Just to our left, the World Series of Darts was going on. About 6 or 7 combatants getting serious about darts. Curse words followed nearly every throw. One contender was a lightening rod of intensity, listening to an iPod, using chalk, and walking around pumping himself up. I don't think he was that good (maybe he ha a bad game), but his head hung in shame and he bought his friends several rounds. It was pretty entertaining. After, we had our fill of darts and Arnie we went back to the hotel.
We rolled north out of Manhattan and crossed the dam and started toward Blaine.
I think the sign read, "Experience the Flint Hills." What it should have said was, "Northeast Kansas says haha deal with these rollers on your fat bike! The Surly was struggling with the wind and hills (remember a poor worker blames his tools). Even though the hills weren't fun, the visuals were great.
The terrain was beautiful, rolling fields for miles and miles. Hay bales littered the fields, while a few shy clouds hovered about. It reeked of Grant Wood and it would have been heavenly if not for the fact that rolling fields also mean rolling hills. Rolling hills mean I have to lug my heavy a$$ bike up and then slowly down due to my sail like panniers reaching their arms far out into the wind.
We stopped at a few random shade trees and John made friends with an AC repair man returning from the lake near Medford. He was a cheery fellow, who gave us cold water and good conversation. He said we were crazy and today I agreed. I knew the hills would last all day. Six miles to the next town, so off we went.
Forty-two miles in and we could finally stop for lunch. The hills and wind were requiring a lot of work. We tried to go to the local diner which closed at 2 (walked in at 2:05). We thanked them and moved down the block to Cenex and borrowed a seat near some local retirees.
They talked to us about our ride and how we should have used a motorcycle instead, that it would be easier. Our conversation moved to the local fair and the demolition derby. The bald headed, long-goateed man was a warm fellow. He was very inviting and funny. His John Deere hat, bib overall wearing friend was a quiet observer. Scanning us and listening intently all while carefully drinking his Dr. Pepper. He spoke in short spurts, peering cautiously through his bifocals.
Shortly after the bifocaled, retired farmer snuck out, Seneca's previous postmaster came in. I quickly asked him if the road leveled out. He confirmed my hope and said the next thirty miles would be easier than the previous forty. Good thing too, I was hurting.
Unfortunately, the work was just starting. The gaps between towns increased and the hills got a little smaller, but they were still good climbs. Ian lost a piece off of his trailer so we found some shade that had a few broken town cars/trackers. He did some picking and found a few nuts that he thought would work, but they didn't. It was pretty funny, so I included a picture.
The road wasn't as flat as the postman said, but we took it slow and stopped in shady spots as the temperatures reached over 104 degrees.
Finally, we saw the water tower and a few miles later we were in town. We found our campsite, John found his hotel, and we cleaned up.
We ate dinner at the Windmill Inn and Steakhouse. It is a cozy little place in Seneca that we had been told about from a few towns away. It didn't disappoint, the meal was great, and the service was sound. The meal was a good way to end a heavy working day.
Ian Fredrick Hembry's Travel Trip of the Day:
"Towns should really try to be around a 10-15 mile radius of each other."
Quote of the Day:
"Stallion. That may be the word the describes me best. - John after I said that today I feel like a slow donkey and they are riding like stallions.
John Cernohous Daily Dose of Wisdom:
"Stil nothing."
Nate Herrig's Just Tell me About the Food Section: NY Strip, Filet Mignon, and House Steak at the Windmill. Perfectly cooked, well seasoned, and tender meat. A good salad bar, great sweet potato fries, and assertive service. Three steaks, salad bar, and soda for just a shade over $50. Perfect after a good day of riding.
Five Things I learned Today:
1) It can be easy to space out on hot, long days like today. When I space out not only does my mind water to a weird collection of songs. Today it was songs from A-Ha, Tears for Fears, Pearl Jam, Boys II Men, Springsteen, Dr. Dre and 2Pac, Deertick, Kansas, Allan Jackson, matchbox twenty, Peter Gabriel, and Grouplove. I think the sun not only drains you but must put weird music in your head, or you're just bored and decide to sing with the people around you. Regardless, it breaks it up. Ian loves Boys II Men.
2) Fred and Barney did a great job with the Tuttle Dam. The road to it looks just like the cartoon Gravel Pit. Yabba dabba dooo!
3) John is a green jersey contender when he loses the weight of his tent.
4) People still think we are crazy.
5) The Topeka Sunday night news team is lackluster at best. Channel 13, Yowza.
Tomorrows route could be interesting. See how intently John and Ian are working on it.
It baffles me how all of these small towns have no vacancies at any of their motels. There has to be something going on, but we never see it. Tonight John is at the Starlite Inn, it's out of this world (barf)!
Ian brought up something I had been thinking about: what do people driving past is think? I bet some are like what are those spandex crazies doing. Others are probably just thinking we are going to the next town, and have no idea how far we've come. Some probably just make fun of us, which is cool.
It reminds me of Hemmingway's Old. Man and the Sea. Only a few people (the three of us and all of you) know what has been happening, but depending on your perspective it appears differently. We could be just three locals on bikes or people journeying nearly 2000 miles telling stories as they go. There probably is a To Kill A Mockingbird type metaphor in there somewhere, I'm just too tired to nail it down.
Tomorrow is projected to be a 3 state adventure at almost 90 miles. I'm sure it will be nothing but flat roads, tailwinds, and 75 degrees all day.
Today beat me up pretty good, but it'll be better tomorrow.
Hope you had a great weekend and thanks for reading. I found out yesterday that about 2500 people have read parts of my blog. I can't even visualize that number of people, but I thank you all very much. I guess if you like it spread the word and if not I'll try harder!
Talk you tomorrow night from I-O-W-A!
Until then,
KRS
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