HALF WAY IN KANSAS.

total miles: 2,043!
miles biked 9/7, 9/8: 98 & 97

have i cycled over half of the United States: YES!!

Here I am waiting out the Seattle rain in Heston, Kansas. I woke up last night at 3am to lightening and thunder, and the pounding rain on my tent. Sure I was going to be hit by lightening, all I could really do was roll over and listen to the rain.

Turns out, I didn't get hit by a lightening bolt, but I was stuck hiding in my tent all morning, waiting for the rain to die off.

I made it out this afternoon to explore this huge city of Heston, (population: around 1,000; which seems like a lot considering where I am coming from!) finally found a place to do laundry, and of course, feed my starving belly.

The great news is: I have finally surpassed the halfway mark, not only of the entire US, but of this long journey I am on. It felt pretty great to realize that I have already biked over 2,000 miles and I am well on my way to nearing the coast-in a few more weeks that is.

The disappointing news is that I don't get to meet up with Channing, my sister. Definitely a mental downer, and I been feeling a little bummed out, but generally trying to stay positive. Literally taking it one mile at a time. I guess since I have already made it this far, threes no stopping me now, right?!

The past few days have been extremely long days of riding, we're talking ten hours on the bike, hitting nearly a hundred miles. First of all, let me just point out the myth behind the prevailing winds. I have been 'looking forward' to the prairie flat lands of the middle states for a few weeks now, thinking I would just sail along with a nice tail wind. However, rather than breezing through I have been battling some pretty strong headwinds. For those of you not familiar with this phenomenon; I like to think of it as equivalent to pulling a couple football players, on a sled, with a keg of beer. One word to describe it: brutal.

As much as I was thinking the mountains were actually the difficult part, the prairies are proving to be a lot more challenging than I thought. At least with climbing a mountain there is always the reward of going downhill, and the breathtaking surroundings are pretty nice to look at. The flat roads running through oil rigs, corn fields, and feed lots may sound pretty fantastic, but believe me; they are not all they are cracked up to be. It seems like all I can do is keep on pedaling and pushing through the wind, rain, lightening, and endless fields of gold.

I might be painting a pretty grey picture of what my days feel like lately, and trust me, its not always pretty...but there are some great things to tell as well.

My trail angels, or I should call them asphalt angels; the wonderful people who appear out of nowhere when I need them most, have been plentiful and generous. For example, a few days ago after one of those ten hour days of pedaling, feeling exhausted and on the brink of tears. I arrived in Larned, KS. one of the larger towns I have ridden through, complete with romantic brick roads and all the fast food a girl could ever want. I was unsure of where I could sleep, if I would get a shower, and if there would even be a food establishment open nearing the holiday.

Low and behold, as soon as I found a Wendy's to add some more meat to my diet, I ran into this cutie old man who had seen me ride up earlier. He offered to buy me a cheeseburger, which I obviously could not turn down. So we sat, he and I, this sweet old man named Keith, and he told me about life in Kansas and asked about cycling. He gave me his phone number saying that he has unlimited minutes and can talk anytime. He wanted an address, and I said, "sir, I'm on a bike, I don't have anything yet."

So feeling better about the night already, I rolled down the corner - a game I like to play when I'm at the end of the rope with cycling, trying to get as far as possible without actually pedaling. I found a hotel that seemed to have an RV park for campers, and the girl working that night must have had a great day because she actually let me shower in one of the rooms, and let me set up my tent in the back of the hotel. Just my style, sleeping in a tent, next to a hotel because I'm too broke to actually sleep in a room - imagine that.

I was also invited to a family reunion picnic in the park I camped at in Dighton, KS. The sweetest old woman named Gay, I think because she is just so cheery, approached me while I was setting up camp. She piled up a huge plate of picnic fixings for me, and even wrapped up two huge pieces of cake, "for later," she said. When she found out I was in fact alone, instead of looking at me with disdain and confusion like most people, she just smiled and said, "Well, my goodness, bless your heart young lady, you are just so far from home." Also another good thing to hear, because it means I am closer to my destination than I am to home on the West at this point!

So for now I will continue to wait out the rain in some far away library, or quaint little cafe in the middle of nowhere ville Kansas. I will hopefully make it to Missouri in just a few short days if it ever stops raining!!

over and out.

Sid.