Day 3: An Even Shorter Ride – Uphill and Against the Wind. Ottawa to Garnett

New day and a new trail - but uphill against the wind.

Something was apparently off with the Applebee’s chicken.  Rob became nauseated during the night, threw up, and slept poorly.  But by morning the nausea had dissipated and he felt well enough to eat. The hotel breakfast was meager and disappointing, but enough to power us up for the short ride to Garnett.

Walmart was nearby, so we stopped in for a can of WD40 and Snickers for the day’s ride.  Back at the hotel, Rob inspected the bikes and gave the chains a WD40 treatment, and soon enough we were off and headed to the Prairie Spirit Trail for a 23-mile gravel ride south to Garnett.  

Diane, anticipating a cold ride and not wanting to cowboy up, had donned leggings and her raincoat.  But she quickly became uncomfortably warm and removed her leggings and raincoat, and we were off again.

The trail was in good condition, but the surface had been softened by the rain.  That, plus headwinds in the 10-15 mph range, and the minor but perceptible elevation gain, meant we were constantly pedaling.  In short, it was no day for slackers. 

The ride was uneventful and peaceful, with pretty scenery.  Not much wildlife to see but three white tail deer scampered across the trail in front of us. 

We reached the Kirk House, our home away from home in Garnett, by 2:30.  The proprietor had left the house unlocked and the lights on in our second-floor room, Mamma Kirk’s Suite, inviting us to make ourselves at home.  We did! 

We removed our belongs from the panniers, and Diane carried them upstairs, and washed the water bottles, while Rob hosed down the bikes and carried them into the basement.  Next came showers and clean clothes and then we were off to enjoy our lunch/dinner at the El Jimador Mexican Restaurant.

Over dinner, Rob explored what Weather Underground had to say about the weather for the remaining three days.  It wasn’t going to be pleasant – cold, damp, and adverse winds every day.  So, we discussed adjusting our travel plans.  

On Day 4 we had planned to continue riding south on the Prairie Spirit Trail, through Iola, to Humboldt at the Trail’s south end and back to Iola, about a 40-mile day.  Day 5 would be a 52-mile ride back to Ottawa.  Day 6 would be a 44-mile ride to the eastern end of the Flint Hills Trail in Osawatomie and back to Ottawa.  This itinerary was based on where we could find lodging and our known physical strength and endurance based on our experience doing gravel ride tours/trips over the last four years. We like our rides to be a little challenging, but we don’t want to be miserable all day several days in a row.

So, we tanked the plan to ride south and east/west, deciding instead to return to Ottawa on Day 4.  Frank graciously changed his plans to retrieve us at Ottawa on Saturday morning instead of Sunday afternoon. 

The Prairie Spirit is true rail trail with a welcome rideable surface.....

........With  some prairie as promised in the name.