Day 14, May 7, 2011, Dodge City, KS to Grand Bend KS

85 miles and 200 feet of climbing.  The weather forecast was correct.  We had 10 mph wind on our nose all day long.  Could have been worse, but anytime you have to go head to head with the wind it can be tough.  It is just relentless and never gives you a break, especially out here on the plains.  The skies were clear and sunny and it got quite warm in the p.m..  I was on the road for 7 ½ hours, on the bike for approx. 6 ½ hours and averaged 13 mph.  Leaving Dodge there was a “scenic” overlook where you could view the Dodge City cattle “processing” operation.  They butcher 6000 head of cattle 7 days a week at this one facility.  Now that is a lot of Big Mac’s.  Today we transitioned from the barren plains to green farm land with some trees.  In many respects it reminded me of riding at home out in Hampton Twp and Munger.  There are not nearly as many people living in the area though.  Lots of big open spaces with miles between homes.  Stopped at a small museum and saw a replica of the sod houses the original settlers built and lived in.  Up the road was Pawnee Rock the ½ point between St. Louis, Missouri and Santa Fe, NM on the Santa Fe Trail.  I spent a lot of time thinking about what life must have been like for those hardy pioneers.  We have two more days of riding in KS.  Tomorrow we have a big mileage day (129) to Abilene.

We have been on the road now for 2 weeks.  I have logged 1497 miles.  I took a look at the map when we got in and was quite surprised to see how far we have come.  The days are all a blur.  It is a very hectic routine we are following.  When I am done it will take some time to process everything I have done.  No time to do it now though as we are always pressing on!  Boy, life is good!!!

In the town of Spearville there is a huge wind mill farm.  They seem to stretch on for miles.  It is really quite a site.

Day 13, May 6, 2011, Liberal, KS to Dodge City, KS

84 miles and 700 feet of climbing.  Today was a breeze and the breeze was blowing 25 mph straight at our backsides.  Left at 8:00 a.m. and was checking into the motel at 1:30 p. m..  Spent 4 ½ hours on the bike and averaged 19 mph..  These are the kind of days I could get used to.  The terrain is beginning to change.  The road is still straight and slightly rolling but the pasture land is beginning to give way to wheat and corn fields.  The wheat is a good 18 inches tall and the fields are green for as far as you can see.  It looks as if they are just now planting corn.  Cattle continues to be a big part of the economy as many cattle haulers passed us and you can always smell them before they arrive.  When I arrived in Dodge City, I rode around looking for Wyatt Earp.  He was nowhere to be found.  I was feeling so strong and full of myself I wanted to challenge him to a bike ride down Main St..  Word must have gotten to him that the Platinum Clydesdale was a looking for him.  Tomorrow we press on to Great Bend, KS.  Another “short” day of 86 miles but the wind is forecast to shift around and be on our nose again.  Life, it’s all about balance!

Breakfast is normally the Motel continental buffet breakfast but periodically the tour company mixes it up and we eat in a restaurant.  I am sure it is all part of the plan to keep the savage beasts well  fed and happy.

Ate lunch at the Dalton Gangs hideout today.  With all the signs directing us to their hideout it is a wonder that they eluded capture for so long. 

Made it to Dodge City.  In this pic I am calling out to Wyatt Earp to come race me.  He never showed his face.  I figured he was holed up some place with Miss Kitty.

Day 12, May 5, 2011, Dalhart, TX to Liberal, KS

112 miles, 300 feet of climbing.  Another challenging day out on the road.  Wind was the primary culprit.  They were 20 – 25 mph and right on our nose the entire way.  We left early (6:45a.m.) knowing that we were going to need a lot of time to cover the distance.  I got in at 4:30 pm and spent 8 hours on the bike, averaging 14 mph.  The road (54E) was straight and slightly rolling.  Looking up and down the road you could see as far as the horizon and to the side it was nothing but pasture land as far as you could see.  We passed from Texas into Oklahoma and at the end of the day entered Kansas.  It is hard to believe we are already close to the middle of the country.  Tomorrow we head to Dodge City, KS.  Weather forecast is for a tail wind and we “only” have to go 84 miles.  I am feeling strong.  They say that, “what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.”  I am definitely getting stronger.  Life is good!!

