Tag Archives: sand

Hutchinson, KS

motel,

And once again, I was on the road.

Near Seward, KS

Just after crossing highway 281, I encountered what the map labeled as “Gravel.” In reality, it was deep, loose-packed sand. My 3/4″ tire was worthless. I fell twice, once into a patch of “Texas Tacks.” I got a lot of punctures, and I don’t mean in my tires. For much of the way, I had to walk. Biting flies and tiny, annoying gnats were everywhere. It took about two hours in the noonday sun to cross the 8-mile gravel stretch.

The gravel stretch that people warned me about.
Dust-fine sand. Bikecentennial could have easily routed us onto a paved roadway. I think this “gravel” stretch was intentionally put in for challenge.
There’s the 20mm tire in the back. After I fell into a patch of Texas Tacks (Goatheads), I walked the bike.

My stop that Friday was in Hutchinson. I checked into the Astro Hotel. I was in no mood to camp after that gravel stretch.