Trans Am, Day 43: Ash Grove, MO to Pittsburg, KS

I didn’t really want to ride 70 miles today, but I didn’t have a choice, because there was a 35 mile stretch with no place to sleep, or even get food and water. So I sucked it up and pushed into Kansas.

Because of the big gap between towns, I was a little worried about water, but a simple solution presented itself: I just added a couple bottles of water to my panniers. I will refill them whenever I am concerned three water bottles isn’t enough, and carry them empty when I am not. I really hate having things on my back, but had been considering getting a camelbak for long, hot stretches with no services.

It was windy, but the wind was almost always a sidewind. I got used to it, but passing trucks (from either direction) wreaked havoc on bike handling. I suspect I will get used to this by the time I am across the Great Plains!

Welcome to Kansas!
Welcome to Kansas!
A rider I met along the way.  He's a former marine, and a longtime missionary in the Philippines.
A rider I met along the way. He’s a former marine, and a longtime missionary in the Philippines.
Abandoned house.  Not a great picture, but the house itself moved me.
Abandoned house. Not a great picture, but the house itself moved me.
You can see the box turtle's little nostrils poking out a little.
You can see the box turtle’s little nostrils poking out a little.
This was the biggest red-eared pond slider I've ever seen.  He didn't fit on my handlebar bag, and was too feisty to hold with one hand for a picture, so this is what we get instead. 😁
This was the biggest red-eared pond slider I’ve ever seen. He didn’t fit on my handlebar bag, and was too feisty to hold with one hand for a picture, so this is what we get instead. 😁

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