Eads, CO to Fowler, CO – 65 miles, 11.2mph, 855ft elevation gain

Well folks… It was a wet, cold, head-wind, bumpy- road Colorado kind of a day. BUT we loved it AND Colorado needs the rain.

We only saw one young gal headed East today. I’m guessing most cyclists hunkered down today. I have Jocelynn. She lets me dry out( heat blasting) and warm up in the truck. First time I had to warm up this trip. Normally it is a cool down session in the truck.

Tribune, KS to Eads, CO – 63 miles, 9.7mph, 1169ft elevation gain

Awesome head wind kind of a Colorado day. So excited to be in this state. Got pulled over by Colorado’s finest. Go to bottom to see the outcome. Jocelynn was freaking out.

Met Nathan from Evansville IN. He quickly told me I was heading the wrong way today. No kidding. He then shared how fast he was going with a tail wind and decline. 😳 NOT me!!!

Dighton, KS to Tribune, KS – 66mi, 11mph, 999ft elevation gain

I want to thank each of you for your encouragement and love for me on this journey. It means the world.

Kansas wanted to make sure I remembered she could dish it out. Had a head wind of 20mph most of the day. It turned to cross around 1 and then a wee cross/tail to finish my 66 miles. We are in Tribune, KS and about 16 miles from CO. The temp got up to 106 and I just had to call it. I’m telling you what few brain cells I have left are getting fried in this heat.

Schaffer, KS to Dighton, KS – 79 mi, 12mph, 1417 ft elevation

79 hot and windy miles in Kansas today. I might get Colorado tomorrow. Yippee. We met Kevin from Chicago traveling East. We saw 4 others too today. 2 were racers.

We took a rock to the windshield AND I called Erie Auto Glass and within 4 miles they had us an appointment in the town we are camping in. God is certainly in charge of this trip. Chip will be fixed!!! R Brothers to the rescue.

I finished map 5 today too!!!

Sterling, KS to Schaffer, KS – 65 miles, 10mph, +689ft gain

WINDY Kansas day! Saw some incredible things BUT the wind is the story. At one point the cross winds were so strong that when a semi passed me it lifted me off of my bike seat. No joke. This same wind blew me off of the road many times to where I had to put feet down. My wrists are on fire from white knuckling the handlebars all day. Mostly cross wind.

Newton, KS to Sterling, KS – 65mis, 12.3 mph, +1700ft elevation gain

Super de duper FAST day. No hiccups. Just a few rain showers this morning. My jacket was on until 10:45 too. I got up to 1700 in elevation. Gotta get much higher as we enter the Rockies. Just great Kansas miles today. Really loving Kansas. Due to lodging issues being so far and few between I chose to only do 65. We are camped at Sandy Hills State Park. In Kansas, it’s the honor system. You pick a site and put your money in a drop box. Full hook up was $22 as well and we are right next to the pond.

Toronto Lake, KS to Newton, KS – 91 miles

Here are my thoughts on today. HOT!!🔥🔥.

So. I kept asking Jocelynn around 1pm what the temp was. It was beginning to be tough to breathe let alone function. She would say 90 degrees. Sooo. I continued on. My goal was a century (100 miles) today. BUT God told me I was done at 91.01. I listened. Good thing. When I got in the truck I moved a pair of cycle shorts that I had put in the windshield to dry. I had hand washed them last night. When they were moved the truck temp immediately went to 104 degrees. Had I known I would have called the day sooner but I thought this heat was just in my head for about 3 hours. Now we know. Thankfully Jocelynn had me really increase fluids and sodium.

Farlington, KS to Toronto Lake, KS – 76.8mi, 12.3mph, +1974ft elevation gain

Best day yet. I got to meet Shawn Cheshire. I have been following her journey from almost the beginning of my ride. She is a veteran and former paramedic that had a traumatic fall out the back of an ambulance. She suffered a traumatic brain injury ( TBI) that has left her blind.

Donita finished up Missouri today. 06/18/21. She has traveled 1561 miles so far and +86,698 elevation gain.

Dilday Mill, MO to near Farlington, KS – 76mi, 11.8mph, +2121ft elevation gain

Outstanding 76.6 miles today. We are within 4 miles of Crawford State park and have a campsite on the lake. Kinda cool.

Question: Why are wind turbines placed geographically where they are? (Answer at the bottom)

I must say the folks of western MO and eastern KS have welcomed us with open arms and have been awesome cheerleaders.