Day 29 Jun15: Iola KS to Eureka KS

Last night we stayed in an AirBnb in Iola Kansas [I. O. L. A. Iola! (sung to Kinks song)]. A charming little midwestern town that touts that their town square is the largest in the nation. Some have compared the vibe to Hill Valley in Back to the Future, complete with a clocktower and expansive brick architecture. The fellas were able to stock up on tire tubes and repair kits in the bike shop on Main St.

The cute bungalow AirBnB itself was heaven. A blast of air conditioned air as you opened the door, a real bed with sheets for everyone, fluffy white towels, Wifi, laundry and a Keurig coffee machine. Oh how we appreciate these things!! We set off at 4:30a to beat some of the heat and the predicted winds coming from the south and southwest. It's proved to be such a joy, these early starts; less traffic, seeing the moon set and the sun rise. Right off the start the wind was formidable. Bill pulled us the first 15 miles and we kept the paceline tight. 

Stopped in Yates Center for "second breakfast" at Casey's General Store, a chain of convenience/gas stations. A big shout out to Casey's!! They have these fancy industrial automated coffee machines that fresh grind for each individual cup. AND they make homemade donuts, breakfast burritos and sausage biscuit thingys. We call this FUEL and eat with impunity. 

Then onward to Eureka, the last 35 of a total 50 miles. It is not my intent to use this blog as a forum for complaining, but I have to put it out there; it was windy as hell. We were on a highway shared with trucks and semi's and every time one went past us it was unnerving, scary even. By the time we rolled into Eureka we were pretty frazzled. We have a big day tomorrow, so today was an intentionally shorter day and we were done by 10:30a. Woohoo freedom! Bill and I went to the FABULOUS Cake Batter Batter restaurant for lunch and had salad and sando's...more on that later. Leisa, Tom and Eric went to the grocery store and got killer panini's for $3.99. I took a hobo shower in the library sink and am chilling in the library until they close, enjoying the AC, Wifi and extreme hospitality. The librarian made me a cup of herbal tea! Bill, Eric and Tom are at the public pool swimming with the rest of the children and enjoying a little bit of attention: OMG! You biked all the way from Virginia!!?? Anyhoo, the plan was to free camp in the city park (permission granted). But as we were having lunch at Cake Batter Batter, the owner Deanna invited us to sleep in her restaurant tonight! Since the wind is horrific and it's hot and muggy at night, we unanimously agreed to take her up on her generous offer. The restaurant is a bakery and ice cream parlor also. We will be sleeping on the restauant floor and she said we can help ourselves to any baked goods and ice cream. Can you believe it!!?? Like kids in a candy store. People are so nice.