124.3 Miles – AVG Speed 15.8MPH – Top Speed 32.MPH
Total: 2,639.30
Josh, Eric, Kevin and I were up early this morning. Somehow, I had been roped into the challenge of a 200 mile day. The romanticism of the idea had swept me off my feet like a sixteen year old girl who had been exposed to one too many Jennifer Aniston movies and nowhere near enough articles documenting her real personal life. Call it blind-faith, wish thinking or just plain old arrogance, but I thought I’d join them and take my chances.
Well, we started well enough, the first 60 miles or so taking us to lunch, but we were certainly behind schedule by some distance. The wind hadn’t been at our back as per a couple of days prior to this attempt and the land was not quite as flat as we had anticipated. With these factors in mind, we had decided to call off the idea and work at hitting an even 100 miles by reaching the town of Toronto, Kansas.
After some very straight roads, fairly obstructive headwinds and some gentle rolling hills we arrived in Toronto. A town must be particularly harrowing in order to spur on four tired men who had just completed a 100 mile day to attempt a further 25 to the next town, and unfortunately, Toronto was this. I’m not sure if anyone from Toronto, Ontario has actually been to it’s Kansas namesake, but I’m fairly sure they’d be red with fury if they discovered their city’s name had been appropriated by this waning town. For some reason, everything was closed except for the liquor store. We of course took advantage of this and had a beer whilst preparing ourselves for the final push to the next town of Eureka, but it was not enough to keep us in it’s grasp. It is fair to say, that except for Ashtabula (which was much larger) that Toronto was the most depressing place of the trip thus far. It had no real charm and looked in desperate need of a makeover. And soon enough, we were to meet some people who could help with that.
The four of us pedalled in racing formation for the next 20-odd miles to Eureka in order to arrive as quickly as possible. It was really rewarding to work as a team in this manner and we were all visibly exhilarated as we arrived in Eureka. The town had a similar feeling to Toronto, but it was much larger, and as a result, contained a few diamonds. As the four of us were deciding what to do we got talking to three young architect graduates who had just moved to the area. We ended up going for dinner with them before they invited us - quite unbelievably, considering the four of us looked as if we’d just engaged in a tag team wrestling match covered in chain oil and dirt - back to their place to stay the night. Over the course of the evening they explained how they had all moved to the small town of Eureka post graduation to start an architecture business, but they were much more than that, they were realty there to revitalise the community in creating beautiful design installations and attempt to breathe some life into the stagnated streets. Their passion for this town that was not their home was a real inspiration, and hearing them talk so fluently and passionately on their ideas and dreams for Eureka and the wider area was a timely reminder that not all educated folk in the west are in it for the money. This group were idealistic in a very focused manner, and what’s more, their plans seem so achievable.
So, no 200 miles today. But 124 ain’t bad. And meeting some people who do go the extra mile was as much of a boost on this trip as going it myself would’ve been.
Total: 2,639.30
Josh, Eric, Kevin and I were up early this morning. Somehow, I had been roped into the challenge of a 200 mile day. The romanticism of the idea had swept me off my feet like a sixteen year old girl who had been exposed to one too many Jennifer Aniston movies and nowhere near enough articles documenting her real personal life. Call it blind-faith, wish thinking or just plain old arrogance, but I thought I’d join them and take my chances.
Well, we started well enough, the first 60 miles or so taking us to lunch, but we were certainly behind schedule by some distance. The wind hadn’t been at our back as per a couple of days prior to this attempt and the land was not quite as flat as we had anticipated. With these factors in mind, we had decided to call off the idea and work at hitting an even 100 miles by reaching the town of Toronto, Kansas.
After some very straight roads, fairly obstructive headwinds and some gentle rolling hills we arrived in Toronto. A town must be particularly harrowing in order to spur on four tired men who had just completed a 100 mile day to attempt a further 25 to the next town, and unfortunately, Toronto was this. I’m not sure if anyone from Toronto, Ontario has actually been to it’s Kansas namesake, but I’m fairly sure they’d be red with fury if they discovered their city’s name had been appropriated by this waning town. For some reason, everything was closed except for the liquor store. We of course took advantage of this and had a beer whilst preparing ourselves for the final push to the next town of Eureka, but it was not enough to keep us in it’s grasp. It is fair to say, that except for Ashtabula (which was much larger) that Toronto was the most depressing place of the trip thus far. It had no real charm and looked in desperate need of a makeover. And soon enough, we were to meet some people who could help with that.
The four of us pedalled in racing formation for the next 20-odd miles to Eureka in order to arrive as quickly as possible. It was really rewarding to work as a team in this manner and we were all visibly exhilarated as we arrived in Eureka. The town had a similar feeling to Toronto, but it was much larger, and as a result, contained a few diamonds. As the four of us were deciding what to do we got talking to three young architect graduates who had just moved to the area. We ended up going for dinner with them before they invited us - quite unbelievably, considering the four of us looked as if we’d just engaged in a tag team wrestling match covered in chain oil and dirt - back to their place to stay the night. Over the course of the evening they explained how they had all moved to the small town of Eureka post graduation to start an architecture business, but they were much more than that, they were realty there to revitalise the community in creating beautiful design installations and attempt to breathe some life into the stagnated streets. Their passion for this town that was not their home was a real inspiration, and hearing them talk so fluently and passionately on their ideas and dreams for Eureka and the wider area was a timely reminder that not all educated folk in the west are in it for the money. This group were idealistic in a very focused manner, and what’s more, their plans seem so achievable.
So, no 200 miles today. But 124 ain’t bad. And meeting some people who do go the extra mile was as much of a boost on this trip as going it myself would’ve been.
Go Eric, Go.
We are NOT eating there.
Yee-ha! Home at last.
Beautiful Toronto.
Creepy. Still, they provide meals. I'm in.
Kate, Dave, Eric, Austin, Kevin and Josh get cosy.
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