A friend, who is a doctor, told me to make sure I listened to my body. Today was another killer day,weather wise: 90+ degrees 80% RH. I'd ridden 40 miles and crawled, no, clawed my way up the last hill. The town, Salisbury, had a hotel. I was, to quote my father, "bushed." I was pretty sure I should call it a day and stay here. I asked the owner: "Any more motels between here and Moberly?
"No. "
"Any place to get water?"
"No."
"How far to Moberly?"
"Twenty miles."
"Do you mind if I sit out front and think about it?"
"No, go ahead."
So I sat in the sun, waiting for the answer. I picked off a tick crawling up my arm and crushed it between my fingers.
My body whispered, softly to me: "For you, Doug. For you, I have twenty miles. But I can do no more."
The last ten miles was in rush hour traffic. Cars raced by, literally inches from me: 60, 70, 80 mph. People screamed obscenities. As if I wanted to be here in hell, terrified that some idiot in a hurry would hit me and tear my body apart. That I would instantly become an unrecognizable pile of blood, guts, and bones.
In Moberly I had a reservation at the Holiday Inn. I told them about the ride; about the Davis Phinney Foundation. I asked if they could give me a discount. Jamie said "Sure. It was on the house." I was dumbfounded!
The room is beautiful, clean, quiet. The staff is friendly and helpful. What more could you ask from a motel? Fresh chocolate chip cookies perhaps? I'm munching on one as I write.
Other events today: Lots of cockroaches in my room at the Super 8 in Carrollton, crossing a creek that was having the bridge replaced. Randy picked-up my fully loaded bike and carried it up hill like it weighed no more than a book.
Live Bait
At least I'm on the right side of the grass! Thanks to Mary Gillitzer at South Fork Resort, Stoutsville, MO. She took the pic and fed me too!
Cascade Camping
This is one of my favorite photos because it captures some of the loneliness of long distance riding. I'm camped at 6,000 feet ASL, about 20 miles west of Crater Lake. There was a thunderstorm that night; just the thing to make you feel tiny!
About Me
- Doug Bahniuk
- I'm 55 years old. I have Parkinsons Disease. I've ridden from Portland, Oregon to Boise, Idaho three times and once from Boise to Denver. In 2008 I rode from Denver to Boston, raising money for Parkinsons research. Now my goal is to ride from Anchorage to Fairbanks, Alaska.
Riders in Bird City, Kansas
I met three intrepid guys riding from Athens, Ohio to Oregon. We shared stories for a few minutes and then were on our way.
Kansas Cemetary
At one point I stopped here and laid down on a 2'x7' grave stone and fell asleep. I'm not very supersitious.
The Only Flat Land in Kansas
Kansas is just one hill after another! So I took a picture of the only flat spot I saw, a few miles south of Phillipsburg on Route 183.
Grain Silos in Anton
The silos were humungous. Trucks looked tiny compared to them. This was across the street from my camp site.
Painted Rock
On East bound 80, just outside of Salt Lake City, you can glimpse this rock decorated by young men showing off to their women.
Big Ditch in Missouri
That's Randy, in orange, waving in the center. He's a strong guy!
Start of 30 mile ride.
Davis Phinney- This ride was for you!
My Goal
It took 33 years but I've ridden all the way across the United States.
Stone Lighthouse
Made of Lake Erie limestone
Lake Erie
A bucolic cove about 35 miles east of Erie, PA.
On the way to Boston
I met Larry just after I stopped to take a picture of this Pennsylvania Stream.
Flat Land Stream
Kansas is anything but flat. This is about as close as it gets. The road starts a steep climb 1/2 mile to the south of where this picture this was taken.
Limestone Water Tower
This tower was built in 1938 by the WPA. Note the flags: the wind is quite strong. Of course I was headed right into it.
Kansas Burning
After harvesting their wheat, farmers burn the stubble, fertilizing the land and killing pests in one fell swoop.
7 comments:
Doug:You are GREAT entertainment! For many reasons. Be smart, take care of you. We love you. Dad's watching. You CAN do this! Barbara :)
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Greetings and Felicitations, Doug!
Hear! Hear! I second that emotion -- Barbara's, that is, about what great entertainment you are. That's why (as i said before) i enjoy reading your posts so much, and it's also why i look forward with eager anticipation to such time as you get your book published. You are a great writer!
I can't even begin to imagine how hard it is to do what you're doing. Only a couple more days, Doug, and this leg of the journey will be behind you. When you start paralleling the river (the Mississippi), i'm thinking it might ease up a bit? At least, i hope so!
This will probably be my last post until next week ... i'm off to the DZ, headed for Perris and its sweltering climate (i think i need to have my head examined -- how foolish to be jumping in the desert in the middle of summer, with all the dust devils around to hike up the risk factor).
Rest well (it's only 11:00 p.m. here, while it's 1:00 a.m. where you are, and hopefully, you're sleeping soundly and getting some badly needed body resuscitation) -- and do take care of yourself.
Love and hugs,
<3 anita
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Only 132 miles to St Louis. You can do it!!
I left the above message!
Anita, you correct Doug is a good writer! He not only publish his "White line to Denver "book but will start on new one this fall as soon as he finish second leg(Clev-Boston )and that's a promise! GO DOUG WHOOOOOOO front wheel of bike in ST.Louis already :)Sarah.L
Ps- Doug,thanks for great advice knee pads works wanders!
Hello Doug;
Forrest from KS here. Met you in Bennington.
This morning my 7 yr old son and my old self biked 1/2 mile uphill both ways to the crick to watch him play in the cool water. On the way back to the house I thot of you and your ride and decided that I couldn't keep up with you if I tried.
I could have warned you of the wild traffic ahead but you already knew it.
104 here today and no wind. Hope it better there. God be with you.
Back to the Shadows of Buffalo Bill.....Forrest
Douglas.
VERY interesting read and ride! Watch out for those internal combustion vehicles: they are merciless!! This information may be too late, but according to measurements of scale, Kansas is actually flatter than a pancake!!! Nice photos too!!!!
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