kansascity 

A little delayed on posting, but I want my notes to be available for potential future riders. I completed this ride over May 13th - 16th, 2022. My google doc itinerary and small photograph album (my phone died hours before the trip and I had to use an old backup phone for the trip)

General notes:
5/13 Short 15 minute ride from home to Union Station; however, I forgot to check Southwest Chief status and ended up napping at the station due to almost 2 hour delay.
5/14 The Amtrak from Kansas City drops you off in Newton near 2:30am. The lobby stays open if you want to try for additional sleep, but Newton also has a donut shop that opens at midnight. I had made this Amtrak trip in the summer of 2018, so I knew a combination of lobby nap and donuts and coffee was best for me. Between Civil and Nautical twilight, I started out of Newton on 50 highway (65mph) and was amazed at the width and quality of the shoulder. 30 miles in, I had a secondary lunch 30 miles at Town and County Café in Florence. A decade into being a pescatarian has led me to appreciate breakfast at little rural dinners. After this early stop, the sun started to heat things up and shade was rare. Before Strong City, I stopped outside a gun store when I noticed the first tree in miles. A little odd, when the owner came outside to 'test' a pistol. In Strong City, I stopped for Mexican lunch atJacalito. Turning North on Highway 177, I had a short stop at the Tallgrass National Preserve, although brief this stop encouraged me to go back for two hikes in the Fall of 2022. On Highway 177, trees completely disappeared but a southern wind pushed me through the amazing rolling flint hills until Council Grove. Council Grove provided a wonderful end of the day, with Riverbank Brewery, restaurants, and beautiful tent camping at Council Grove Lake. 85 miles

5/15 Storms were nearing when I stopped for breakfast at Saddlerock Café, who encouraged me to wait out the rain. With a filling breakfast and the vistas of the Flint Hills, the day started great; however, I only made 15 miles on the Flint Hills Rail to Trail before the rain caught me. Before the severest section passed through, I stopped in the post office in Allen. What a blessing! The day felt slow as the 28mm width tires did not float on the wet, crushed limestone. By late afternoon, the rain stopped and snuck a short segment of fresh unopened highway. A full pizza for dinner in Ottawa removed much of the weather disappointment. Tent camping behind the Franklin County Visitors Center had few amenities' but a water pump and electrical outlet was all I truly needed. 75 miles

5/16 Knowing I would be back in my own bed, gave me a jolt of energy to start the day. The Flint Hill trail ended for me in Osawatomie where I enjoyed breakfast. Then I headed north on Old KC Road until I ran into a mixture of suburban roads and trails to my home in Kansas City. 75 miles


Highway 50 from Newton KS

Camping at Council Grove Lake

Flint Hills Trail

Flint Hills Trail

Flint Hills Trail

Bicycle and rider safe from storm in Allen Post Office

Avoiding the strong storm

kansascity 

Forgot to post about the bicycle, 2006 Fuji Touring. Flared gravel handlebars with 2*9 Sensah Ignite Shifters, Aliexpress Prowheel Ounce 34/46 compact crankset, and 11-32 cassette. Velocity Dyad Rims laced to 105 hubs wrapped in Bontrager R1 700x28 tires. Stopped by Tektro Mini-V brakes.

HelpSingularity 

Nice write-up. Usually when I read about a tour through Kansas it's about getting through it asap. But I know every place has its own special beauty and charm and you've shown that through your post.
I have never heard of Civil, Nautical or astronomical twilight. I of course looked it up, now I know. Thanks for that. If it ever comes up on 'Jeopardy' I'll be able to show off to my friends.

stardognine

I can clearly remember passing through both Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. The one in Kansas had a large section of sidewalk completely removed, and no barriers or cones or warning signs. Guess how I found out. 🙄 Yep, I was riding through in the early morning, and didn't even see it till I was mid-air. Kissed the dirt hard, and knocked the wind out of myself, but lucky me, I wasn't really hurt. ✌️

But I still hold a grudge, lol. 😬😉

jonwvara 

I also salute you for posting about the gap betwen civil and nautical twilight. That's a good time to get going in the morning.

For some reason I have always wanted to ride across Kansas, maybe because it would be such a change of pace from Vermont. But May seems like a chancy time of year. You're a local, so presumably you know about tornadoes. Are tornado-like conditions forecastable enough in the near term that you can reasonably plan around them?

kansascity 

As someone who has lived all my life in Missouri, you can normally make educated decisions based on forecasts. May does have severe weather. I have never completed this ride, but Biking Across Kansas always looks like fun if you are interested in supported group ride.

Later in Summer 2022, I rode from Rochester NY to Portland ME, passing through Vermont. What a wonderful part of the world to ride! I will be creating a post about this trip over winter.
This Summer 2023 I hope to ride from Albuquerque to Newton.

jonwvara 

Cool! Did you follow the Erie Canal trail on part of the Rochester-to-Portland tour? I rode it a few years ago and liked it. What was your approximate route across Vermont? You must have passed pretty near my house.

kansascity 

I mostly followed the Erie Canal Trail with deviation to Seneca Falls and turning north at Schenectady. From Schenectady, I went to White Hall and across most of Vermont on Federal Highway 4.

jonwvara 

Well, I have to salute you not only for distinguishing between civil and nautical twilight, but also for riding across Vermont on Route 4. Parts of it are fine, but there's a really desperate stretch between Woodstock and White River with terrible sight lines, no shoulder, and guardrails flush with the edge of the road. I'm glad you made it!

kansascity 

My journal agrees, "Highway 4 was amazing road until Woodstock". My personal consolation for this section was the speed limit was lower (remembering 35mph, could have been other things) and thought if this road was in Missouri it would probably be 55mph. Also people in Vermont and New Hampshire seem to drive much safer and follow speed limits compared to the midwest.