KS SUV

Kansas SUV from about 150 years ago.

I made an early morning trip to Baldwin City, Kansas, due South of Interzone mes amis. This was the route my next door neighbor Dave had told me about, then the boys at work said they like to do sometimes--mainly because there's a challenging climb right up into Baldwin.

Neighbor Dave told me that the local riders call this route the Palmyra Climb, which is the old township name for that area of the county. It was a great climb indeed Gentler Readers of This Blog! Being a bit out of shape didn't help me but I made it with no trouble--just reminded me of my old after-work-slog up Swan Ave back in Tucson--or The Boss and I making that steady march up Craycroft to Ina Rd, and then on to Sin Vacas--after a morning climbing Catalina Hwy...

Bon jour!

Kansas is windy y'all. And muggy hot. I got The Mighty Trek and my stuff ready to go so first thing to do when I wake up is get my spandex-covered ass out the door. There's no traffic and the air is cool and still. Before you can say Bruce's Bike Blog, I'm well into the Wilds!

Muddy Water on the high road, and Muddy Waters (with U2) on the iPod.

Early on a weekday morning there's little traffic. Kansas People have not even got out of bed and started driving their Kansas Selves to work. I have the day off, c'est bon! Actually, the radio has been saying there's a Heat Advisory for today--which means it will be 100 degrees, humid, and then possibly thunderstorms later! Don't you just love Kansas?

Kansas is not as flat as you think. The Hills have a sister; The Wind...

I'm out on roads I've never ridden which is pretty exciting. I know I could get lost but who cares? Thing is out here in the Wilds is that there are steady climbs and a good amount of hill-work to keep you moving--and the wind owns this place, mon cher! Do not forget it and just be glad the head wind is only 15 mph and not 35.

The thin ribbon of road through The Green Fields and Battlements of Trees!

Old Grandpa House--and a good landmark to remember the course by.

Swimmin' Hole. I'll remember this spot for sure!

Learn to Fly, then go to Church!

The church and airport at the village of Vinland are important landmarks on the course--they are right where the lads at work said they'd be. From here it will be a straight shot to Baldwin City. Traffic will be a bit heavier, but I'm going South into town whereas Kansas People are heading the other direction for Lawrence, Topeka, and Kansas City.

Narrow road for the long steady ascent up Palmyra Hill.

The county road I'm on that will climb into Baldwin cuts a thin slice through very thick trees all around this township, and signs advise warning of low-visabilty. I take that to mean be careful and don't drive too fast--but the locals ignore that I'm sure. Lucky for me the traffic is light and mostly coming the other way. I also have my tiny Messenger Mirror that Le Tigre got for me--it works great out here and I can see cars coming up from behind. It gives me peace of mind as the wind out here on the roads roar in your ears--it is very hard to hear cars coming up from behind you, Gentler Readers of This Blog. It also makes me feel a bit more comfortable wearing earphones from my iPod. The music and earphones actually muffle the wind noise.

Now for a fast descent into town.

I was gonna be looking for the McD's that people told me would be a place I could stop and get water. I was really hoping that someone could recommend a good diner or breakfast place to stop into. Anyway, it was 8 o'clock and the McDonalds was one of those combination McD's and a Chevron or something like that. Should I stay or should I go? by the Clash was on my iPod--so I decided to go, mes amis. I had one full water bottle, didn't have to pee, and had seen an interesting place I passed coming just into town. I turned around, went a pace or so, and then turned into the driveway/entrance of some Bishop's House. I didn't quite make out the sign, but it said Bishop Somebody's Retirement House--maybe a historical landmark? Anyway, the gate was open and it felt welcoming.

The Mighty Trek at Bishop's Gate.

I enjoyed the pleasant surroundings and ate my Pop-Tarts and drank a bit of water. The air was cool and the trees swayed peacefully that surrounded the big place at the end of the drive--which didn't look like it got much use. I think the Old Place was happy to have a visitor. I left a few small pieces of Pop-Tart crust on the fence post for the birds--they had spied I had something and were clamoring above hoping to scavenge anything I might leave behind.

