Topeka KS yesterday Cameron MO today

Didn't have time to blog yesterday.

We made Topeka yesterday after a cold temp start (about 40) and some light drizzle. Cleared after noon. We hit a lot of rollers into Topeka. Did about 4500 worth of rollers yesterday.

I included a pic of the route sheet for Topeka. It has a lot of turns. To make matters worse, I have a very bad habit of confusing left with right. I read "left" but visualize in my mind's eye right. Not good on a day like Topeka.

Over the course of this tour I have made several wrong turns but caught then within a few hundred yards. On the way to Topeka I stopped to check my Droid maps after passing a turn. But two riders followed me and continued on in the wrong direction. They got too far away before I realized what had happened. So I told Mike about it in the van and he chased then down. But they had gone so far at that point Mike just had them take a different route which in total was 3 miles shorter.

Today's ride was beautiful after a very foggy start in Topeka. Temps rose to mid-70s and light winds. This is what I came on this tour for! We did have close to 5000 feet of climbing rollers today. I didn't think I knew how to do rollers very well but I followed my roommate's advice t build power and n the descents and push over the next rise. It worked for the most part. A lot of folks had mechanical problems today. I was one of the first riders in today.

I worked in a great 7 man pace line today with Max,  Greg, Jan Ralph and Joe. We stayed together to the lunch SAG but fell apart when we hit the big high gradient rollers.

Needed work on my bike at finish. Me derailures needed adjustment, the bike needed a cleaning and my chain - which was brand new when we started in Costa Mesa needs replacement. I brought an extra chain along pre-cut to correct length. So it was short work. Jim Benson the mechanic says its a joy to work on my bike because everything is so easy. Another rider is riding with latest and greatest Shimano 11 speed Duraace components and he has run into several problems and neither Mine or Jim know how to service it. Mike was looking at manuals online today to figure out how to fix it.

We crossed the Missouri river today. Everyone left the photo op ahead of me and I had chase em down.

Got chased by some old dogs too. Just pulled my water bottle out and squirted them and that held them away. Also had some cows run towards me from behind a fence. They looked like they weren't happy I was there. Fortunately they were fenced in.

Also got a great care package from Sandy and Tara and a card from Andrea and Terry. Cookies, cleats m&ms and some TLC. Thanks Sandy and Tara.

Looks like some rain tomorrow. That and over 6K if rollers. About 275 roller s in all.