Mark's cycle across the USA

 107KM, 794M climbed, 4 hours  Total 2,769KM. 15,822M climbed, 112 hours 34 minutes  After a rest day in Emporia which was gearing itself up for the Unbound gravel races which attracts professional gravel racers from around the world, today we had a short ride to Topeka the capital of Kansas. Due to roadworks our route involved a slight detour and with heavy skies it looked like we were in for rain but as usual it held off but the weather has certainly turned more humid and temperature is set to be in the 30’s for the next few days  At some point during the ride we passed the halfway point of the trip. The landscape and roads are showing a lot of mprovement with rolling fields and tarmac that is so smooth with no potholes. https://www.relive.cc/view/vYvEKZjgXw6

 133KM, 384M climbed, 5 hours 13 minutes  Total 2,662KM, 15,028M climbed, 108 hours 34 minutes  After 9 days riding we have our 3rd rest day tomorrow in Emporia Kansas.  During those 9 days since Santa Fe New Mexico we have cycled 1,141KM (713 miles) and have seen the scenery change from high desert to rolling green fields and farms. Today we headed due East again with a southerly cross wind but the weather was perfect for cycling. We passed through a small town called Marion which was my late mum’s name and also saw a turning for Florence which is the name of one of my Dalmatians We are nearly through Kansas which will have taken a week and looking forward to seeing some more states. Emporia is the home of gravel cycling and Unbound the world’s premier gravel cycling event will take place here in a few days time  https://www.relive.cc/view/vZqNLNQ9g3

 103KM, 197M climbed, 4 hours 17 minutes  Total 2,529KM, 14,644M climbed, 103 hours 21 minutes  A short day today of just over 60 miles saw us heading due East with a Southerly sidewind.   Not many pictures today as scenery very much the same as previous days. In this area of Kansas there are a lot of small oil pumps and also a lot of gas pipes. As we entered into the town of McPherson I noticed an increase in the number of churches being mainly Methodist or Baptist.  I am told that this will increase as we head towards the mid west. We have now had 8 days straight riding and I have cycled well over 500 miles in the last week and looking forward to a rest day in Emporia the day after tomorrow. https://www.relive.cc/view/v36Axr1QWZO

 140KM, 218M climbed, 5 hours 30 minutes  Total 2,426 KM, 14,447M climbed, 99 hours 4 minutes  After getting straight outta Dodge today was more of the same of straight flat roads and a strong side tailwind. Today we went through the 1,500 mile mark and also went through a town that marks the middle of the USA being 1,561 miles from both San Francisco and New York.  We will pass our halfway point in 4 days time on the 31st May. Some of the countryside reminded me very much of back home in Essex/Suffolk being flat/fields/trees. We did climb a small hill which took us up to Pawnee Rocks which allowed for good views of the surrounding countryside. We finished the ride in a small town called Great Bend so named because it marks where the Arkansas River bends East. https://www.relive.cc/view/v8qkpNpxpKv

 134KM, 337M climbed, 4 hours 55 minutes  Total 2,286KM, 14,229M climbed, 93 hours 34 minutes  Forecast for today was for rain for most of the day and luckily it was dry for the whole ride. A 40 mile ride took us to the Dalton Gang Hideout who were an infamous gang of bank robbers in the 1890’s. Shortly after the road turned north and we had an amazing tailwind for the final 20 miles into Dodge City with my speed rarely dropping below 20 MPH. Dodge is a famous frontier town of the old west although there was little to see now of that history. Although this was a longer ride than the last couple of days (82 miles) I found this a really enjoyable and easy day and whilst the scenery is not as exciting as we have seen over the past 3 weeks the corn fields remind me very much of the countryside where I live in the UK. https://www.relive.cc/view/vXOnxNJW1Bq

 68KM, 118M climbed, 2 hours 45 minutes  Total 2,152KM, 13,887M climbed, 88 hours 39 minutes  After heavy overnight thunderstorms I was worried that today was going to be a wet wide but luckily woke up to blue sky and roads drying out. As today’s ride was going to be the shortest of the whole trip we had an extra hour sleep which was most welcome and set off at 8:30. The first rest stop was at a town called’Hooker’ which is strange for a town in the middle of the USA to be named after a position in a rugby team. We then crossed our fifth state line into our sixth state Kansas through which we will ride for the next week. As we are in Kansas we visited Dorothy’s house which to be honest was a tacky way of cashing in on the Wizard of Oz. After a couple of difficult cycling days the last two days have allowed me to recover and also get to the hotel at a reasonable time to be able to wash clothes, catch up with my family, have a bath and update social media before dinner which is at 5:00 m

 116 KM, 106M climbed, 4 hours 16 minutes  Total 2,084KM, 13,769M climbed, 85 hours 54 minutes  The day started foggy and the directions were cycle out of hotel onto highway 54 cycle straight for 72 miles and turn right into hotel. A day with very little climbing and a few of us formed a chain gang and we covered the first 40 miles in one and a half hours. We crossed into the panhandle of Oklahoma our fourth state crossing into our fifth state. The landscape has turned noticeably greener and a lot more farming in this area. After the last two hard days much easier today so much so that made it to the hotel by 12:30. We have a short day to and I get a lie in to 6:30. https://www.relive.cc/view/vRO78Go3AK6

 152 KM, 616M climbed, 6 hours 48 minutes  Total 1,968 KM, 13,663M climbed, 81 hours 38 minutes  After a long ride yesterday we had another long ride today of 94 miles and also crossed into Texas our 4th state and lost another hour as moved into central time zone. Not so much climbing today and scenery not as interesting and for the first time this trip we had to deal with a headwind which certainly slowed me down and I struggled for the first half of the ride but finished the second half stronger. As we approached Dalhart I noticed the strong smell of cattle and both sides of the road were massive farms full of cows I was told that there were about half a million cattle in the farms outside of Dalhart. A few of us were also held up due to a loose bull that was close to the road until the ranchers managed to lassoe it and tied it to a truck (see picture) Looking forward to a couple of shorter rides over the next couple of days Finally a day without a puncture and the roads in Texas hav