Kansas People in their cars were now streaming out of Baldwin City and I looked for a gap in the traffic so as to get back on the road. Pretty soon I was at the top of the Palmyra Hill and looking at a pretty fast descent! I let a few cars pass me at the top there, and seeing no one behind me in the mirror, I hammered down the hill! Maximum speed was 45 mph!

Coasting past farms in the Palmyra Township.

I had a very nice tailwind for my ride back, mes amis! I was flying home. Photos for you on the wing didn't turn out, and I didn't really want to slow down and take some shots on the account that my momentum was most excellent!

Click to make the picture larger, mes amis--KU Campus about 8 or 9 miles away as the crow flies.

Tail wind for the trip home.

Back to Interzone with a tail wind meant that my average speed was 17 mph for the 15 and a half miles back to The Little House from where I left Bishop's Gate. I cut through Haskell Campus and the old Rail Trail instead of riding the busy streets of Interzone. That's a nice cool down and a safe and direct route back home.

Thanks for coming along on my day off--even as I write this post this afternoon, I can see the strong gusts of wind blowing every tree in the tops through town.

Cheers! Bruce

Band Aid Interzone

Midnight run with some drum parts Rico forgot for the show.

When Rico plays at the clubs with his band, I usually go out and see them play. This show was going to be about Midnight--which means 12:30 or close to 1 a.m. I had to work the next morning, so I thought I'd sit this one out--but Rico called me and needed something for his drums that he'd forgotten--so I rode down to the pub about two miles away to get the parts to him.

Summer time and bikes and beer go together--along with a good band.

I thought I would stay as his band was supposed to go first--instead they went last. The first band was pretty good but the second band was pretty freakin' loud, mes amis! I had forgotten to bring ear plugs--dang!

Setting up the drums for their set.

The band before Rico's, from Oklahoma City, is a pretty awesome group of young guys--however Gentle Readers of This Blog--this time they arrived shit-faced drunk. Also they were all of them pretty stoned as well. They were off and things didn't go so good. Normally they're right on the money but lately they've showed up and been lame.

Sad that this has to happen to these young musicians--they're talented, but they often go down that road of being plastered and stoned before, during, and after their shows. To drive five or six hours all the way up from OKC--just to play for 200 bucks or less--then get totally fucked-up is a waste.

Shit beer.

Rico is on the far right--the guys had a good show! Rico's band had one of their best shows ever!

Riding home at 1:30 a.m. after the show.

A great show for Rico and there was a big audience that had a good time--I needed to get home and get some sleep, so I slipped outta there. The night was actually cool and peaceful as I zipped home on the Campus Bike. But then all of the sudden it was like every Interzone Police Cruiser came blasting into town from all directions--sirens and lights--a very dramatic entrance with a light show to boot. One patrol car came speeding past me at like 50 MPH, mes amis!

Oh yeah, my ears have been ringing all weekend--got to always have ear plugs!

Cheers! Bruce

Escape from Interzone

I finally got the Mighty Trek cleaned up, Gentle Readers of This Blog, and got out for a spin. Really bad weather here in Interzone--but temperatures in the 70 forecast for Sunday--had me in the basement of the little house cleaning up the bike from the long drive from Tucson to Lawrence.

What helped me out is that I procured a trainer--and what that trainer, I discovered, is really good for, is a work stand. I was able to clean every nook and cranny and bolt and chain ring with the help of the stand. The Mighty Trek had a fine layer of grit and dirt everywhere. When I was done, the bike shown like a star. I have just not had time to do this work--plus being in Interzone has been depressing at times.

But I got out on the bike, and with a big folding map of the county--and directions from the lads down at the local bike shop--I set out to ride to Lone Star Lake.

I have to tell you, mes amis, that it was a beautiful 72 degrees--but I must tell you that I had a head wind of like 25 mph going out of town. As I made my way out, I saw a rider ahead of me, and I hammered-down through the headwind to try and catch them--which I finally did--just before a turn I needed to take. It was a young woman, very friendly, out for her first ride as well. She actually had gone to university in Tempe at ASU--that was cool. She confirmed a few things on the map for me, and she went on her way. Just as she was taking off however, another rider passed us and turned in the direction I wanted to go--so I bid the young woman farewell as I told her I was going to try and catch this next guy.

