This blog starts on Tuesday night. Deb and Thomas had put me in a motel with air con. If you’ve read yesterday’s blog then you’ll know that I was in a bad way. Meanwhile, they were out doing chores including laundry, refuelling the RV and a shop at Walmart.
I was back out on the road just after the sun rose at 07:10. The aim was to get close to Dodge City, some 34 miles away. It would require the second highest mileage of this tour to be successful.
I was bitten by flies twice within the first mile. Thankfully, the support team were on hand to drive up the road. I quickly put on my tracksuit bottoms and a base layer. It’s not the best from a comfort point of view but at least the flies were subsequently kept away.
I made it through Kinsley and the landscape changed dramatically. All of a sudden there was a vast open space with far less trees. I could see for miles in all directions.
At mile 6, a man called Alex pulled over in his truck and asked if I was ok. I told him about my journey and he handed me some cherries, an ice cold bottle of water and 20 dollars! I think he thought that I’d fallen on hard times. I gave him a leaflet and thanked him for his kindness.
I met the team for a wrap at the 7.5 mile point.
It was good to offload the bag of cherries. Mind you, I’d eaten quite a few of them by that point.
I got back out on the road and went past another huge silo in Offerle.
I was joined by Thomas who’d replenished my hydration pack. He commented on how long and straight the highway 50 roads are.
There were a couple of unusual sights. There were more planes on a train.
There were also more wind farm blades on trucks labelled “heavy load”.
Thomas and I made it to mile 16 where Deb was waiting in the RV. It was time for another delicious wrap. It was accompanied by home made seasoned wedges which were absolutely tremendous. So much so, that I forgot to take a photo.
I got back out for the next session of the day near Spearville. The sun was now head on and beating down. Once again, such a simple thing as sun block was having the desired effect. It’s been a total game changer these last few days. The groggy feeling that I get at that time of day just isn’t there now.
While Deb and Thomas waited up the road at the water result point they saw a man shadow boxing on the nearby railroad. It was another random sight for the day.
I was going ok until mile 22. The side of my right foot started to ache, as it has done in recent days. It then started to ache even more. I started limping and the miles ticked by very slowly.
I got to a stony hard shoulder section. As soon as I stepped on both feet started to tingle in a painful way. I tentatively got to the other side and carried on.
I met the RV for a water refill and some food at the 25.5 mile point. I was in a lot of pain.
After 10 minutes I told the team that I’d had enough. “I’ve lost the will” I said.
I’ve somehow got to find a way to squeeze those last few miles out every day. There are physical limitations and I’m in pain. However, there is a mental barrier too. I’m digging deep every day. I simply must find a way to dig even deeper. The team are doing absolutely everything possible to support me. It’s down to me to find something extraordinary now.
TUNE OF THE DAY: The Big Country Theme - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
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