06/16/00 Marysville, KS to Hiawatha, KS

 It rained during the night and when I got up this morning I thought at first that I was getting sick.  I was hot and sweaty and wondered what was wrong - this didn’t bode well for riding.  After getting up and going outside, I realized the gym was incredibly warm and coupled with high humidity from rain, caused me to feel like I did.  I was glad for that!  This morning people did not get up as early, probably because they are getting very tired - at least I was.  We left the school at 6:40 a.m. and went to Hardee’s for breakfast.  As I prepared to leave, my legs really protested as they began their cycling routine.  Fortunately, after several miles, they relaxed and the pain left.  I would be ok as long as I didn’t stop for more than a few minutes.  If it was any consolation, at least I wouldn’t be doing this for much longer - now that is a sad thought!  This morning was great for riding after I got going.  I shifted onto the large chainring and started rolling at a good consistent pace.  Finally, when the week is almost over I’ve figured out how to ride.  I was soon riding 17-20 mph uphill and 22-28 mph downhill, covering the miles at a fast clip.  I rode this way for many miles, skipping several sag stops (every 10 miles or so) and passing many bikes.  I was able to ride 55 miles in 3.5 hours which was a record for me.  Being cool and cloudy, I didn’t drink other than what I had for breakfast and what I carried on my bike, but even then I needed to “pee behind a tree” (BAK line).  This was a good sign I wasn’t dehydrated.  11 miles out of Hiawatha the BAK directors were handing out M & M’s.  Following several other riders I stuck out my hand and had a bag smacked into it while riding 15mph.  Didn’t stop - just kept on going.  A short while later as my energy began to wane (I had been pushing it for 3 hours, basically nonstop), a rider passed me as I was going up a moderate hill.  Originally, in my mirror, it appeared to me  it was Mark and wasn’t surprised he had finally caught up with me.  Instead, I was surprised to see that instead of Mark, it was a 60ish lady who was intent on leaving me behind.  It is quite amazing what some of these older people can do.  (I guess old is relative!). I didn't want to be outdone by a much older woman (no male chauvinism, ladies, since a lot of the younger woman left me in the dust!). After riding behind her for a short distance, I passed her and remarked that if she were going to stay ahead of me she would need to pass me again - which she never did.   At another point somewhere along the way, someone pulled up behind me and asked if they could draft along behind. Drafting is riding 1-2 feet directly behind the rear wheel with the leader keeping the draftee(s) informed of any changes in his riding. It also gives the draftee the advantage of not having to expend as much energy pedaling since he doesn't have to push the wind as hard.  I said "sure, but didn't know whether I was draftable".  I had been riding prior to this between 22-24mph, but with the "challenge" increased my speed to 26mph.  Five minutes later I looked back and saw that my draftee had dropped quite a ways back.  Later, when talking to him. he said that he dropped back because I was throwing  sand…. Hmmmm….

Arrived in Hiawatha at 10:30.  Somewhere along the way, I lost my badge, which made me very disappointed.  Hoped and prayed that someone would see it and pick it up.  I had it on a string around my neck - guess the knot was not tight enough.  Upon arriving at the school I had my pick of any spot in the gym that was not on the circumference.  The early birds that had drivers and the speed freaks (not me) had already taken those.  Nothing looked very interesting so instead decided to try the halls.  This is a unique school in its arrangement - laid out in a series of 5-6 large round modules interconnected by curving halls.  I wandered further and further from the entrance and the light of day (sounds like a cave), until I found what I hoped was a good location.  A good location is one where any nearby doors DON'T squeak, it is not a main thoroughfare and is relatively dark.  Staking a claim for Mark and I with the traditional objects - gloves, water bottles etc.  I went to the baggage truck and got my things and lay them out.  In the meantime, Mark had arrived and took his portion of the claim.

Going to the parking lot in front of the school where the local's were providing free transportation around town, we caught a ride to the nearby Pizza Hut and had lunch.  Later in the day we walked uptown to Gus's café and had chicken fried steak supper.  It was really good and I was very full when we left.  Large city restaurants don't have anything over small town restaurants when it comes to the quality of food!  We walked down to the local rail yards to see what they had.  Mark is quite a railroad photographer, having taken lots of railroad related pictures, so it was interesting for him to see the local yards and any rail stock there.  Going back uptown we watched the various activities going on at the courthouse square.  We were entertained by an eclectic band playing African drums, cardboard boxes, guitars, rattlers etc, recruiting bystanders to play percussion and rattles.

In front of the courthouse a man was making sugared popcorn in a very large, cast iron pot fired by a propane burner. He would pour in a large quantity of sugar, let it melt and then pour in other ingredients and one secret ingredient along with the corn.  While doing all of this, he would be stirring the batch with a large wooden paddle.  Then it would start popping and he would tip the pot on its side pouring it into a corrugated, metal wash basin.  Two women would then bag it up for sale and also giving away free samples.

They had the final BAK meeting on the courthouse steps, but I left before it was over.  When they turned the lights out at 10:15 p.m.  I found a row of pop machines that were brightly lit and sat in front of them and wrote for awhile. This seemed to be a popular spot, as several other people were setting there reading.  Normally I would sit there for quite awhile, writing, but I was really tired so quit early and went to bed.

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