One more thing. I am feeling good about being a Clydesdale. Those Gazelles have nothing on me. Today I discovered another benefit. I am normally the last rider in at night. When I go to the motel registration desk they normally greet me by saying, "Well, you must be Mr. Crane". (Kind of easy for them to figure out as I am obviously a cyclist and they have a list of names). It kind of reminds me of Norm on "Cheers" or of Brett when he checks in to a Marriott as a platinum club member!!

Entering Oklahoma.  Shelly, Ohio Steve, Ohio Bob, Jay, UK Steve and Daryl.

On Hwy 54E this is a familiar sight.  Every 10 miles there is a small town with silos like these.  When on the road you can see them for a long, long time.  Sometimes it feels as if you will never get to them.  Along side the road is a rail road track.  We saw numerous trains that seemed to go on forever.

Enter Kansas.  Liberal is just up the road.  With a name like that I think I might like it!



Day 11, May 4, 2011, Tucumcari, NM to Dalhart, TX

95 miles and 700 feet of climbing.  When you have a 25 mph tail wind it has to be a good day.  Left Tucumcari at 8:00 a.m. and was in Dalhart at 1:30 p.m.  I was on the bike for 4 ½ hours and averaged close to 21 mph.  With the wind straight on our back we just cruised!  The day started out about 45 degrees and quickly warmed to 70.  Traveled all day on Route 54E, a wide 2 lane road, that is straight and slightly rolling.  The terrain was rolling pasture land for as far as you could see.  Everything was a dried out brown.  Not a very picturesque area.  As you enter Dalhart you pass by several miles of cattle feed lots.  There were literally 10’s of thousands of cows being fattened up for slaughter.  It was a dusty, stanky operation!  At dinner I opted for cat fish over the beef brisket.

I have mentioned it once before and I think it warrants a second reminder:  Our ride leader, Mike, keeps a blog.  I find it to be well written, and comprehensive.  Certainly much more informative than I could ever do and it includes lots of pics.  You can find a link to it on the right had side of this blog under “Check out My Links” .

Tomorrow the forecast is calling for a 20 mph head wind as we travel thru Oklahoma and into Kansas.  I believe that “life is all about balance” and it looks as if mother nature may balance the scales tomorrow.  The Clydesdale will trudge on!

Here is a pic of my roomie, Darryl.  He is a good guy and puts up with me.  Somehow he knows Leisa as he keeps referring to her as a saint, as in "That wife of yours is a saint."  I have not yet bothered to ask him how he knows her.

Early in the morning we got held up by some traffic.  I had left early so the Gazelles caught up with me.  This is the last time I saw most of them.

Welcome to Texas!

A poor pic of the feed lot.  Actually any pic would not do it justice unless it was a scratch and sniff pic, if you know what I mean.

Day 10, May 3, 2011, Las Vegas, NM to Tucumcari, NM

109 miles and 2800 feet of climbing.  Yesterday was the worst day I have ever spent on a bike.  Brother Travis will remember that horrible day 3 of last year’s DALMAC when many “lesser cyclists” called their wives, packed up and went home (some just after hearing the forecast the night before!).  Yesterday was worse!  Well, I believe that life is all about balance and today we balanced it all out.  We had an incredible day starting with a significant climb out of Las Vegas and then rolling roads, a few minor climbs and some monster descents.  It was 28 degrees when we left but by lunch time we were peeling off the winter gear.  The views were awesome, with pasture land lining both sides of the road with a back drop, in the far distance, of snow covered mountains.   While in the higher elevations there was snow in some protected areas of the pastures.   I was on the bike for about seven hours and averaged approx. 16 mph.  Tried to take it easy and relax.  Even took time to stop and take a few pics.

