Dateline: Loveland, CO, PUSH Industries parking lot.

Made Wilson State Park out in back roads Kansas. Empty XG, no water until next weekend. Washed bike w/ake h2o, all the clingy mud is gone. Only camper in subloop right on water. Walked a bit before dark. Found perhaps a heron skull & some beaver cutting chips. A brisk on shore wind but in early evening the wind died & then picked up w/ an incoming thunderstorm. Van was rocked by the wind and thunder. Not a bad light show but most intensity went somewhere else.

I checked out Wilson town to see what was downtown. Just a community that has lost it’s economic engine.

Drove out to park. Entrance is on a hill and the road drops down to cross the lake on a high bridge. Controlled burn made the trails stand out. What a fantastic trail system. One of the best i have ridden. Just a few technical rock problems but all about riding. The designer, Bob Nicholson, the park’s trail coordinator, used the topography very well. 14.6 miles & close to 2000′ vert all on short climbs, lots of climbing switchbacks. And it was not kansas flat. It’s worth making a stop on your way somewhere.

I joined the central kansas mtn biker club and linked up w/Jon Shank for a guide to meet at noon on Sunday. While waiting for him I rode 5 miles of trail. Wow.

AN adventure race was going on while I was there. 16 teams, they mtn biked, paddled a canoe or kayak, ran 5 miles & finished w/ more mtn biking. I recorded gusts of 35 mph. Several of the canoers capsized.

I learned that an Army Corps of engineering XG was nearby w/ year round water & showers so I split for it. Nice shower and then off to find the world’s largest ball of seizal twine. Have pictures.

I drove furhter north to the geographical center of the US and spent the night in the middle of America.

Today I worked old US highways to Loveland, CO to PUSH Industries who will overhaul my shock & fork tomorrow. Drove past maybe 5 VERY large cattle feedlots. Wouldn’t be surprised if there weren’t a thousand cows wallowing in their own waste fattening up for your dinner table. And the stench!

GPSd the post office & picked up my mail. And then found PUSH back on their cul de sac. While my suspension didn’t jump up & down, I smiled. Talked w/ Jimmie & master mind Darren who all remembered me from my Labor Day visit. Spent time learning from Darren what he is getting & future able to get out of suspensions. Very talented & intense but fun guy. I am more impressed. To those of you who have had your suspension PUSHed, be sure to return them over time as they will include the updated parts for an even better performance.

Darren is stoked on his Turner Spot w/ the DW link. He is friends w/ David Turner & Dave Weigal, the DW link guy. Best Turner yet he said.

In mountain time zone, fall back but I am tired.

The snow covered mountains finally revealed themselves well into CO as they were hidden by scattered clouds that blended w/ snow. 72 degrees after snow last weekend.

Sitting in a Dillon’s grocery store parking lot late AM writing this. Next move will be out of internet access.

Sprinkle came down early evening. Jumped up, drew on wool poncho , hat, & shoes & dashed outside to put cover over bikes. The Turner could be rained on to wash mud off but more damage would result.

Traffic on I-70 yesterday was heavy, died down during night & remained low on drive to Salina. Sought prpane & Tru Value hardware. They didn’t have but a male customer said yes there is a source in town. Outside he gave me street by street turn directions, almost as god as the gps only in male voice. I thanked him & said that this is proof that men will ask for directions and that he should tell his wife so. He said she would not believe him. Propane use is down because of warm temps and no heat needed.

Going out to Lake Wilson and then drive rural roads up to Loveland for Monday night.

I called Peloton Cycles in Loveland to seek replacement Specialized shoes. Chris did a super job by calling their other store and then University in Boulder who set aside their only pair for my pickup on Tues.

Checked forecast and I will miss any snow between here & Loveland.

Cell phone & internet: the travelers friend.

Dateline: Junction City, KS

Slept amid early morning shift cars parking along side me. Got up & drove a ways down road to park in less used parking lot for bfast.

Drove short distance to lake Wilson TH. Stopped @ Army Corps of Engineering office first as entry into park is free. Spoke w/ a person who greeted me. i asked different ways and was told the trails were open. I parked @ TH and checked out another CXT outhouse made in Spokane.

While I was getting ready 2 young men checked me out. They were returning from a hike on the trail i was going to ride and told me it was way too muddy. I told them I was told the trails were open. I was going to ride! Struck up conversation about my trip and then what they are up to: 1 is doing environmental consulting and the other is in environmental law. One said that he believes that my generation put the ball on the tee and it is up to his generation to hit the ball and save the environment> They told me about Sunflower Bike shop and Free State brewing and about the river trail right from town that would be dry but not technical.

I set out on trail and rode to first mud bog. And the next, and the next, and the next. I could not believe the trail was open and the guys were right. I left the trail when it joined the road way. I rode to the park office as I needed to talk to park ranger about trail. He wasn’t in. I was given a name of the trails coordinator that is responsible for trails. I rode back to Army Corps and went looking for a person. Luckily the park ranger showed up. We talked about who decides to close trail, no resources for enforcement, life in general. My extensive riding carried weight in the discussion. Still, the phone call is to the trails coordinator.

I drove back into town searching for Sunflower. Vibrant downtown w/ old buildings still being used. parked blocks away. A quarter bought like 2 hours time. Wore my bike clothes & mud splattered from head to toe on downtown stroll. Found shop where Dan offered to help me. i asked about trails and lamented trail condition. I asked about a shop shower and he said yes. i said cool, I’ll be back after my ride.

Sunflower has a shop cat mascot named Stanley. He’s even on facebook. I met him while he was sleeping in s toy demo tent in the front window.

Rode from parking lot behind store out to river trail which is a 1 way loop running out a finger of land that juts into Kansas river. Trail tread was river transport soil. Flowy w/ bermed turns & a few downs & ups. Fun big ring that I can’t spin trail. Nettles are about 14″ high.

Back @ shop took shower & kaputzed. One staff memeber is pumped because he is doing an August Rainier climb. Cool. We chatted about what he might expect. He greatly appreciated the info.

Walked up to Free State brew pub. Smokers were outside on sidewalk patio, none inside. Lively afternoon crowd. great stout beer. Walked down street to Ben & Jerry’s ice cream store for a treat. A bored college student was handling sales. My turn and he said do i want this, holding up a blender. I was interested but I needed to know what is was. He simply made too much chocolate milkshake for previuos customer. i sai yes and still bought an ice cream cone. I am so easily treating myself.

Drove West out of town on !-70 which is the only West road w/in miles either way; no 2 lane roads. Landed @ Junction City in back of some furniture store. I-70 noise reached me here. Trees nearby are littered w/ what appears to be plastic shopping bags.

I Joined the Central kansas mtn bikers forum last night & asked about riding lake Kamopolis. 2 phone calls & 3 emails convinced me that my enjoyment lies with lake Wilson & it’s 14 miles of mtn biker sculpted trails. Plans change. Have a ride date for Sunday.