Today we rode 64 miles on our route from McPherson to Abilene. We arrived before noon. Our track took us took us East of McPherson about 11 miles before heading mostly due North for the remainder of the route. We had a South wind averaging 19 mph with a max South wind of 27 according to my GPS statistics on the Motioned Based web site, that I attach to each post.
After making our turn north we literally flew before the wind. At one point we maintained a speed of 30 mph + or – for over two miles. When it’s going that well you don’t feel any discomfort from the typical places like seat or handle bars. You get in a zone and it is a euphoric feeling. Our bikes gobbled up the miles.
We stopped and took photos at the official halfway point in our ride. We were cruising along at such a terrific rate of speed we almost missed it. Several riders had stopped and we thought they had problems so slowed down to check. They informed us that it was a halfway photo op. ABB had painted this milestone on the highway.
Can anyone interpret the significance of the cup cake arrangement on today's SAG refreshment table?
The roads we were on today were more country roads with very little traffic. It was a nice change of pace, and was very scenic. We followed the ribbon of highway through the wheat fields that had been recently harvested. There are more and more trees now and you can see the greening effect of the rain.
Since we arrived in Abilene before Noon we went straight to the Eisenhower Center. We spent 20 minutes or so exploring. We visited the chapel were Ike and Mamie are buried. I took a photo of the excerpt from a speech that he made in 1953 which was inscribed on a marble wall near his burial place. I thought how profound his words were regarding war and peace. You can click on the photo and zoom in to read the text.
We have two longer rides the next two days before we arrive in St Joseph Missouri for our next rest day.
3 comments:
Congrats on reaching the halfway point, Jay! Next big landmark is the Mississippi! After that it is just a hop, skip and a jump into the ocean! (note: hop and skip are each about 600 miles)
Halfway, huh? So it's all downhill from here? :-) Though I guess you'll still have some climbs going through the Alleghany and Blue Ridge mountains (some of the oldest mountain ridges in the world).
Thanks for posting the pic from the Eisenhower center...those words ring so true, yet it seems we have a hard time learning that lesson!
Les
Jay. You deserve a day with a tailwind that puts the rider in a "zone." And how nice that the rain moved out ahead of you. Speaking of rain, it will be interesting to read your blog when you enter Missouri and cross the Mississippi River then into Illinois. Will a sag boat be needed? //Ron
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