whole humidity thing.  Because despite this...

...beautiful sunset when Susan and I went for a walk last evening...

...things had gone to Hell in a hand basket by 0450 this morning when the weather alarm on my phone went off and we scrambled to figure out what was going on.  Turns out that a flash flood warning had just been issued - specifically for Chanute and its suburbs.  One can see why.  What the reader can't see is that when put in motion, the radar had that red line of rain moving SE just enough to keep Chanute in the main part of the storm for a while.

Because by 0759, things had only improved marginally.  The long and short of all this is that between 6-9 inches of rain fell in various areas around Chanute.  That's a lotta water no mater where ya call home.  And the rain didn't give it up till maybe 1300.  So - there was obviously no riding to be done this morning.  In fact, the road East from Chanute was closed due to flash flooding.   

So - we did the only thing we could do to be productive.  We slept in.  Then we decided to flip the day.  We had intended to do the weekly chores after getting to Pitttsburg, KS.  Actually to the state line 5 miles East of Pitttsburg.  So - we started with the chores.  Chief among them...

That's right readers, it was laundry day.  And just to be clear, I did have a pair of underwear warming up in the bullpen.  But as I was about to call in the new pair just up from the minors, Susan declared that we were gonna do laundry anyway and to just suck it up.  When we got to the laundromat, there were a bunch of similar memes all framed and hanging above each washing machine.  This one spoke to me.

So after laundry and the obligatory weekly Wal-Mart run, I called the Sheriff's Office in both Neosho and  Caldwell Counties.  Caldwell said all their roads were open.  But Neosho said that the last they knew, the road I needed to go East on was still flooded.  I guess there's only one way to find out - head out there and check it out for myself.  This is Dave.  He saved me the stress of wondering if I was gonna have to turn around after 15 miles.  I ran into him as soon as I turned onto the Eastbound road.  When I waved him down he pulled up and the first words out of his mouth were, "You're good.  Water is down."  I chatted him up a bit and told him about The Thin Blue Ride and then we parted ways.  He was a good guy.  And friendly - as the reader may be able to tell from the pic.

There was a lot of this along the route today.

And it remained cloudy all day.  The forecast was for more rain throughout the day, but it never materialized.

The Neosho River at flood stage.  Before the rain last night it was at 20 ft.  Forecast has it topping out at 31 feet before starting back down again.  Wow!

But eventually, as we got closer to Pittsburg, it became obvious that rainfall totals weren't what they were around Chanute.  This is just East of a small town called Walnut.  I liked the trees lining both sides of the road so Sig took the opportunity for this shot.

Those of you who are ill informed concerning the T/A won't know what a big deal the Immanuel Lutheran Church is.  It's out in the middle of nowhere and welcomes bikers.  They have a separate building behind the Church that they've designated for riders to overnight in.  They also have food available in the fridge/kitchen for free - showers, bathrooms, the works.  We didn't go in since we have what we need in The Rig, but I've read plenty of blogs by weary T/Aers who have laid over here when they just couldn't go any further.  I can't explain the spelling of "Immanuel".  Apparently the "E" is optional, but a vowel of some ilk is required. 

After the second rest stop of the day and a change from soaked riding gear, I ran across this guy.  Old, beat up, rusty, some of the joints don't work at all, others grind when they move...  I feel his pain.

On the bright side there was this.  Actually - these.  I encountered several along the route today.  Having nothing but a 19 pound bike (Sig is a bit heavier than Delta) for protection we know who would win if we were to tangle with a car.  Go ahead, Google "Brad Schoen Bike Accident" and see what ya get.

But eventually we made it to the Missouri line East of Pittsburg - albeit a bit later than planned.  I think it was about 1900 when we arrived.  And of course, since I don't have enough fingers...

State number 7!  So I called Susan in for her cameo appearance again.  Good thing she's along.  It took me three tries to get the right number of fingers held up - and I was just in charge of two.

So this, readers, is the end of section 8 of the T/A maps.  Four more to go.

And the route on map 8 looked like this.

To close out the day, we headed for a Chinese Buffet Susan had located last night.  I was game.  It's been a while since we've been to a good Chinese Buffet.  After dinner I got this in my fortune cookie.  I thought it appropriate, given what we're trying to pull off here.  I don't talk about it much, but there are days that have been just a plain old struggle.  I read once that only about 50% of riders who commence the T/A actually complete it.  Part of that is trying to do it solo.  People can't stand the isolation for 3-4 months.  But part of it is also the difficulty of the ride.  Having Susan along is a good thing.  It negates the isolation issue, and she's also a great encourager.

And finally, we here at The Thin Blue Ride are always looking for ways to improve life for our readers.  In that vein, this will be our first attempt at providing practical consumer advice for the common man.  It is this: Wal-Mart's Hershey Sliced Chocolate Creme Cake is much better than their Triple Chocolate Muffins.  Our research has shown that the Hershey Cake is way "chocolatier" (A technical cooking term there) than the muffins.

Till next time. 

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.

The Thin Blue Ride - Part 2 Day 59 - Elbing, KS to Eureka, KS

Tuesday, August 6th, 2019

I know, I know - you all were afraid I'd forgotten you, ridden off into the morning sun, declared my freedom from the internet and would never post again.  Bah.  One of us needs the other too much for that to happen.  I just couldn't get my pictures to download in Eureka last night and had to wait till we got to Chanute this afternoon. So, climb back in from that ledge you were about to jump from and check out today's post.

