Day 38 - Roll with the punches - Rollin' ocean to ocean - CycleBlaze

June 8, 2024

Day 38 - Roll with the punches

Two hundred years ago 90% of Americans were farmers, now it is 2%. Agribusiness and technology accounts for a lot of this. I stopped at a large corn field and watched it being irrigated. The irrigator below was about 400 foot long and completely GPS controlled. I watched it spray for a few minutes then automatically roll forward about 6 feet.

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Huge pieces of farm machinery can now do what it took hundreds of people to do years ago

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I left Nickerson, KS at 7am heading west and soon encountered a section of the roadway where the side I was on had been grooved ready to take fresh asphalt and the other side had fresh asphalt. On a bike you cannot ride on grooved asphalt so I rode facing traffic on the fresh side. Luckily in the 1 mile section I had to ride no cars were on the road

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I did not get so lucky at a bridge that was being replaced. The bridge was quite long and only one lane. They had timed stop signals at both ends. When my light turned green I pedaled and then realized the stop light timing at both ends was set for car speeds. Suddenly I am in the middle of the bridge with one lane and I see oncoming traffic! All the cars pulled over as far as they could and stopped and let me pass.

I made a reservation earlier in the day for the Holiday Inn Express in Great Bend. Pulled in there about 2pm and was told they overbooked and the Inn was full. They sent me down the road to a cut rate Travelodge, they at least paid for the room.

Black eyed Susan’s lined big sections of the road
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Rode through a 22,000 acre wildlife refuge
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Steve ClarkDid you see any wildlife?
Or was it their day off?

I mean, if you’re going to set aside 22,000 acres for a wildlife refuge you probably want some wildlife living there… taking refuge from whatever they were bothered by. Right?
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3 months ago

The Transamerica bike route is also bike route 76 owing to the fact it was ridden the first time in 1976, the centennial year

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Cool sculpture in Great Bend. The plaque is shown below
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Steve ClarkAppropriate.
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3 months ago
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Theresa GardnerShannon would love this sculpture!
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3 months ago
David HendersonTo Theresa GardnerI hope she is following along with my blog
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3 months ago
Number 62 - Great Bend, KS
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Today's ride: 53 miles (85 km)
Total: 1,821 miles (2,931 km)

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Steve ClarkFrom all appearances you are doing great! I’m a bit worried about severe heat or storms that might catch you between towns/shelter. But so far, so good. People seem nice.

How do you feel?
Strong?
Happy?
Alone?
Encouraged? Or discouraged?
Something else?

Enquiring minds want to know.
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3 months ago
David HendersonTo Steve ClarkI feel great and encouraged
My body is responding how I want it to given the relentless daily exercise
Rockies will be a good test
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3 months ago
Steve ClarkAwesome.

But… you know mountains.
They like to stare down at you, sneering, and quietly challenging you with, “So, you think you got what it takes, huh? Well, we’ll see about that. I ain’t going anywhere. Bring it on.”

You'll do fine.
You can’t be stopped.
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3 months ago
George HallFYI, you linked to the wrong map for this day. Don't worry about the Rockies, they are not nearly as hard as the Appalachians or Ozarks - you may climb for 20 miles, but it's a gentle grade and becomes a moderately steeper grade only for the last couple of miles - and then you get a 20-mile downhill run!
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3 months ago
David HendersonTo George HallThanks for the heads up on the map
Lookimg forward to the beauty of the Rockies
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3 months ago
Theresa GardnerChris and I are so happy for you Dave! You're showing us all that anything is possible if you set your mind to it! Proud of you.
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3 months ago