Tornado Warning

When I left Chanute, I rode through the hottest part of the day. At some point I stopped and got water from a resident along the route, unknowingly there was a bait shop just up the hill. That’s right, there ARE hills in Kansas. I stopped and had a pop and cooled off before I pushed on. The attendent told me about the best swimming in the area, all the locals called “The Point.” So I stop, just short of Toronto to enjoy the resevior. Toronto Lake was more like a huge shallow pond, created by the local dam. Trees, still standing could be seen throughout. I went for a swim at the point, and then found my true enjoyment in the park showers.

Following a brief stop in Toronto, a town of less than a thousand, I stopped at a deli at the local junction called Lizard Lips. I heard from a local, stopping to get gas at the deli, that I was in for quite a storm. When I left, I started hearing thunder off in the distance. Then I started riding under this huge dark cloud. Lightning was jumping to the sky all around me. I almost hid beneath a bridge on multiple occations, but instead decided to press on. I kept up an 18mph pace, all the way to Eureka. Then it started pouring, I quickly found my way to the residence of my hosts, The Schmidts. I kept storming all through the night; had I hid beneath a bridge, I would have been stuck there for the night.

When I made it to the house, I was quickly ushered in by Betsy, one of the older daughters in the family. I took a shower and finally had a chance to calm down. I get to meet the rest of the family and decide to take my day off in Eureka. I wander around town a little, and try a double Lo-Mar. This 16oz burger prepared by a local robbie was mammoth. I had to keep it in the wrapper so it would escape my hands. The Cherry Limeade was also superb.

After the library, my host tells me that some other bikers are arriving. They show up almost immeadiately, and are two friendly older women, travelling with 3 other cyclists who decided to camp out in the city park. We sat around, got to know eachother, and the Schmidts made burgers. The others showed up and before you know it, its dark. Biker-Bed-Time. I’ll be waking up early tomorrow, to beat the heat, so sleep well everyone.

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