Ride Report: 63 Miles, 2,567 Total Miles, 18.1 Avg. mph, 1,339 Ft. Climbing, 4,874 Calories.

And check out that average speed.  Over the course of today’s ride I had no wind for about a third of the ride, a headwind for about a third of the ride, and a tailwind for the remaining third.  In addition: note the climbing numbers - it was a hilly (well - for Kansas anyway) route today.  First time in a long while that number has been over 1k.  As a result of these various factors, I’m gonna declare the 18.1 average speed to be bordering on impressive - at least for me.

Oh - and Garmin’s recorded high temperature for the ride was 102 degrees.  Ouch.

Oh Part II - very humid again.  I had two jerseys and two base layers ready for the day.  When I came in for breaks I’d strip them off and Susan hung them on the trailer to dry.  Before I left, the “other” set went on and I was at least dry to start the various segments of the ride today.  With it being this hot and humid, she saved my bacon - all day today.  But before we get on with the day, I have this from last night...

This is a screen shot from "AccuWeather" when I searched for Eureka, KS last night.  The reader might note that rather than Eureka, KS I got "Kinaliada, Istanbul".  Presumably the people in Kinaliada were equally as curious as to the weather in Eureka, KS.  So there ya have it, screenshot proof of what I've been complaining about.  At least I knew to take a rain jacket if I decided to head off to Kinaliada.

As to the weather this morning - more of the same.  Check out the haze in the air in this pic.  Sig and I knew what this meant for the rest of the day - hot and sweaty all day again.

But we were kinda in our home territory, so to speak.  Today's route took us thru the southern portion of the Flint Hills.  Manhattan lies pretty much in the heart of the Flint Hills, and being on the southern edge of them today the hills weren't quite as dramatic.  But there was this...

I know enough about this to recognize Big Bluestem grass when I see it.  The two large clumps of grass in the front are it.  The Flint Hills are famous for this grass because...

...it attracts these like flies to roadkill.  (Gee - wonder how I came up with that?)  Today was cow Tuesday.  The first 30 miles or so were all County roads and pretty much all pasture.  Other than Montana, I don't know that I've ever seen so many pastures full of cows.  I'm given to understand that many of these cows are from out of state (typically Texas and the Southwest in general) and are sent here to pasture over the summer.

Which meant, of course, that I was passed by a ton of these guys today.  (Taken while riding - don't attempt this at home.)  I have two observations about cattle trucks.  1: They seem to take up more of the road than other types of tractor/trailer combinations - with the exception of wind turbine parts.  2: They disturb more air than any other tractor/trailer combination I've met since starting the ride.  Under the right (OK - the wrong) circumstances, they can knock 3-4 mph off your speed when they pass.  3: They're smellier than any other tractor/trailer combination.  4:  For obvious reasons, I'm glad it wasn't a wet/rainy day today.  OK - I guess that's four observations, but you get the drift.

These must be some of those out of state cows.  They all brought their swimming suits and headed for the beach.  The red and tan ones invited me to join 'em, but I could tell that the black angus weren't as receptive.  When I asked, one of the red ones told me that some of the angus were jealous that my butt looked better in black than theirs.  Angus can be so petty.  I moved on...

And shortly before getting to Cassoday, KS, we crossed over I-35.  Its been a while since we've been on one of these.  Can't say that we miss it.

And shortly we were in Cassoday, KS.  According to the sign at the city limit, "Population about 100 - more or less."  I'm gonna go with less.  But importantly, when one heads South out of Cassoday, one exits the Flint Hills, as the sign indicates.

Rosalia, KS was next up on the hit parade and I was glad to get there.  It was getting hot and I was soaked.  I knew I needed some time to cool down, and Susan had arranged to meet me at the school parking lot there.  She took this action shot as I pulled in.  The reader will note my "hot face", and the glistening sheen on my arms.  I hear that in the cosmetics industry such a sheen is desirable in certain cases.  Well - no need to go to Wally World and buy those expensive (small) containers of sheeny stuff - just ride a bike 30 miles in the Kansas summer heat.  (Used by permission of Susan Schoen Photography, LLC.)

I was glad for Susan, The Rig, air conditioning, and my Oreos when I got there.  (Yes - in that order.  Stop it!)  I've heard from many readers (OK - maybe two or three) that Double Stuff Oreos are the cat's meow.  I was dubious, thinking it bordering on hedonistic to put all that sugar in one cookie.  The double "stuff" might obscure the taste of the chocolate cookies on either side.  So I decided to play it safe and combine a double stuff Oreo with a normal Oreo thinking that if the double stuff was over the top, the normal Oreo would make it taste better - like it does with everything else.  It worked - tasted pretty good to me.  I may have to do my part to rid the world of double stuff Oreos using this method.

Did I mention the air conditioning?  There was also a fan.  It was kinda like a cool tropical breeze.

And playing her part as cabana girl, Susan woke me from my nap and brought me ice cream with fresh blueberries.  She calls this her, "You're gonna eat ice cream at 1000 in the morning?" look.  (The reader should note the clock on the wall.)  I was just sittin' there minding my own business when she accosted me with this stuff.  Hey - I didn't say hedonism doesn't have an up side, I just don't prefer it in my Oreos.

And after my ice cream snack, it was back to the road again.  But being out of the Flint Hills now, we started seeing more row crops.  These are soybeans.  Note the elevator leg in the background just above the trees.

From here on it was a slight downhill to Eureka with the previously mentioned tailwind.  Can't ask for a better combination than that.  It was just too fun to stop for pics.  Great way to end the day.

Till next time.