DONE

For the ones who check my blog but not my facebook, I just want to let you know that I made it to San Francisco on September 3rd. I then flied out to Stockholm on September 4th and start my new job on September 6th.

I am very sorry that I didn't update the blog in the second half of my journey. It was partially due to bad internet connection, and partially because I was trying to ride for longer distance per day --- just got too tired after the rides. It will take me some time to settle in Stockholm. At the same time I will try writing up the "log" and posting pictures.

Hope you will still check this blog.

- CK

Day 35: Eureka to Newton

August 4th, sunny, very hot

Day 34: Chanute to Eureka

August 3rd, sunny, very hot

This is another super hot day. I checked the weather forcase in the morning. It could go up to 104'F around 4pm. I was planning to have a long distance ride so I woke up at 6 and leave the hotel around 7. There is only very limited service on the route so I brought some extra Gatorate wth me. The morning ride was surely enjoyable. But as soon as it reach 11am, the weather started to warm up to a uncomfortable level. The Gatorate and water I brought all became warm. Although I was riding on flat land, I rested in the shades pretty often.

Around 1pm, I arrived Cross Timbers State Park. There seems to have a cafe but it will take me an extra 6 miles trip so I skipped it. Instead, I got my lunch in the small town Toronto.

At 4pm, I arrived a rest area. It was so hot that I decided to take another long break. Part of this blog is written there.

Day 33: Pittsburg to Chanute

August 2nd, sunny

For the people who think Kentucky (or Illinois) is flat, you haven't been to Kansas!!!

I work up pretty early in the morning but found the breakfast provided by the motel is too small. There is a Walmart and couple fast food across the street so I decided to take an adventure. Not everything were open. I went into a Starburst and order a mocha and a muffin. I didn't like Starburst that much because of all those fair trade coffee etc. But I have to say I miss it quite a bit. I took my iPad with me so I enjoyed the free wifi and typed up part of this blog. I also bough some grounded coffee. I have a camping coffee filter with me but I haven't used it. I should make some morning coffee sometime.

After leaving Starburst, I went to Walmart to get some showering stuff. Then I went back to the hotel, check out, and started today's journey. To ride to Girard was very easy. The route was flat, the weather was cool.

It got hotter in the afternoon. But because the flatness of the land, the ride remained very enjoyable. I was not as luck as yesterday to have a tailwind. But the headwind was not that strong anyway, so I just enjoyed it to cool myself down.

At the intersection of highway 146 and highway 57, there was road construction, the bike route was close for 7 miles. I didn't have much option so I took a detour on highway 57. The distance was longer but it was not that bad. And the traffic was alright.

Since Highway 57 brought me to downtown Chanute, I stepped into the historical hotel. It has laundry and is not super expensive so I stayed there. Dinner was a sub in a small restaurant near the hotel.

Location:E Main St,Chanute,United States

Day 32: Ash Grove to Pittsburg

August 1st, sunny all day

Alright, today is August 1st. I have been on my bike for a month; and there's another month to go. I just use up half of my time.

It may be worthwhile to summarize my journey so far. It is very enjoyable. I saw new things, met new people everyday. I also paid attentions to small details that I don't usually care, which brings me new ideas and new insight about life.

The journey is physically demanding but it makes my mind very relax. I have used a "research first" approach to live since grad school. I love research, but putting it on top of everything else is a bad idea. In the last month, there was no way I can do any research work --- I was so tired after pedaling for a whole day and I couldn't even finish my blog! But once I while, when I am biking a boring section, my mind "zooms out" and a few very creative (and probably crazy) idea fly in. After I move to Sweden, I really should work these ideas out.

Go back to today's journey: when I woke up this morning, my tents and all my gears were dry. I was super happy about that because I don't need to spend time hanging them under the sun. I packed my gears very quickly and stopped by a supermarket. Unlike a gas station, there was no coffee or hot breakfast so I just bought a cold sandwich and left.

The ride to Golden City was pretty easy. I made couple day-ride bikers. They told me that there was a large group of bikes having lunch together in town. I tried to pedal faster to join them. But when I arrive they were all gone. Anyway, the food there was good. And the pie was wonderful!

The afternoon was a ride across state. I finished the day at Pittsbutg, Kansas.

Day 31: Hartville to Ash Grove

July 31st, mostly cloudy, enjoyable day