Day 29 Pittsburg, KS to Toronto, KS

Yorktown, VA to Toronto, KS Completed 1,665 Miles

Biking Detail Pittsburg, KS to Toronto, KS

Day 29 Tuesday, June 9

Left the motel at 6:00 AM with a quick stop at Starbucks for a latte to take on the road....in the SAG vehicle, of course. Great to look forward to those quick sips when taking a minute to stop. Pretty much flew straight through to Girard and Walnut. Not much wind, good roads and nice temp. HWY 7 into Girard had a nice wide shoulder. Was in Walnut, 36 miles, in just under two hours. No restaurants there, just the typical gas station/mini mart with egg and sausage biscuits. That was my breakfast appetizer with remains of my latte from Starbucks. Not bad. Quick ten minute stop then off to Chanute. Plan to keep riding before wind and heat sets in! Still comfortable temperature. Not quite done with rolling hills. Will find some before Chanute. Actually a pleasant change from long flat, straight stretches. Corn, corn then some more corn mixed with few wheat fields and lots of lone oil wells on the farms...nearly every farm for a long while. Had two small hills at 5%-7% at 47 miles. Made it to Chanute by 10:20, 60 miles in 4 hours, averaged 15 MPH, best stats on trail so far. 

Found a Yelp rated breakfast diner, The Grain Bin, a short distance off the trail. Highly recommend for breakfast, which is served all day.Address is 341 E. Main St.  Had a great, real breakfast (eggs, sausage and pancakes) hit the ATM then back on the trail at noon. 

Definitely hotter, 87 degrees with a feel like of 97! Winds not bad though depending on the direction of the road. Wind is from SW so going north is good, a little help. Road from Chanute to Benedict is long, straight, somewhat uphill at 1% or so, not well maintained but very few cars! No shade. Need to keep hydrated! Same scenery for miles! Don't fall asleep! 

Looked forward to seeing our white SAG pulled over every few miles for a burst of cold water out of the ice chest. Will go through a lot today as no places to stop along the way. Be prepared to pack enough with you. About five miles before Benedict met a young guy and gal going W to E. Started a year ago in SanFrancisco. Took the winter off and skied in CO. He is from China and Marsha is from Siberia. From Yorktown they plan to bike to FL then Argentina!  Post high school living life to the fullest!  The last several miles into Toronto so hot! Hit a 10%-11% hill at 95 miles just before Toronto, just not fair, where did that come from? Stopped at small store in town at 100 miles and three guys working on a shop gave me a beer and Margie a bottle of water. They were so nice. Decided to end biking for the day down the road at 103 miles....first century of the trip when feel like temp was close to 100! Did not want to camp so had to drive 18 miles to find lodging in Eureka. Will head back to trail in AM where left off in Toronto. 

Typical farm buildings some in better shape than others

A lot more corn today, it's getting taller

Strange art work

Not sure about these

Yes a whole line of fish heads on the fenceposts

Kansas

Looks better than it was (muddy due to flooding)

Straight road for 30 miles

And egg and sausage sandwiches

Listen to the mooing at our break stop (hit play)

What kind of animal is this??

Lots of oil wells some working some not

Breakfast stop in Chanute (they let me bring my bike in)

Four stars on Yelp (it was deserved)

My breakfast after 60 miles

Friend and Marsha heading East (wish you well)

Long and Straight forever

Posed Like a statue

More flooding

Entering Toronto, KS

The antique shop we took a break in

The shop workers handed me a beer

Here are the three workers who were so nice

The post office is what's left of the ghost town

Ready for a rest after 100+ miles

Our laundry wagon

Sign looks new, motel is not

In our room, guess we are in Kansas

Our dinner location, BBQ beef brisket sandwiches