6/29 Day 27: McPherson to Abilene, KS
Friday, June 29th, 2007
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For the first day in a long while we had a cue sheet that we really needed to follow and we where on back counter roads. We are still dealing with the low that is causing flooding in Colorado, Texas and Kansas. The sky’s where threatening all day, with temps in the 70s. I opted of the hot breakfast at the restaurant, with meant that I was not with riders I normal ride with . I was feeling real good and was pushing the pace harder then I have been. Coming in to Canton KS, you could see that the town had there act together the had labeled their water towers Hot and Cold.
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After leaving that town and riding for a while I saw a large group of riders stop and the road. I was thinking that someone must of crashed then I realized that they where at the half way point of the tour.
Since we left had ridden 1900 miles, climbed 63760 feet, my wheels have gone over 60,000 revolutions and I have pushed the crank around 618,000 times. I have used 2 tubes and 1 tire, I have had my rear rim trued twice. I have worn out 4 gloves. I have no clue how much Gatorade, water of junk food I have had. I have lost around 12 pounds. Â At the rest stop the crew was being cute and there where donuts and fruit all cut in half, to mark the half way point.
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After the rest stop it started to drizzle, not heavy enough to put the jacket on, but hard enough to make it hard to see thru my glasses. I missed a turn, the riders that where behind me tried yelling at me so I would stop. I did not hear them and keep going for 3 miles before I realized that I was off course. Â As a Lady in a van and she had no clue where the road was. I called the SAG Van to let them know and started riding back over the route I had taken. I saw a guy working his field near the road I ask him and He said that it was another half mile back. There mist turn gave me 6 bounce miles. This is the tracker he was in.
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I took a small detour about 2 miles before the end of the days ride to the Eisenhower Center. I did not go in any of the buildings, but took the following shots.
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Howie:
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