I met Mike--a stroke of luck, Gentle Readers of This Blog. He was going out to the lake, knew the route well, and offered to take me there and a bit of a different way back. The best thing about Mike was that he was well aware of Randonneuring--and although not a brevet rider--has been a cross-county tourer.

Sometimes it was hard to talk as we had to take turns pulling through a brutal headwind. Actually there was a cross wind a for a few miles that I thought would blow me off the road! Mike assured me that our return with the headwind would be quite fast--and that actually the wind today was a bit out of the ordinary.

I began to recognize a few of the landmarks from my ride with the Lawrence Bike Club back in September when I came out with Calle to visit Little Egypt and Rico. As Mike stated, our ride back was very fast with the tailwind pushing us along at 30 mph at some points along the way--soon we were back rolling into Interzone.

I feel very fortunate to have met and made a new friend to ride with. Mike and I exchanged phone numbers and we plan to ride together in the near future. Mike was new to the area and went out and explored all the roads over the years--I believe he said he was originally from Vermont--he has some short fast rides out of town to use as training rides--and then he knows the routes to a few pubs in small towns that serve good burgers and cold beer. Mike is also interested in trying some brevets--so I'm hoping I can train with him and we'll do some riding.

Sorry I did not take out the camera and get a few shots for you--but it was so windy and mainly just had to stay on the bike. More later on this route with photos I promise!

Cheers! Bruce

Interzone, Kansas

Old rail line is now the bike and running path through the city. Some of the old tracks remain.

I have not blogged in a few months, Gentle Reader of This Blog. At the moment, I have relocated to Interzone, Kansas, USA--and the move is not permanent. Employment in Tucson that was too good to be true, fizzled-out; Little Egypt convinced me to live with her and Rico for a time--before she possibly goes on another deployment to Afghanistan. So late January, before the two blizzards that I've now lived through, I drove up from Tucson to Inerzone.

Desert San Campus Bike now will be my City Bike.

I brought up my road bike, The Mighty Trek, and my Campus Bike I kept at the Desert San. I had fenders put on down at the local bike shop, and I put on an old front rack that Phil down at Pima Street Bikes gave me one afternoon. Now that the snow is melting and the sun is warming up things the last few days, I'm using the City Bike to explore Interzone--and hope to be car-free.

Little house Little Egypt rents near downtown Interzone and KU.

We live within a few blocks to less than a mile to everything we need. Once the weather is nicer, Interzone is a bike town. I've brought up Little Egypt's bike back in September and Rico has a new bike too. He'll ride to school at KU, the wife to her office, and me too with some luck.

My niece Olivia and my new nephew Hunter, born right before Christmas in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I made a quick stop by Tulsa to see my family before the last stretch to Interzone.

Rico in our little place, filled with music and creativity.

Rico is a drummer and has taught himself to play the guitar. The house here has a full unfinished basement in which Rico has his drums and pretty much a complete recording studio. There is an area where I have the bikes--my hope is to get The Mighty Trek on the road as soon as it gets warmer.

I put a basket on the City Bike as it will be a work bike--errands, grocery store, to the cafe, the pub, where ever I can go by bike!

The rail trail through the city. Still lots of snow!

I'm riding to the bike shop with my map of the county--all the rural roads are drawn out and the bike shop boys show me some good routes.

A few times I took some streets best to be avoided--but that's how it goes when you're exploring a new place.

Side door of the bike shop. Warm enough to open up everything and enjoy the Spring air that's on the way.

The boys at the bike shop were happy to help me out with the map I brought. Also told me about map-my-ride, which I checked out before--however often blokes leave out important details about the routes so I think best to see what the boys say. Oh yeah, everyone's bringing in their road bikes and the turn around time for tune-ups will be a week!

William Burroughs owned this house here in Interzone, which is just down the street from where I'm staying now. Rest in Peace, Old Man.

Wish me luck here with a new job--and getting back to my home in Tucson soon!

Cheers! Bruce