Sunday, May 6, 2007
More tornado warnings!
Late last night we were rousted from our rooms once again to take shelter in the lobby. There was another tornado on the ground...this time just two miles to our east! Thankfully, nothing like the storm that hit Greensberg! I'm waiting for our ride leader to return and give us the morning update. He is out in the van driving today's course to be sure it is clear of flooding and debris, as we'll be riding thru the path of last night's storm...great! It's raining pretty hard outside and the winds are howling from the SE. Today's route (123 miles) goes due east for 73 miles before turning north into Abilene...so it will not be easy! The hotel is full of Electrical & Emergency workers all headed to Greensberg to help out. It's hard to believe that an entire town is gone! I want to get out of Kansas as quickly as possible...so I hope Mike comes back with good news and allows us to get going! This morning's radar looks pretty bleak with these rain showers moving to the NE towards our destination in Abilene.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
A tornado is coming...and you are getting a massage???!!!
Kate giving Brian a massage. I think his glutes were sore!!!
Kate working the kinks out of "I-man's" neck. With the crosswinds all day today everyone's necks were sore from leaning over into the wind.
Tornado sirens...oh my!
Off to the Southwest was this huge dark green cloud. Within moments the sirens went off and the entire hotel was evacuated to the lobby hallway!
Our weather radar...just moments before the tornado sirens went off and we had to "hunker down" in the lobby hallway
By the way...we are in Great Bend!!!!!
The hallway crammed with a Wedding party, hotel patrons and even their dogs!
Dessert #1 for Norita!
Dessert # 2 for Norita!
Crazy Rob...off on another comedy adventure!
Our weather radar...just moments before the tornado sirens went off and we had to "hunker down" in the lobby hallway
By the way...we are in Great Bend!!!!!
The hallway crammed with a Wedding party, hotel patrons and even their dogs!
Dessert #1 for Norita!
Dessert # 2 for Norita!
Crazy Rob...off on another comedy adventure!
Auntie Em…Auntie Em!!!
Ok…in last night’s post I mentioned we had a threat of tornados…little did I know we’d be just a few miles from one of the worst tornados to ever strike Kansas! Greenberg, Kansas is about 40 miles east of Dodge City and it was completely wiped out by a storm they estimated was 2 miles wide. The pictures on TV are terrifying! Our hearts and prayers go out to those effected!
Day 13 Dodge City to Great Bend, Kansas 84 miles @ 20.5mph
When we got up this morning it was clear that it was not going to be an easy day after all. We only had 84 miles to cover…but with the winds from the south we’d be getting hammered by a dead crosswind. The winds were 20-25 with gusts close to 35mph. Mike gathered us all together to have another safety meeting and I feared he may not allow us to ride in these conditions. He reminded us of how treacherous these crosswinds can be…especially when coupled with riders in a group, large trucks and those huge grain elevators. All can play major tricks on the wind…as we soon found out! We decided to ride as a group of 3 today…and also decided not to play around. We wanted to get to "get outta Dodge" as quickly as possible in case the weather turned. We felt bad leaving I-man to his own devices today…but he survived!! Rob, Judd and I made it thru the first 28 miles of major crosswinds riding in a modified eschelon formation. The shoulders today were much narrower than what we’ve been riding on…so we had to get creative. Typically, in a crosswind we’d ride 3 abreast the downwind guy slightly off the rear wheel of the guy ahead…in the draft! With the narrow shoulders we decided to have a “point man” riding as far to the right as possible. Then the second guy right on his rear wheel…with the 3rd guy drafting off to his left. It allowed us to really keep the speed up without being 3-wide (we just didn't have that much room!). You had to really pay attention to every move today. My bike and wheels extremely aerodynamic…which also makes them very prone to being bashed by crosswinds. At times it can slide sideways 4-6 inches. The huge grain elevators are also a hazard. As you approach one on the downwind side, the wind can swirl…from headwind to no wind and then…BAM!...back to the crosswind as you pass it. Pretty scary! We did a quick stop at the first SAG where Barbara told us the group was already pretty spread out and that she would probably not be at the lunch SAG in Larned, KS before we got there. Around mile 45 we made a left turn (north) towards Great Bend and our crosswind turned to a tailwind. A 20-30mph tailwind makes for some serious speed…and we took advantage of it! We kept a rotation going at just under 30mph for most of the last 40 or so miles. It was a blast!!!! You can tell by the lack of photos…we only stopped once today. At least until we got into Great Bend at 11AM…when we stopped at Braums for a chicken sandwich, chili and a milkshake. The problem with hammering that fast is the rooms aren’t ready and your luggage is still an hour or so behind! It was still fun!
