Chapter 1: Riding to meet BAK - Overland Park to Pomona Lake
My first try at loaded touring was a very nice, although tiring loaded trip to Gannett on Memorial Day. I enjoyed
this first trip so much that I decided to try a little longer loaded bicycle trip and ride about half way across
Kansas to meet the BAK group. The following is a brief account of the first day.
This was my first crack at fully loaded touring. I had read tons of web pages and a couple of books on how to go about this. They were technically very helpful, but in no way can they describe the joys, frustrations, elation, hopelessness, and effort put forth on one of these tours.
I decided to start from my front door. How noble it is to launch a trip like this. To completely eliminate the automobile, leave it sleeping peacefully in the garage as you push your loaded bike out of the garage, throw one leg over the panniers and seat, clip in and start your journey.
Omen #1: I noticed a notable drag as soon as I left the driveway. I rode about a half block and dismounted to take a look. The Surly Crosscheck bike that I was riding has a wide rear hub spacing on the rear so that an ATB hub can be used as well a road hub. This hub has to be tightened down well or the wheel will twist loose on a heavy load such as climbing or carrying 40 pounds of gear. So I made my first 'repair' right in front of my house. The second repair, a flat tire, was in such a fortunate place it would make most tourists ill. That's another story. It will be in a later installment.
After I re set the wheel, I started up again. The goal that day was to ride to Pomona lake west of Ottawa and camp there for the night. I learned from the Garnett ride to not try for more than 60 miles per day as there are too many unknowns in the daily life of a bike tourer.
I proceeded go to Olathe down KC road. I noticed that there was a very stiff head wind and so upped my effort some to keep from being stopped dead still. The traffic in Olathe was light so I rode down Lone Elm, turned west on 159th and then proceeded to Gardner. I had a couple of Power Bars so I ate one and refilled a water bottle. (I had 4 water bottles and a Camel Back. You can't have too much water!). I left Gardner going south on Gardner Rd to 199th and passed through Edgerton. I continued on US 56 to Wellsville turn off (KS 33). The head wind was now more pronounced once out of the city and was making for a challenging day.
Omen #2: About 3 miles from Wellsville, I developed LEG CRAMPS!!! This was for sure a morale killer. If the cramps were not kept under control, the trip was doomed. Was I ever depressed! Not only was there a risk that I was going to blow my yearly bike vacation, but I could be going to have to limp home in embarrassment. How to explain to my wife, the BAK people, and fellow riders I had planned to meet later in the week? All kinds of questions, doubts, analysis of leg cramp causes, theological arguments, and anything else that my brain could conjure up were rolling through my thought processes. There is only one thing to do. Stop, get my brain and body under control, drink some more, eat another power bar, and look at my situation.
I decided to back off my effort, drink more, and stop in Wellsville for another break. In Wellsville, I had a Gatorade and some cookies and took a half hour break. It was only 11:30 and I had about 40 miles to ride before 3:00. No need to hurry. I left Wellsville and rode south to KS 68. Once I turned to go west, the wind was at my side and the work changed from bucking the wind to keeping the fully loaded Surly going in a straight line with the now strong and gusty side winds. I made Ottawa just before 1:00 and had lunch at the Horse shoe Cafe. I can recommend the Open Faced Pork Sandwich!
After a leisurely lunch I headed west on KS68 to Pomona Lake. KS68 west of Ottawa sucks. It is narrow, has no shoulders and has lots of trucks. (If I go this way again, I'll use the back roads and go south of Clinton Lake and get to Pomona from the north.) When I got to the 268 spur to Pomona, there were nice 4ft shoulders to ride on. Thanks, KDOT.
Pomona Lake: There are two parts to this lake. The U.S. Corps of Engineers, and the KS Dept. of Wildlife State Park. The first turnoff coming from the east is the Corps. of Engineers site. I was tired and ready to quit for the day so I took this first turnoff. I rode up to the 'office' but there was no one there. So I rode down the park road for a ways and waited around for someone to ask for directions. An elderly couple came by towing a camper and I asked them where the campground was. They pointed to a road down the way that veered to the right. I rode down this long hill until I came to the check in station. I asked the person at the station about campsites. They replied that all this area had was trailer pads with electric, water, and sewer hookups. I didn't need any of these services and did not want to pay the fee for them. So I asked where the primitive campsites were. "Go back to the main road, take a right and the campsite turnoff is about 2 miles down the road from here" came the reply. Try 4 miles. :-( Now, climb the cat 55 climb back to the road and do another roly poly 3 miles to the camp site. Unghh! I'd finally made it.
The campground was nice, a beach front view. I set up my tent, unpacked, took a shower, and hydrated. In an
hour or two, I started getting hungry. It was time for dinner. The thought of riding back to the highway to the
restaurant did not interest me. I had packed a bag of fig newtons for anti-bonk insurance. So dinner ended up being
Fig Newtons and water. I've had worse.
I spent the rest of the evening watching my neighbors perform. The party to my left looked like a father, his sons, and their families. They were sharing a Jet Ski and taking turns riding around the lake and drinking beer. They rode until dark when the women made them quit. The other side spent their evening shouting, cussing, and slapping their kids around. After it got dark things got quiet. I guess everyone passed out. So did I.
In the morning, I rose early and was gone before my neighbors awoke. However, as I left the campground, I saw one of the boys from the shouting family sitting on a swing on the other side of the campground. Hmm.
As I left the area, I briefly checked out the State Park.. This park is smaller, flatter, and closer to the
highway. It looks to be more bike friendly.
Lessons from today:
1. Pace yourself
2. Pack a meal or two, just in case.
3. Mileage: 77.17
