The winds shifted and was now on our backs. The air temperature was hotter than the previous day but cloud cover made the ride more pleasant. It was bone dry outside and the temperatures hit 110 degrees on the bike thermometer. These conditions made for a somewhat pleasant ride because we able to hit and maintain an high average speed. Today was also our last day to ride before a big wind shift was going to occur.
Another day of the same landscape can be boring to some but to me it is not. It reminds me of the wide open spaces of the Prairie Provinces where the big skies allow for all weather to be seen before it arrives. The flatness does not get to me, nor do the straight roads. The temperature could be cooler and the wind less but we must take the good and the bad.
Leoti is another small Kansas town and on a sunday night everything is closed except for gas stations. We were lucky enough to find a bakery that was still open at 6:30 pm, but it was not an ordinary bakery. They sold the standard cakes and ice cream, but also mexican food, subs, salads and hamburgers. It was a good and inexpensive dinner.
Before sunset a bad storm hit. The canopy of the gas station across the street was rocking back and forth as it was getting pelted by rain, lifted by high winds, and knocked around by lightening and thunder. There was some hail too but no signs of a tornado. It was not a storm that you would want to get caught outside in, or being camping in. This was the beginning of the weather shift.
Today’s stats: total mileage 81.73 miles, average speed 15.5 mph, elevation gain 568 feet, elevation loss 121 feet, maximum speed 23.6 mph.