Day 45
July 16th, 2007

Olathe Kansas, the friendliest place on earth.
When we had talked to cyclists who had rode across the country previously they had always told us that we will see the friendliest people in Kansas and the most dogs in Kentucky. After today I found the first of those to be true. Kansas can get a bad reputation just because it smells like poop and had more bugs than you can shake a stick at. The ride also proved true a statement I made in yesterday's entry. Eastern Kansas is NOT flat. Apparently the technique of terrasculpting the land to make flat roads has yet to reach Kansas. At the last part of our ride we reached a few hills that went what seemed like straight down then straight back up. The whole day was filled with a plethora of undulations. There were so many hills I am positive that I shifted more today than any other day of the trip. Toward the end of my ride a few rings on my chain became bent and it made for an interesting ride. My chain fell off on two of the biggest hills midway up! It was real frustrating but I made it though the day to stage up. Our arrival to the court house (of which I rode on Andrew's sweet new bike) was a lot of fun. Once at the court house we were quickly escorted inside, fed and read a speech my members of the city council. We also met a man named Mark Cameron. Mark organized all of our events in Olathe and is the chair of the disability, he is also a quadriplegic. Mark operates his chair with his mouth using a straw and a process called “sip and puff.” After lunch we rode the rest of the way to our lodging at the Kansas School of the Deaf. The school is great and we each got our own bed. It was interesting to see how the facility caters to those who can no hear. All the alarms such as fire or tornado are set off with flashing lights. During this time I got the chance to head to the bike shop to drop off my bike to get it repaired. Back at the school for the deaf they had arranged for a massage therapist/chiropractor to rub out some of our pain. Little did we know that this man was serious. I think he popped every bone in my back within the first 15 seconds I was on the table. It was wonderful! For dinner we went to Texas Roadhouse. I sat with Pete who is the man whom we owe our great lodging to. Pete is a facilitator at the school. Pete is completely deaf and has been since he was born however, Pete can speak. He can read lips very well. After dinner I lied down to take a nap and didn't wake up until 1 am. I am exhausted.