Looks like the next few day will be a bit dodgy with storms and tornados possible!
“Fly monkey’s…fly!!”
dd
Day 13 Dodge City to Great Bend, Kansas 84 miles @ 20.5mph
When we got up this morning it was clear that it was not going to be an easy day after all. We only had 84 miles to cover…but with the winds from the south we’d be getting hammered by a dead crosswind. The winds were 20-25 with gusts close to 35mph. Mike gathered us all together to have another safety meeting and I feared he may not allow us to ride in these conditions. He reminded us of how treacherous these crosswinds can be…especially when coupled with riders in a group, large trucks and those huge grain elevators. All can play major tricks on the wind…as we soon found out! We decided to ride as a group of 3 today…and also decided not to play around. We wanted to get to "get outta Dodge" as quickly as possible in case the weather turned. We felt bad leaving I-man to his own devices today…but he survived!! Rob, Judd and I made it thru the first 28 miles of major crosswinds riding in a modified eschelon formation. The shoulders today were much narrower than what we’ve been riding on…so we had to get creative. Typically, in a crosswind we’d ride 3 abreast the downwind guy slightly off the rear wheel of the guy ahead…in the draft! With the narrow shoulders we decided to have a “point man” riding as far to the right as possible. Then the second guy right on his rear wheel…with the 3rd guy drafting off to his left. It allowed us to really keep the speed up without being 3-wide (we just didn't have that much room!). You had to really pay attention to every move today. My bike and wheels extremely aerodynamic…which also makes them very prone to being bashed by crosswinds. At times it can slide sideways 4-6 inches. The huge grain elevators are also a hazard. As you approach one on the downwind side, the wind can swirl…from headwind to no wind and then…BAM!...back to the crosswind as you pass it. Pretty scary! We did a quick stop at the first SAG where Barbara told us the group was already pretty spread out and that she would probably not be at the lunch SAG in Larned, KS before we got there. Around mile 45 we made a left turn (north) towards Great Bend and our crosswind turned to a tailwind. A 20-30mph tailwind makes for some serious speed…and we took advantage of it! We kept a rotation going at just under 30mph for most of the last 40 or so miles. It was a blast!!!! You can tell by the lack of photos…we only stopped once today. At least until we got into Great Bend at 11AM…when we stopped at Braums for a chicken sandwich, chili and a milkshake. The problem with hammering that fast is the rooms aren’t ready and your luggage is still an hour or so behind! It was still fun!
Looks like the next few day will be a bit dodgy with storms and tornados possible!
“Fly monkey’s…fly!!”
dd
An ominous sky greeted us this morning. It cleared nicely as we rolled into Great Bend…though we are back under tornado warnings again this afternoon
Katie got me this antique St. Christopher medal to wear when I was training for Ironman. This gives you an idea of how hard the crosswinds were blowing us this morning. That’s it flapping in the breeze off my left shoulder!
Rolling into Larned, Kansas
This is how I rig my que sheet everyday. It calls out mileage, turns, towns and stores. You do not want to get lost out here!
Our one stop today! Hey , I can’t resist an old bike shot!
Friday, May 4, 2007
Day 12 Liberal,Ks to Dodge City,Ks 83 miles @ 18.4mph
Today was a very easy day! Super foggy at the start until mile 24 when the sun finally broke out. We had our lunch SAG at The Dalton Gang Hideout in Meade, Ks. A few ramshackle buildings and a small museum…dedicated to the glamorous lives of a bunch of bank and train robbers…only in America!
