Crossing Kansas By Bike, As A Vegan
What it took to bring a body by bicycle across Kansas in 3 ½ days
Before I dip into the struggle and celebration of the Kansas cross, let me bring you back to the start. No, not Friday morning before I crossed the state line, but back to June when I routed and rerouted The Wellness Ride from Boston to Los Angeles.
I had planned to cross Kansas in 9 days. A 457-mile route across the northern part of the state, mostly on US-24W. I had been told and read the horror stories about crossing Kansas: No water, no food, 30 mph headwinds blowing east to west, days where the sun would beat down so hard that you’d seek shelter and only ride in the evening, and dogs. No, not the kind that offers a paw and let you rub their stomach, but dogs that disobey their pet parents and chase bikers in an attempt to rip them off their bikes. Dogs.
I had routed stops every 45–60 miles, looked for campgrounds, identified motels, and made a list of vegan restaurants along the way. I was prepared. Kansas was the biggest challenge of The Wellness Ride and I wasn’t going to let it beat me.
Kansas came quick, and on the eve of this leg of the ride, I was all set to have a deep sleep.
But, I couldn’t sleep.
