Day 60, Chanute to Pittsburg, KS

Miles – 58

Miles From Start/To Finish – 2,763/1,582

Ave Riding Speed – 10-24 mph

Hours Start to Finish – 5.75

Weather – Mostly Sunny and 95

Kim was up before me this morning at 6:30am and opened the hotel room shade to let in the daylight in from our first-floor room at the Super 8 overlooking the small pool on the backside of the hotel. The idea of crawling into the hotel pool always sounds good, but we’re never willing to undertake the effort on this journey. Kim returned with cups of coffee for each of us. We went about the business of getting our stuff together and showering. Kim went to the lobby for her 2^nd cup and returned with the motel provided, bag lunch breakfast. This community was on Covid alert. We haven’t seen this since we were in Utah. We’re comfortable with it, as we’ve had our shots and willing to wear our masks.

The breakfast bag included a cup of orange juice, a fruit cup, a granola bar and a packaged Danish. I went for the fruit cup and put the rest in the fridge. We tend to leave any leftover groceries in the hotel/motel fridge just in case someone is willing to use what we can’t take with us.

Kim and have talked about getting out on the road earlier, but just can’t seem to get a consistent start time. We were out of the hotel and heading south on Santa Fe Ave at 8:15am. The sun was shining, the humidity was up and there was little wind. After 4 miles heading south, we hung a left on 160^th Rd going east. It was the beginning of a great ride through rural Kansas.

20-miles up we rode into Walnut, population 120, and stopped in at the corner convenience store/gas pump for a Gatorade and spilt a bacon/egg/muffin sandwich. As we were standing next to the indoor table, we noticed a guy and his young daughter walk in. He was doting on his little girl who looked to be about 6-years-old. Soon he asked us where we’re riding to and we gave him our background. I asked him if he was a rancher or a farmer. It was obvious to me, but I didn’t want to be presumptuous and then introduced ourselves. Nick was a really genuine guy and we learned that he built a place across the road from the family farm and then bought it and runs it. His family farms the land and raises cattle. He is also a science/biology teacher in the district and is the medical support for the local athletic programs. A real interesting guy. He said his son was out cutting hay and they have about another weeks’ worth of work to go. We got to discussing grass fed cattle and he described how when he was young there was one species of grass in their fields. Since he has started moving his cattle around to different pastures, they now have 15 species of grass. All of this good for the cattle and good for us as a consumer. Kim was super pumped and we gave him our card so he can contact us about buying some of his product, since he has some customers up near Minnesota.

When we walked out of the store around 11am it was very noticeable that the temperature was rising. We continued for 13 miles heading east until we reached Hwy 7 and went south for 6-miles to Girard. We stopped at a Convenience store/gas station for some water and a snack. I went for a cheese stick and Kim went for a cup of grapes. The cashier heard us talking about water and said the water from the sink spicket was filtered and we could have all the ice we needed. There were about 8 people standing in line to buy something, so I gave him the “you’re awesome” and fist pump and everyone giggled. We filled up our bottles and stood in the shade outside beside our bikes near the store entry door. I noticed an older gentleman pumping gas into his portable gas cans and he waved. Soon he was walking across the lot and walked up to start a conversation. I introduced us and we met Earl. He asked about our trip and we asked about his life. Earl was a Vietnam Vet and moved to the community after marrying his wife who was from there. He mentioned that we need to make sure and enjoy everyday we are riding and take in the local scene. Earl said there was a Huey helicopter in the park a couple blocks down with a plaque of those individuals from Kansas who lost their lives for us. I told we’d be sure to stop and see it and pay our respects. He also mentioned there is a covered bridge a few blocks further down that we should see, because he built it. We stopped at the memorial and then at the bridge, if for no other reason, then it was important to Earl. But, it was important to us also. Funny thing, he was mowing his grass near his bridge when we stopped by to admire his work, and he saw us. I know our very small effort made him feel good.

We continued south through Girard for 3-miles and headed east on E. 590^th Ave for 5-miles through the countryside. We stopped at a on the roadside to get a drink of water and there was a guy out spraying for weeds. He yelled out that we need to go up another mile before heading south. I gave him the thumbs up and then he asked if we needed. We were close to Pittsburg so I yelled out that we are good and gave him another thumbs up. Just a cool moment!

We rolled into Pittsburg and stopped on the edge of town for the directions to the bike shop, Tailwinds Cyclist. We could see our hotel off to the north, but headed south for a mile to the shop and arrived at 2pm. It was the first day in 5 that I didn’t have a flat tire.

 I walked in and said hi to Roger and told him I’m the guy who called yesterday about getting some new tread. He said he had a couple bikes to finish fixing, so we should go check-in and come back at 3:30pm. We rode the mile back, check-in and returned a little early, as I was so darn excited to get some new tires and get some confidence back in my ride.

Roger went to work putting new tires on my bike and rotating Kim’s tires. We would have put new ones on her bike, bike he didn’t have another set of anything that would fit. We will get Kim’s tires changed out at the next bike shop.

A few customers came in and Kim and I started chatting. We met David, who is 70, and lost is wife recently to cancer after battling it for 15 years. He was doing an RV version of our type of adventure around the country and said his wife would have wanted him to do this. He asked our ages and said he was happy we were doing something like this while we can. David was a really nice man who only stopped in the bike shop to learn about the bicycle touring routes, like the TransAm, coming through the area. He was a joy to meet.

We also met Jay, a local doctor, who came in wearing his hospital scrubs, who stopped in to pick up the Trek bike and helmet he bought for his 8-year-old granddaughters’ birthday. He paid his bill and had more stuff than hands, so I said I’d give him a hand. I helped him out to his car and load the bike. We chatted for a bit about family. I said I come from a large family and those are my closest friends. Jay was a fun guy to meet.

I walked back into the store and met another guy who brought in a wheel from his mountain bike and wanted Roger to take a look at it. He asked some questions about our ride and was really interested in detail like, where do you stay, how many miles do we ride a day or how much longer will it last. I didn’t get his name but another fun guy to meet.

We also met a guy who rode up on his 3-wheel bike. He looked to be handicapped. We learned he grew up in Cape Town, Africa, and came to Missouri on a swimming scholarship. At the age of 38, about a year ago, he suffered a stroke. Crazy! He was healthy and fit. He said he just purchased the trike about a month ago and he’s trying to get his left side working again. He rides 9-miles to the bike shop, and steps inside for a break, Roger pulls up a chair for him, and then rides home. We wished him well on our way out the door and told him to keep up the awesome effort.

Riding our bikes without the 45-50lbs feels very odd and even a little unsettling on the way back to the hotel. We dropped off our freshened-up bikes at our room and decided not to shower for our earlier dinner at Colton’s Steakhouse across the parking lot. We giggled as our bike clothes are covered in white body salt. We sat at a bar area booth. Ashley, the bartender and our waitress, was so nice. She was heading off to her first job using her college education working in a hospital. We mentioned we’re staying at the hotel across the street and she said we get a free appetizer because of that. Kim and I had a beer along with an onion string appetizer. We’ve been dreaming about a steak for 60 days and we each had one with a baked potato and side salad. The protein was very yummy.

We settled into our room about 6pm. It was one of the nicest riding days we’ve had. We keep saying that we would never have the chance to see the rural countryside of America had we not done it a bicycle. And we were reminded by Nick, back in Walnut, that people need to keep remembering that we all have more things in common than what sets us apart on TV. Very refreshing to hear someone else say that.

Mental and physical rest day tomorrow!