Day 51: Toronto, KS to Eureka, KS

Distance: 21.3 mi, Climbed: 531 ft
Completed: 1,891.1 mi, 98,368 ft

Sometimes twenty miles can feel more significant than fifty.

I am so excited to be back! After taking some time off the bike because of pain in my hands, today was my first day riding. Rich and I intentionally kept the mileage short, but I knew before we even started that this ride was about much more than the distance. I simply needed to get back on the road and remind myself that I could do it.

The day began with rain and thunderstorms. Rather than rushing out, we waited for the weather to pass. The delayed start gave us extra time to spend with Stuart, a cross-country cyclist Rich met out on the road yesterday and who stayed with us in our Airbnb last night. Stuart is riding from New York to San Francisco while raising money for the ALS Therapy Development Institute in memory of his father Scott, who passed away from ALS thirteen years ago.

The three of us walked into town for lunch before parting ways. One of the things Rich and I have enjoyed most about this journey is meeting all kinds of people, each with their own story. Stuart’s determination and commitment to honoring his father’s memory are inspiring, and we look forward to following his journey west.

By the time we finally rolled out at 5:00 PM, the skies had cleared. The route could not have been more perfect. There were no major climbs, no difficult navigation, and no dramatic challenges—just the simple pleasure of being back on a bicycle.

And honestly, that was enough. After the uncertainty of the past several weeks, it felt wonderful to be riding with Rich again. The miles passed easily, and with each turn of the pedals, I felt more confident that I was ready to continue this adventure.

We have entered cattle country! The Bluestem pasture region of Kansas is known as one of the world’s great beef cattle feeding grounds. The area, more popularly known as the Flint Hills, covers four and a half million acres of prairie.

Each summer, a million head of cattle are fattened on its nutritious grasses.

Tonight, we’re staying in a gigantic RV. It has a media room! It’s certainly a different experience from many of the places we’ve stayed along the way, but that’s part of what makes this journey so memorable.

As we pedaled into Eureka, I am most grateful to be back on the road with Rich, continuing our ride across the country and raising awareness of epilepsy—one mile at a time.