Category Archives: Bike Touring

121 miles (195 km) – Total so far: 1,776 miles (2,858 km) Wichita is a charming little town or a thriving metropolis depending on your perspective. To me, having been riding through small towns for five weeks, it was a huge mass of humanity: smashed in together with cars and lights and all the attendantContinue reading “Day 34: Crazy Miles: Wichita, KS to Larned, KS”

48 miles (77 km) – Total so far: 1,655 miles (2,663 km) The bed at the Beaumont hotel must have been stuffed with angel feathers. I slept a full 10 hours last night, and a good hour past dawn, which is an anomaly on this trip. I don’t set an alarm clock, but my bodyContinue reading “Day 32: Big City and a Bike Shop: Beaumont, KS to Wichita, KS”

65 miles (105 km) – Total so far: 1,607 miles (2,586 km) Last night getting into Chanute, I suggested to Jess and Tuan that we opt for a motel rather than a campsite on account of some impending thunderstorms overnight. Sure, our tents *probably* could have handled them, but I had figured we’d be moreContinue reading “Day 31: Amateur Meteorologist: Chanute, KS to Beaumont, KS”

57 miles (92 km) – Total so far: 1,542 miles (2,482 km) Back on the trail and chilling out of the campsite proved to be the reintroduction to biking culture I had been hoping to get. The venue for last night’s bonding was a free campsite for cyclists provided by the town of Pittsburg, Ks.Continue reading “Day 30: Zephyrs in Kansas: Pittsburg, KS to Chanute, KS”

Kansas Day 29- Pittsburg, KS Day 30- Chanute, KS Day 31- Beaumont, KS Day 32- Wichita, KS Day 34- Larned, KS Day 35- Ness City, KS Day 36- Scott City, KS Day 29: Yes! Yes! Yes! to Strawberry Pie.: Everton, MO to Pittsburg, KS 65 miles (105 km) – Total so far: 1,485 miles (2,390Continue reading “Day 29: Yes! Yes! Yes! to Strawberry Pie: Everton, MO to Pittsburg, KS”

55 miles (89 km) – Total so far: 1,420 miles (2,285 km) Today marked an end of an era as just a short 20 mile ride we’d make it to Springfield where Bill would hop in a rental car and drive back home. Having Bill along for the last week, especially in the challenging Ozarks,Continue reading “Day 28: Xenodochium: Marshfield, MO to Everton, MO”

65 miles (105 km) – Total so far: 1,365 miles (2,197 km) Motels are great because they are easy to get out of quickly. Everything is right there in your room. There is no B&B host to chat to you while they make breakfast. No tent to roll up. Bill and I got on theContinue reading “Day 27: Vistas and Wildflowers: Houston, MO to Marshfield, MO”

45 miles (72 km) – Total so far: 1,300 miles (2,092 km) After a hearty breakfast at our B&B we hit the road late (8:30). Immediately we were greeted by two unwelcome old friends: a steep uphill and a couple of dogs. Have no fear: fresh legs turn chasing dogs and steep uphills into distantContinue reading “Day 26: Undulating Hills and Unexpected Encounters: Eminence, MO to Houston, MO”

42 miles (68 km) – Total so far: 1,255 miles (2,020 km) The 12 hills of Oh! Zarks! (Sung to the tune of “12 Days Of Christmas”)   On the 25th day of my bike ride, the Ozarks gave to me:12 grinding uphills11 screaming downhills10 cliff bars9 bottles drunk8 breaks for peeing7 Trucks a rumbling6Continue reading “Day 25: The Twelve Hills of Oh! Zarks!: Centerville, MO to Eminence, MO”