Early Day Three

I awoke at my normal time and realized I had forting I was on Mountain Time. No wonder no one else is moving.

Yesterday I packed the tent up and was moving around 8. I was not sure if I was going to make Colorado, but had the GPS programmed for a camp site just inside the Colorado State line. It would give me something to aim at.

The day started off easy. I stopped for gas and coffee and saw I was going to get wet. Little did I know. While I was drinking my coffee a guy walks up to me. This man had feathers in his headband, Shorts and a T-shirt. His bicycle was leaned up against the pole. He was obviously down on his luck and wanted to talk. We chatted for a while and he told me he was not allowed to drive because " my shrink will not write the write thing on my paperwork". Ok...that explains the sunglasses at a 45 degree angle and the feathers. He said he was released for the day and was riding around. I was not sure what he was going to say next. Well, turns out he was concerned that I needed to eat with my long ride and gave me a bag of nuts. I mean, here was a guy just trying to make it through another day and he was giving me food. You meat the most interesting people riding a bike.

As I approached Kansas City the sky was black. Next thing I was riding between the lightning bolts and thunder was banging away. I tried to find a spot to pull over but realized I was on the toll road and there were no exits. There was only one thing to do..keep going. There is something very odd about riding in a thunderstorm listening to the PGA golf game in Atlanta when they are talking about the heat. Sorry Jane...did not wave as I was holding on and trying to stay upright. I finally found a service plaza and pulled in. Gassed up and then parked my bike under some overhang by the door.

One guy pointed to his car and said " I saw you out there. I could hardly handle the car..how you did it I have no idea". As I drunk my coffee a family approached me and the father snapped " why don't you park a little closer to the door and block everyone?" Now, here I was doing my best drowned rat impression and this guy was making remarks like that? I was about to say something and then saw his wife look at me, then turn red and look at him. I figured his next 100 miles listening to her thoughts on his comments as they drove down the road would be more than I could ever say. I smiled and thought about all the interesting people you meet riding a bike.

Another couple of bands of rain and I finally saw some sun. And nothing. After Kansas City the road is straight and flat. And goes on for ever. The wind picked up and I had to lean into it to stay in my lane. The only break was to ride along side an 18 wheeler and let the truck take the wind. I chatted to the driver on the CB after letting him know I was there and thanking him for his size. We must have gone like that for 50 miles.

I stopped for gas and chatted with another rider who "was just riding around looking for Florida" I thought of telling him the way but realized he was retired and riding the back roads of America taking his time. Something to look forward too I guess.

The GPS said 145 miles to Colorado. I did not stop again until I reached the camp site exhausted. The tent went up, followed by a gin and tonic, beef stew and a shower. A long, but great day in the saddle.