Wind can be a natural enemy to someone on a bicycle. When I started out the day, the wind was coming strong from the south. As a cross-wind, it really didn’t bother me too much, and actually help keep me cool. However, every time a truck came from the opposite direction, I would hit the turbulence like a brick wall. Sometimes, it was so strong it would slow me to a near standstill.
Maybe I should have taken the rest day afterall. I felt pretty good when I woke up this morning, but it took me longer than normal to get things packed up. My plan was to use the tailwind to have a nice long day and get to Akron, CO. I was pretty tired today. Even with the tailwind, I made slow progress.
There is something about the countryside of northwest Kansas that is very relaxing and very comforting. After I am done with this journey, maybe I will move back to the area. Probably not, but that was a thought I had today.
I spent some time this morning riding around Jennings. The town is only about three blocks by four blocks, so it didn’t take long. The town looked very similar to what I remember, though a few things had changed. There were more vacant houses. The grocery store and cafe had closed. I was a little upset about this because I expected to get something for breakfast before I left town. Of course, the bar was still there. The biggest change was that the school was closed. It closed about a decade ago. The building and grounds were purchased by BCI, which is a bus manufacturer. I don’t know what exactly they do at the Jennings facility. The other big change was a playground and several picnic tables placed in some of the vacant lots downtown. It made the area seem more inviting.
When I woke up yesterday, I was still very sleepy. It didn’t take much to rationalize staying in Alma for another day. I am beginning to wonder if I have some sort of mental block. I know that in a little over a week, I will be climbing into the Rockies. They have been looming over me for a while, at least since I crossed the Mississippi. I could have dealt better with the heat and flats over the past few days and made better progress.
About 5 miles south of Alma, I came across another rider. I haven’t seen anyone other tourist since I left the GAP. Roger is riding from Denver to Omaha. We stopped and chatted for a bit and exchanged information about each others upcoming routes. When he was younger, he rode from the west coast to Bolder, CO, and wanted to go on to Omaha then. Things got in the way, like school and family, and he never finished the ride. This is his summer to finally finish.
It’s not that I like the state. Don’t get me wrong; Nebraska is a beautiful state with friendly and helpful people. I just don’t seem to be able to get into any kind of rhythm or make any distance. First, there was the unscheduled day off in Hastings caused by the frequent flat tires.
Today, I did some sightseeing around Red Cloud, NE. Red Cloud is the childhood home of Willa Cather, one of my favorite authors. She really tells a great story. Many of her books are set on the plains in the late 19th century. As someone who grew up on the plains, I always felt a connection to the characters, like they were a part of my own history.
One thing that struck me is how much of a focus there is in Red Cloud on Willa Cather. Red Cloud is a small town of just over 1000 people, so the focus is understandable. But it was a stark contrast to Concord, MA. In Concord, Emerson was an afterthought. In Red Cloud, the Willa Cather Foundation not only own her childhood home, but several other buildings, including the Opera House, one of the first banks in the town, and the church she and her family attended. The foundation has purchased nearly a block of the downtown’s storefronts and is in the process of expanding.
I forgot to mention yesterday about the one-way streets in downtown Hastings. I have heard tourists in NYC complain about all the one-way streets, but never really understood what the problem was. Yesterday, while trying to navigate downtown Hastings, which is all one-way streets, I began to understand. If you are not familiar with the city, seeing a bunch of one-way streets that all seem to point the opposite direction from where you want to go can get into your head. After a while, it can be frustrating.
So much for a good ride. I started out on the north side of Hastings and didn’t even make it to downtown before the rear tire went flat again. I was at the end of my rope and couldn’t figure out what was causing so many flats in such a short time. It is possible that my rear tire failed and the downward pressure while riding may be popping the tube.
Pedaling America 