Day – 56 57 and 58 Family but Miles First

This is another short post. Not much to talk about. 75 miles to Emporia and 65 to Ottawa the next day. Basically a mad dash to get to my Sister’s to take a zero and be with my family. Turns out I would also need the rest.

Nothing to report on my day to Emporia. The breeze was not helping again but the temp was much better. Even at 85 you sweat like crazy in this humidity.

I was excited to see my family and I had trouble getting to sleep due to anticipation. We had arranged to meet a friend’s bar at 4:00. This gave my sister’s family and my parents a target and seemed very reasonable. Due to lack of sleep early in the night I did not get started till 9:30. This too seemed very reasonable given the 65 miles programed.

The road out of Emporia was a county gravel road and it unraveled within the first few miles. It was also into the teeth of a stiff breeze. So much for the traditional west wind of Kansas. From the get go I knew I was in trouble. I can’t predict them but there are days when everything done before causes my body to revolt. I was stiff, my joints ached, and in general I had a poor temperament. I persisted but could barely manage a 9 mph pace. By the time I reached the Flint Hills trail (a rails to trails that would take me directly to Ottawa and my family) I was ready to take a right hand turn and be done with the breeze and washboard road.

The trail is a well maintained crushed gravel trail at no more than 2% grade. I was sure to make up time here! That did not happen. Crushed gravel is smooth but has a high rolling resistance and the breeze continued to hurt my progress. I was grinding but I think the trail was grinding me down more. It was clear I would not make it on time. It is the worst feeling knowing you will get some place but also knowing it will be much longer and more painful than you want it to be. Knowing my family was so close waiting for me but I would be late added mental strain to the situation.

I texted I would be late. Then texted again I would be more late. Every mile seemed slower than the last. I was close when I hit a detour due to trail construction. Back on rough country roads subject to steeper grades and out in the open exposed to a stiffening breeze the 2 mile detour seemed like 20. Just as I was about to rejoin the trail a train crossing had me wait another hour – reality was 5 minutes but it felt like an hour.

I arrived and the whole clan was there waiting for me. I was late enough they decided Sonic limeades were better than beers and they were right.

It was wonderful to see everyone. My sister and her husband made a great steak dinner. I told tales of my adventure and my sister’s kids filled me in on everything happening in their life. I quickly forgot about my rough day and the disappointment of limping in late in front of my family (I was hoping to arrive triumphantly ahead of schedule showing off my new found fitness).

The next day I got to see my niece play tennis, my nephew’s new (to him) Porsche, and my other niece got to show off her boyfriend. My niece Grace was sick and could not make it. That was the only real disappointment of the day. She will just have to come visit me in the Fort to hear all of my boring stories about Laundromats and seedy hotels.

I had been talking about taking a zero day since Steamboat and this one was worth the wait.

For the next few days through Missouri my parents are going to provide support so Alice will return and hopefully I will knock down some good miles. This will also mean there will likely be a gap in my posting. I will be spending time with them instead of my blog.