| EDT Location Time Elapsed 19:52 Elkhart, KS 4 days 04:31 07:48 Plains, KS 4 days 16:27 11:49 Bucklin, KS 4 days 20:28 15:10 Pratt, KS 4 days 23:49 1503.9 miles completed
Clayton, NM to Elkhart, KS Averaging less than 7ft of climbing per mile, this section to Time Station 22 may be the easiest in RAAM - as long as the winds blow the right way. Luckily for the first 45 miles, the winds held and Mark continued to average 25 miles an hour with a smile. The RV made a detour to the Dairy Queen for sustenance.
Entering Kansas
By the 54 mile point, Mark had passed Sanz Garcia. We were surprised to see Mark again so close to him. His crew indicated he had had a long sleep. We heard at a road works that a cyclist had fallen a couple of hours previously, and while we hoped it was not Franz Prieh, it was. He broke his collar bone, but there is rumour he has not quit yet.
The terrain is still flat, some irrigated crop circles for wheat, little pumping stations and the railway running pretty parallel to US 56. There are two towns just outside Elkart with railway associated names: Sturgis Siding and Libbey Siding.
The RV waited for Mark for some time in Elkhart and grew worried since he had not been far behind. Called and found that his 24 mile per hour pace had dropped as the front started moving in quickly. Mark will continue to cycle as far and as fast as possible. 1,311 miles completed with elevation now down to 3,600ft.
Two interesting notes. The media crews are fond of Mark and very impressed by how ready he is to cooperate with interviews even on windy days and in the middle of the night.
Second note. One of the media people told me that with riders, crew and media there are about 1,000 people making the trek across the country together.
Elkhart, KS, to Plains, KS. Mark left strongly again from Elkhart. The RV will be in hovering mode - going ahead but not too far, so that when/if the storm breaks Mark can get in and rest.
In Rollo, KS (about a third of the way to Plains), evening fell in a sunny silver way, but there were cumulus clouds forming to the north west as the low pressure system swirled closer.
Very windy. The RV stopped 15 miles from Plains. Mark got in for four hours sleep saying that the wind slowed him to about nine miles per hour and the time would be more profitably spent sleeping. He now has a saddle sore, but is eating very well. He was up and out by 7:45am Race Time. A beautiful morning with a slight tail wind - what good luck!
On the bike again at 6:45am EDT Race Time - after 4 hour sleep break just before Plains, KS Time Station
The RV drove Jon to Dodge City where the Chase Vehicle had bedded down for the night - right near Boot Hill - and headed back to the route.
By Plains, Mark had completed 1,394 miles and the elevation had fallen from 3,600ft to 2,700ft.
Plains, KS to Bucklin, KS This section to Time Station 24, follows the Union Pacific Railroad and is again really quite flat - great if you have good winds. When Mark goes through he will have completed 1,452 miles. Elevation goes from 2,700ft to 2,500ft.
Bucklin, KS to Pratt, KS Pretty flat again, with grain elevators as a key monument. Elevation goes from 2,400ft to 1,800ft. Mark completes here 1,503 miles.
RAAM Blogger Danny Chew at work in Pratt, Kansas
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