Race News, Updates and Press Releases

Race Day 5 - Pratt, KS to Jefferson City, MO

Saturday, June 17, 2006

This is a big day, today.  Happy 40th Wedding Anniversary to Gary and Mary Earl Spencer.  When people ask what you did on your 40th, don' you just wish you could tell them that you rode your bike across Kansas in a downpour of rain, being chased by a tornado.  In any event, happy anniversary, dear, see you in Atlantic City.

The photos in this segment are a few repeats from yesterday's download.  Pete gave me his camera late and I did not have a spare moment to add comments.  And, Saturday was not a day to take pictures, unless you had an underwater camera.  We passed the baton off to Team 2 at 4am EDT in Pratt, Kansas.  Well, sort of.  There was a bit of a mixup on the meeting place and the riders of Team 2 had gone to the wrong place.  The radios were not working correctly, so it took them a while to get back on course and find Pete, who had just kept riding in order not to lose time.  They finally caught up about 15 miles out of town.  Pete and Gary thien had to drive back into town to the motel.

The day before Team 2 had handed the ride back to us about 5 in the afternoon, EDT and then it started raining with the wind blowing.  Jim said as they were driving on to Platt, Kansas, that they really felt sorry for us, but not enough to turn around and help out.  It was during that afternoon and evening ride that we heard there was a Tornado on the Kansas/Colorado border after we had passed through.

Saturday was much the same as Friday.  Team 2 had good weather and no rain.  They covered over 200 miles while we raced on the Interstate to try and catch up.  If we had followed the race course, we would have never caught up.  When we did meet, just short of the Missouri border, rain was threatening, and a few drizzles had come down.  As soon as Team One took over, the sky opened up.  Team Two rode the rest of the way in a heavy downpour until about 12am EDT when it finally let up and quit.  Team One rode on through Branson, MO, but did not get to see much as we crossed over the Lake of the Ozarks at 3am EDT.

I always thought Kansas was flat.  This is a serious mistake in geography.  It might look flat, and it certainly is compared to western Colorado, but there are a lot of rolling hills.  When you get into Missouri, the "rollers" just keep coming and getting a little bigger each time.  We arrived in Jefferson City, MO at 4am EDT on Sunday morning and gave the duty back to Team 2.  They were all in the same place this time and the transfer was made smoothly and efficiently.

Team Photo at start of Race Across America in Oceanside, CA



The Parade lap to the bike trail from Pete's perspective.



The competition. Are these guys fit, or what??



The rolling transfer of riders in the middle of the California desert.

Approaching storm, (and tornado) in eastern Colorado, near the border with Kansas.  Now that is flat, but because of headwinds, it was difficult riding.  The headwinds slowed a rider down by 4 to 10 mph.

This is my favorite photo of the trip.  Pete took this during a rolling exchange of riders after the rain had let up.  Chuck is in the background riding up on Gary.  You can just make Chuck out to the right of the car's headlights.

It is now 11am EDT in Jefferson City.  We are up, had a quick motel breakfast and are loading up to chase down Team 2 who has been riding since 4am this morning.  We are getting closer and are traveling at over 400 miles per day.  Ron joined us on the course at about 1am EDT last night.  I have not heard the official story yet as to how he caught up, so that will be in the next edition.  Have a great day.  This is a terrific way to see the country, at least once.  Glenn and Suzanne, who drive the safety follow van are expert bird watchers, so we get a running commentary on the various species that we see along the way.  Glenn is particularly good at spotting the various species of hawks.

The great adventure continues;  see you tomorrow, same time, same station.