Day 34- Missouri (the beginning of the KATY trail)
After trashing the state of Kansas the past week, I realize there are a lot of very positive things about riding across the state. The roads are very well maintained. (Probably the best of any state so far. They probably want those hogs and cattle to have a smooth ride before they end up on someone's plate for dinner.) The food is great in Kanssas City- especially the triple cheeseburger at Winsteads and the chicken and ribs dinner at Oklahoma Joe's- a rib place in a gas station. And finally, the people in this state are by far the nicest overall that I have met on this trip and rival people in Iowa as the nicest people in the world. Whenever someone gives you directions or change from a purchase there is this incredible warmth and niceness about it. It is really quite nice and friendly.
Some other misc. thoughts from my first month and first 2000 miles. The days are going from "how many miles until I'm done today" to " I wonder what the next little town looks like and what kind of food they have". I haven't had much time to watch TV and don't miss it much. I have seen about 10 seconds of the Tour de France ( which will be much shorter than the Ride for Rehab, even though they will ride over 2000 miles at much faster speeds and riding 2 inches from the guy in front of them going 45 mph) My only "performance enhancing" products are Kansas City ribs or a daily Cherry Coke. My impression of hotels has changed drastically. Anything with air conditioning that works, a bed and pillows and a flush toilet are quite exceptional. The Econolodges feel like a Hilton Hotel.
I forgot to mention a family we ran into at the Colorado-Utah border that was travelling from Davis, California to Washington DC to take a petition to their congressman encouraging him to clean up the air. There is a husband, wife, 13 year old son and a nine year old. They are traveling, unsupported, across country, camping out, schlepping a ton of stuff, state to state. The 13 year old is carrying about 50 or 60 pounds on panniers. The dad is riding a tandem with the 9 year old with front and back panniers, and the mom is lugging a Burley full of stuff. We called them the Incredibles, because it is pretty incredible watching them keep on trucking across country.
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Ride for Rehab Partners
About the Ride For Rehab
Dr. Joel Press of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC)will be traveling on a 3,861 mile cross-country bike ride from San Francisco to Boston on June 12, 2007.
The goal of this ride is to raise awareness of the critical role that physiatry and rehabilitation play in restoring function and improving quality of life for all patients, and the geographical disparities in Medicare coverage for inpatient rehabilitation.
Click here to download the Ride for Rehab donation form
The goal of this ride is to raise awareness of the critical role that physiatry and rehabilitation play in restoring function and improving quality of life for all patients, and the geographical disparities in Medicare coverage for inpatient rehabilitation.
Click here to download the Ride for Rehab donation form
About Dr. Joel Press
- Medical Director, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Spine & Sports Rehabilitation Center
- Doctor Joel Press graduated from the University of Michigan in 1980 with a B.S. Degree-with distinction, Microbiology. He received his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in 1984, and did his Internship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Medical School in 1984-85. He completed his Residency at Northwestern University Medical School, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago in 1988. He has been an attending physician at Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago since 1988 and in 1989 he founded and directed the Sports Rehabilitation Program at Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. In December of 1994, Dr. Press was instrumental in the opening of the Center for Spine, Sports, and Occupational Rehabilitation, with Dr. Press as its Medical Director. He has published numerous articles, edited a textbook, chaired numerous courses, and been invited to lecture many times. Dr. Press is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University Medical School.
2 comments:
Joel, your trip sounds amazing so far. Have you seen any cornfields? (Just kidding) After the beauty of the western states, it sounds like the midwest is all about the food and the people -- no shock there - we've got to make up for our lack of scenery and cold winters somehow. Colleen and I are looking forward to seeing you this weekend. Let us know if you need anything besides some companionship and a good meal (we're already bringing that). If you're interested in getting chased by a dog in Illinois, we'll bring Lucky along.
John & Colleen
Add OIL!
(chinese translation for Add gas!)
this sounds like such an exciting adventure.
when i get back to california I'm going to try to set up an overnight ride.
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