95 squared

What do you get when you combine 95 degrees with 95 percent humidity, heat from Texas with cooler air down from Canada? Answer: the kind of an electrical storm that'll keep me awake until 4 AM even after pedaling 95 miles in the heat! Fortunately we were just on the south edge of the really serious activity. interesting note, had we not dropped the layover day, we'd have been right in the middle of it. There was so much lightening and so many ground strikes that there was no keeping track.

Karina pedaled 95 miles like the champ she is, slept through the storm, and today is happy still.

We are camping at a park in El Dorado, on a lake. Turns out this week is Kansas vets week here at the park, so we are going to stay put for a few days here and do some fund raising. We'll try to get to Witchita tomorrow for some deferred cycle work. Karina is at Walmart buying water floats and we plan to spend some serious time relaxing, attempting in vain to mitigate the whacky biker tan lines we've backed on. The new Harry Potter film is out, so we'll see that a few times! Maybe go bowling, too.

Met some wonderful folks yesterday. Left Chanute and made it as far as Toronto by lunch, had a great lunch, super break, then by 1:30 thought we were ready to take on the next 25 mile section. We rode only about ten before it was clear that it was not only too hot, but way too hot to go further. Now, given that you know me and my general inclinations to forge ahead regardless of discomfort, this was my limit!

We selected a house, knocked on the door and then spent the next couple of hours talking and drinking cold water and gatorade with a very nice couple. The house was so cold inside, incredible; but when I mentioned how cool, the fellow just shook his head and told me they had the AC set to 80 degrees! That was a stunner.
We rwluctantly left there about 4 pm and cycled to Eureka and to the first ice cream place we spotted. Turnned out to be a great choice, as within 5 minutes an old blue car pulled into the lot and we met two of the greatest, fun characters ever! Tom, in his sixty's, wanted to ride Karina's trike, so I set him off and he went tooling around the lot like a happy kid! His friend Charles was 70, he didn't ride the trike, but just visited with us. Tom invited us to his ranch ( which we may regret not having gone that instant). He told Karina that he'd put her on his best horse and feed us tbone steaks. We got his address, took some photos, and have an open invite from the both of them!
We left there at not 6 pm and cycles the remaining 30 miles through the Flint Hills. I'll post photos eventually, but I will say that we were treated to the most beautiful miles yet. There is only 4 percent of the original high grass praire remaining; what a treasure to have that remaining and what a tragedy to have so little left- so gorgeous.
Finally arrived at the park at 8:30.
Right now I am sittlin under some shade, cool(ish) breeze over the lake, noplace to go, and eagerly awaiting the floats!