Once the sun broke thru it turned into another perfect day for riding. We had a fairly stiff crosswind to deal with that shifted to a tailwind when we swung north to Dodge City for the last 20 miles. Rob and couldn’t hold back. He blasted off the front first. I let him get a mile or so ahead and then proceeded to run him down. It’s amazing what a couple of easy days will do to put some power back in these little “chicken legs” of mine! We found the town bakery…which happened to be right next to the barber shop. Everyone is so fascinated with our trip. It’s really fun to just hang out and talk with them. Most everyone walked into town…only to find out that most of the tourist-related stuff is down until the summer season.
Rob was on fire today. We laughed so hard this morning that we both almost had to get off the bike. We were discussing getting a (leg) massage in Topeka…and it went downhill form there. He also loves giving a waitress or shop person a hard time…just for the fun of it. After dinner, we stopped by the DQ for some ice cream…the exchange between Rob (totally straight-faced) and the girls behind the counter went something like this:
Rob: “what do you do with your mistakes?”
Girl: “mistakes?”
Rob: “you know, when you make the wrong flavor milkshake or cone”?
Girl: “you’ll have to talk to the manager”
Rob: “how many pushups can she do?”
Rob again: “how many pushups can YOU do?”
Rob again: “OK…what happens if you drop something on the floor? Can I have it?”
By now the girls (and me) are laughing hysterically….he just keeps going!!
Off to Great Bend, KS in the morning. It looks like we may have another big rain day tomorrow…even a threat of tornadoes! If it comes with a tailwind I can handle it. Missed out on a nap today…so off to bed for me!
Kasper sporting a new pair of spurs!!
It was a “Pea Soup” start out of Liberal today
Welcome to Kansas…a typical road. Wide shoulders and little or no traffic…bordered by wheat fields for as far as the eye can see!
Once the sun broke thru it turned into another perfect day for riding. We had a fairly stiff crosswind to deal with that shifted to a tailwind when we swung north to Dodge City for the last 20 miles. Rob and couldn’t hold back. He blasted off the front first. I let him get a mile or so ahead and then proceeded to run him down. It’s amazing what a couple of easy days will do to put some power back in these little “chicken legs” of mine! We found the town bakery…which happened to be right next to the barber shop. Everyone is so fascinated with our trip. It’s really fun to just hang out and talk with them. Most everyone walked into town…only to find out that most of the tourist-related stuff is down until the summer season.
Rob was on fire today. We laughed so hard this morning that we both almost had to get off the bike. We were discussing getting a (leg) massage in Topeka…and it went downhill form there. He also loves giving a waitress or shop person a hard time…just for the fun of it. After dinner, we stopped by the DQ for some ice cream…the exchange between Rob (totally straight-faced) and the girls behind the counter went something like this:
Rob: “what do you do with your mistakes?”
Girl: “mistakes?”
Rob: “you know, when you make the wrong flavor milkshake or cone”?
Girl: “you’ll have to talk to the manager”
Rob: “how many pushups can she do?”
Rob again: “how many pushups can YOU do?”
Rob again: “OK…what happens if you drop something on the floor? Can I have it?”
By now the girls (and me) are laughing hysterically….he just keeps going!!
Off to Great Bend, KS in the morning. It looks like we may have another big rain day tomorrow…even a threat of tornadoes! If it comes with a tailwind I can handle it. Missed out on a nap today…so off to bed for me!
Kasper sporting a new pair of spurs!!
It was a “Pea Soup” start out of Liberal today
Welcome to Kansas…a typical road. Wide shoulders and little or no traffic…bordered by wheat fields for as far as the eye can see!
Day 12 pics
Minneola? Did I make a wrong turn in Albuquerque?
Look closely and you’ll see the grain silo for the next town about 3 miles away. It seems to take forever to get there when you have a “target” on the horizon.
Rob and Judd slicing thru a field of green
The “I-man”
Rob and I have aerobars and frequently find ourselves getting very comfortable in them. No cars and beautiful roads can almost lull you to sleep.
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