I am finally beginning to feel like I belong on this ride.  I am the weakest cyclist of the 25 member group.  The ride leader says this is the strongest group of riders he has ever seen on this tour.  He says that in past years I would be in the middle to upper middle of the pack but not this year.  We have some real animals.  I suspect some of them may have escaped from the San Diego zoo.  Many of them are seasoned racers.  There are a couple of category 1 & 2 racers and one who claims to be a pro.  Compared to me most of them are little guys, perhaps the size of Elizabeth (OK, maybe a little taller).  I heard one guy lamenting the fact that he has trouble finding Xtra Small cycling clothes and 3 others chimed in with suggestion as to where they go. Their bodies look like they are chiseled from granite, they have virtually no body fat and I suspect their testosterone levels are off the chart.  Many of them talk about the advice their coach has given them and it appears they are consulting their coaches on a regular basis.  I think of most of the group as being Gazelles and me  a Clydesdale.  When the Gazelles approach a climb it is as if someone attaches a long stretched out bungee cord to their front wheel and they just fly up the hill.  For me on the other had it looks as if someone has attached a bungee cord to my rear wheel and the further I climb up the hill the more it pulls me back.  I make up for it though on the descent.  There the laws of gravity/physics take over and I fly.  I have been asked several times to warn the Gazelles that I am passing them as the air turbulence I cause has put a couple of them into the rough!  For the most part they are a bunch of nice guys and I enjoy their company though I do not see much of them on the road.  There are several crosses between a Gazelle and a Clydesdale that I ride with periodically.  Some of the Gazelle's are starting to break down.  One of them spent the day riding in the SAG.  Apparently he has some kind of injury and his coach, personal trainer, physical therapist and personal physician all recommended that he take the day offJ.  As a Clydesdale I just keep plugging along and know that I will get in before the sun goes down.  I belong on this ride!!

Tomorrow we push on to Texas and leave New Mexico behind.  It is billed as an easy day with very little climbing and strong tail winds.  So easy, that we are leaving an hour later than normal (8 a.m.) and will get an extra or so of sleep.  Us Clydesdales like that!

Looking back towards Las Vegas.  Fenced pastures on both sides of road with mountains in the background.

Looking up the road (from previouys pic).  The roads seemed to stretch on to the horizon.

An incredible 6 mile descent down the side of the mountain.  The ride was thrilling and the view was spectacular!

The 1000 mile mark of the trip.  Not bad, only 8 1/2 days of riding.

They call this "The Wall".  7/10ths of a mile with a 10% incline.  The Clydesdale just put his head down, kept turning the pedals and fought the pull of that bungee wanting him to return to the bottom.

Looking down from the top of "The Wall".  The Clydesdale had to stop and take a long cool drink (and take a pic)!

Day 9, May 2, 2011, Albuquerque, NM to Las Vegas, NM

136 miles and 8500 feet of climbing.  The ride leader had said that today would be the toughest day of the tour and boy was he right.  To add insult to injury the weather was lousy.  When we went out to the parking lot this morning all of the car windows were frosted and it was 28 degrees.  It did not get much above 38 degrees all day long and as we got into the higher elevations we had snow flurries and road thru several snow squalls.  It was snowing (flurries) as I turned into the motel.  From beginning to end the weather was awful!  We spent most of the day at 7000 feet elevation.  The elevation combined with many layers of clothing was exhausting.  The climbing lasted throughout the entire day.  It was never real steep just long and steady.  Half the day was spent on Historic Highway 66 and I-25.  I heard this is the last day for riding on interstate highways.  We left at 6:30 a.m. and I did not get here til 7:00 p.m..  Not counting breaks, I was on the bike for nearly 11 hours and averaged about 11 mph.  I am very tired.  They claim that this was the most and last physically challenging days.  From here on out it is more of a mental challenge i.e. getting out of bed and on the bike each day, day after day.  I can' t imagine a more physically challenging day.

New Mexico is very beautiful.  We saw some incredible scenery.  I only took one pic all day.  This is looking back from where I had just come.

Day 8, Rest Day, Albuquerque, NM

Spent the day doing laundry, cleaning/tuning up bike, reading, making phone calls and repacking bags.  Went for a 20 mile bike ride just to keep my legs loose and then took a nap.  Went out to dinner with 10 other guys and had a great pasta dinner.  In bed at 9 pm to get ready to push on.  Enjoyed the time off.  Next day off will be in 12 days.