Still in Kansas

Today was our most complicated route in several days. You had to watch the cue sheet like a hawk to make sure you didn't go astray. Here's the output from my bike computer, showing all the complexities:




I'm serious about this being our most complex route in days. Most days, we haven't had to make a single turn. You could fit the entire directions for all of Kansas on about six lines. In addition to the complex route, we had a range of scenery to marvel at, spanning from this:

To this:

One can take only so much amber waves of grain where the deer and antelope play. Even if it's Memorial Day.

Actually, today's ride was lots of fun. 63 miles, with a good paceline most of the way. We had a headwind the first 22 miles, but managed to make the big left turn of the day, and then cruised into Abilene. Tomorrow is a rest day, which everyone is looking forward to after nine straight days of riding. We're also looking forward to being tourists in Abilene. It's a very nice town, and is Dwight Eisenhower's birthplace. The Eisenhower library and museum are here, as well as something called the "Sports Hall of Fame". The hall of fame must be incredible, since the title implies it covers all sports globally for all time. I can't wait.

We had some very good pizza and calzones downtown at Breadeaux (get it?). In another act of Midwest hospitality, the folks at Breadoux called ahead to the only open coffee shop in town to alert them to our arrival. They did this with no bribe and no kickback. That doesn't happen in the East. The coffee shop was closing at 1pm today, and we were cutting it close, but got there in time for me to have a delicious cafe mocha. All in all, a fine day of bike riding.