Looking to Kansas Again, Toto

I am going to be entering Kansas today. After leaving Denver I climbed 2000 more feet in elevation and stayed at some friends house in Monument. It was a short 45 mile day to start getting my legs back. I then went 84 miles to Punkin Center, which ended up being a house and a couple trailer houses at the intersection of two highways. I was working to beat out a storm that was building to the north of me and made it a little before the storm kicked in. The people with the house had a couple acres and it looked like they had garden tours, so I asked if I could stay. They weren't super inviting, but they let me stay under the covered picnic area and fill up my water outside. I wasn't sure how long I was allowed to stay so I took off at 6:30 the next morning. I made Eads by 12:30, which was my destination for the day, so I figured I'd head on to Lamar, making my day 110 miles. Just outside of Eads I crossed paths with a biker from the UK going from Boston to San Francisco piecing together various ACA maps. We talked for a bit but the semis were a little too loud, so we said goodbye and headed on. At Lamar I went to the visitors booth and asked for a place to camp. They thought for a bit and then suggested walmart and then remembered a little park I could go to. I headed to the park and set up, though I wasn't sure I could, and then at 2 and 4 in the morning the sprinkler system turns on. This was annoying, but the worst part was I left part of my rainfly open to help with ventilation and before I got it closed a little water came in and got some of my stuff wet. However, it could have been worse as I thought about sleeping on a picnic table, which also ended up getting wet. So thankfully I avoided an unwanted midnight bath, though I could use a shower.

The Reason

There is an author named Squire Rushnell who wrote a book called "Godwinks" (he also created the cartoon School House Rock). It tells of different stories of what some call coincidence and says those are really times when God is winking at us, saying " everything is okay and I got you.". I saw and read a lot of this book at the church in Last Chance. I have seen a few of those on this trip which tell me I'm on the right path and doing what I'm supposed to.

The Anton Food Store in the middle of nowhere; the Methodist minister being in last chance when I arrived (he was gone both shortly before and shortly after); stopping in front of Mason's house and getting a ride; and many more. These are little encouragements that let me know I'm on the right path.

I am also reading a book by John Eldredge entitled "Walking with God.". It talks of how we are meant to actually hear God, though not always through verbal communication. This book confirms something I already knew and have personally experienced. When people ask me why I am doing this trip I often say "to meet people; see the country; I think it would be fun; etc." while those reasons are true, I often find myself discouraged to say the real reason because it might be construed as crazy. John's book confirms this reason and encourages me: I heard God telling me to do it and these Godwinks are confirming it.

Three years ago I was not into road cycling and believed I never would be. Then I moved to Texas and was 70 miles from town and trying to do as much as possible. Where I lived is the area Lance Armstrong trains often. My parents had an old road bike that didn't really fit, but I decided to try it anyway, since I like free. I ended up liking it and shortly thereafter did a tour from Daytona to Baton Rouge for 1000 miles. I enjoyed it. From that experience, however, I would not have dreamed I would ever think of going for 49 states on a bike.

Now I am attempting a ride through the 48 contiguous states. The great part about it is I'm not worried about finishing. Sure I'd like to say I did it, but I am willing to stop any time I believe I am supposed to. I still don't know the full reason for this trip and that's part of what makes it so fun: "what's in store for me next and what am I to do about it.""

For Every Uphill There is an Equal and Opposite Downhill...c

I just might not ride it. The world may be round, but it's all uphill to me as I travel from the plains to Denver. I got into Denver last night after riding nearly 80 miles. I am staying in Aurora, so I didn't have to navigate too much city traffic.

My last few days have been fun. From Atwood I headed on 36 west to Denver. The map showed a handful of towns along that route, so I figured I would be able to get what I needed along the way. I arrived in Idalia, Co with a leak in my rear tire at the end of the day and found a village with a motel that looked abandoned and only two blocks of paved road from the highway to the k-12 school. I had spotted ballfield lights from the highway so I headed to the school. It was just after four and there were only a couple coaches and teams around practicing. I talked to the coaches and they said I could stay on the field, so I camped at the school for a night.

The next day I was in need of some snacks and eventually water, but all the "towns" had nothing. I finally rounded a bend after leaving only a couple sips of hot water and there, standing all by itself, was the Anton food store. I had to buy water, but it was worth the dollar for a gallon.

I then proceeded to Last Chance and found it to be inhabited by 8 1/2 people. The minister of the church lived in Denver half the week, but when I arrived he was there. He came out and greeted me and then proceeded to open the church up for me and let me use the restroom and kitchen and even let me sleep inside as it was about to storm. The church has 80 full-time members and is very well off. The next morning I left at 6:30 to get to Denver, hopefully before rush hour, which ended up happening

In Denver, Jim and Rachel Mattson opened up there home to me. A friend of mine rents from them as she works with Operation Christmas Child in the Denver area. I am hanging out here for a couple days and then it's on the road again.

I am going to leave some things here in Denver with my cousin to help cut down the load and hopefully reduce flats. It ends up being about five pounds saved.