Having been raised in the desert, then gone to school in San Fransisco, Ben just really is not designed for heat and humidity. Apparently Laura and Noah are not much phased by equal temps and humidity (as in both are over 90), but it is killing Ben. After a day of riding and sweating, he says his hands look as pruney as they did after he spent an hour in the bathtub as a little kid. Oh, and his sweat shorted out the iPod he had in his back pocket.
Although he sees lots of roadkill (and I overheard all four of them discussing the connection between size and stench when we were in Pueblo), what seems to be really bugging him are the bugs. Flies, caterpillars and grasshoppers of Biblical plague levels are no fun when on a bicycle. (My teeth feel nasty just thinking about it!) I guess I don't need to worry about his protein consumption any more.This is a picture I found online about the Mayflies in his area because he didn't take any pictures of the bug plagues (or at least hasn't shared them).
But here is an endangered species he did take a shot of: a LIVE armadillo on the road.
All I can say is you know things must be nasty if he says this was the BEST shower ever. Of course, there may have been some snark in that comment.
But, despite all the misery, people are still great. As he says, where else but in Kansas can one be handed corn from random strangers?
He is out of Kansas now, though, and well into Missouri. In fact, he should cross into Illinois tomorrow. Won't stay there for long, as that is where he departs from Laura and Noah (I am sure he is not looking forward to that) and heads up to St. Louis to catch the train back to New Mexico for his best friend's wedding.
I suspect that after two weeks in the desert, he will have an even harder time adjusting to the heat and humidity on the rest of his journey. He said this weather has been much harder on him than anything he faced in Nevada.
People keep asking me what kind of mileage are they putting in on a daily basis. Here is the mileage info that Laura shared on her blog:
Day 26
Captain’s log, star date 07.01.2014
Blanding, UT to Dolores, CO – 86 miles that turned into 95 miles.
We lost Noah.Day 27
Captain’s log, star date 07.02.2014
Dolores, CO to 25 miles up the road
Day 28
Captain’s log, star date 07.03.2014
Rico, CO to Placerville, CO
Day 29
Captain’s log, star date 07.04.2014
Day 30
Captain’s log, star date 07.05.2014
Montrose, CO to Sargents, CO
Day 31
7/6
Sapinero, CO to Sargents, CO
Day 32
Captain’s log, star date 07.07.2014
Sargents, CO to Cotopaxi, CO – 60 miles
Climbed Monarch Pass!
Day 33
Star date 07.08.2014
Cotopaxi, CO – Westcliffe, CO – short miles
Day 34
Star date 07.09.2014
Westcliffe, CO to Pueblo, CO – 71 miles
Day 35
Star date 07.10.2014
Pueblo, CO – Rest Day
Day 36
Star date 07.11.2014
Pueblo, CO to a place with a nice lady who puts up bikers – 67 miles
Day 37
Star date 07.12.2014
A place with a nice lady who puts up bikers to Eads, KS – 65 miles
Day 38
Star date 07.13.2014
Eads, KS to Scott City, KS – 108 miles
New state!
Day 39
Star date 07.14.2014
Scott City, KS to Alexander, KS – 76 miles
Day 40
Star date 07.15.2014
Alexander, KS to Nickerson, KS – 108 miles
Nickerson: Home of the Worst nights sleep.
Day 41
Star date 07.16.2014
Nickerson, KS to Newton, KS – 50 miles
Day 42
Star date 07.17.2014
Newton, KS to Eureka, KS – 75 miles
Day 43
Star date 07.18.2014
Eureka, KS to Walnut, KS – 90 miles
Day 44
Star date 07.19.2014
Walnut, KS to Golden City, MO – 75 miles
New state!
Day 45
Star date 07.20.2014
Golden City, MO to Ash Grove, MO – 40 miles
Day 46
Star date 07.21.2014
Ash Grove, MO to Hartville, MO – 76 miles
Day 47
Star date 07.22.2014
Hartville, MO to Alley Spring, MO – 76 ish miles.. maybe?
Day 48
Star date 07.23.2014
Alley Spring, MO – 33..
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