Despite the fireworks that kept us up the night before (Tribune is a very patriotic city in Kansas), we woke with the rising sun and packed up our bikes while eating our first breakfast of the day (peanut butter and jelly sandwiches). Soon we were on our way, beating the heat and beating the headwinds down highway 96. Since our ride to Pueblo, CO we have experienced some drastic shifts in the landscape. Gone are the towering snow-covered mountains and running rivers. They have been replaced by endless plains used for growing corn, cattle, and oil drilling. None of the land is in its natural state. It is a strange and endless sight. Also, gone are all possible structures, natural and otherwise, to block any of the wind. We have been fighting headwinds that never seem to let up. We have been pedaling into a constant gust.
Occasionally we will be faced with a hill and a steady climb. However, rather than being a typical rolling hill where your laborous descent is rewarded with coasting, or, in the case of climbing mountains, where you climb and climb and climb and a rewarded with stunning vistas and an exhilerating descent, the hills plateu at the top and only serve to introduce you to more wind.
Though this is a tad melodramatic, we have found that the ride can be a little bit boring at times. For the last two days we have tried to listen to music to help move things along. This has been somewhat difficult as there are no radio stations within reach in these parts. But, with an iPod and an iPad we have managed pretty well. With one ear listening to music and the other the traffic, we have covered some ground.
With our early departure we did not feel the need to listen to music, we would just enjoy the morning. After over twenty miles of biking we came across a small roadside cafe (the Route 96 cafe in Leoti). Here we decided to take a break for a cup of coffee and maybe a breakfast pastry of some sort. After looking at the menu, however, this turned into two cups of coffee and full stacks of french toast and pancakes. We were starting to find another way of entertaining ourselves on the road: food! We relaxed in the cool air conditioning of the reasturant. It was 10 AM central time but already very steamy outside. We looked at the map, refilled our water bottles, and prepared to hit the road once again.
Despite the heat and the headwinds we were making pretty good progress at a respectable pace. After two hours enjoying the plains and marveling at the scale of the farming equipment tending to the fields alongside the road, we rolled into Scott City - the largest city that we have been in since coming to Kansas. The benefit of the city's size was a Dairy Queen (though it was a larger town, everyone still seemed to know everyone else, and the town was still only about two miles long). Determined to only get an ice cream, and have a Cliff bar to go with it, we steped foot inside the door. After looking at the menu, once again, our minds seemed to start to change. The next thing we knew we were ordering food ... and then a Blizzard. Again, it was a much needed escape from the heat.
When we returned to the road we contined to ride at a strong pace, just shy of 14 miles per hour on average and with the headwind that we had, that was pretty good. During parts of the nearly perfectly straight highway the wind was coming at us at a very slight angle, instead of head on, and we took pretty good advantage of that.
Eventually we arrived in Dighton, KS. It was still pretty early in the day, around 4?? in the afternoon, but it was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and the winds were steadily increasing. We stopped at a gas station to get a cold drink (which turned into a half gallon of lemon aid), and to refill our water bottles. Emily asked a police officer in the parking lot if there was a place where we would be able to camp, and he said that we would be allowed to camp in the city park. This sounded great to us. Though it was early, we had already covered 72 miles and did not mind the idea of stopping a little early. Besides, there was a nice public pool within the park that allows cyclists to swim for free. We had a very refreshing swim before setting up camp, having dinner, and calling it a night.
You can look at the part of our route that we are on now here:
http://tinyurl.com/3j9g7p2
And the next section of the route here:
http://tinyurl.com/3j3uyj6
Please leave a comment if there is a problem with one of the routes.
We did not take many pictures today, but here are a couple:
Location:Tribune, KS to Dighton, KS
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