Yesterday we didn’t go back to Wichita to race. I probably would have gone, but it didn’t seem like Bill or Brian had much desire. It was going to be hot. I’m not sure why 90+ degree days seem so much hotter in June than they do in September. I guess we’re just used to it by then.

I missed the early ride window, so I waited until evening to ride a couple hours. So, I changed the oil in my diesel van. That is a project that isn’t cheap. I think by the time you pay for the synthetic oil and filter it is nearly $140. It takes nearly 15 liters of oil. There is something satisfying about putting new oil into a car. Especially a diesel. The oil from the diesel is so dirty looking when you drain it.

Trudi and I went over to the local university, Washburn, in the afternoon for an outdoor art fair. It was so hot, there weren’t that many people there. I saw Nathan Sheafor’s dad, Doug displaying his blown glass there. Nathan is from Topeka, went to Topeka High, and was a good cyclist. He rode on the 1992 Olympic Team with Lance and Co. Doug asked me if I’d seen my name in the Sunday paper. I said no. Our paper has gotten so sickly thin that I only skim through it nowadays. He said that I was on a list of the top 100 best athletes from Topeka/Shawnee County. Here is the list. ( I hardly know any of the names, so you probably shouldn’t waste you time looking at it.) Anyway, I didn’t think much of being included on the list. But, I thought that is Nathan’s name was on the list and mine wasn’t, it probably would have irked me. Isn’t that strange? Either both of our names or neither is fine. I’m not sure what goes through the human brain to make it think that way.

My brother didn’t finish the Dirty Kanza on Saturday, along with 75% of the field. Dan Hughes, the owner of Sunflower Bicycle Shop in Lawrence was the first solo finisher. Pretty great ride Dan. Keith Walberg started at a casual pace and that paid off. He finished 15th over all in a little over 15 1/2 hours. That was unbelievable. I’m not sure I could have done it. I don’t really have any desire to do it, but that must be wrong because it is so interesting to me. I can’t imagine what it would have been like at 11 hours thinking I have only 4 1/2 hours of hilly gravel roads to ride. My butt would have been toast for sure. Dirty Kanza results.

I think my lungs are better. I’m coughing up way less stuff than two days ago. If I keep on this path, this might be the shortest duration I’ve been sick in recent history, 10 days or so if it clears up before the NRC race, Tulsa Tough this weekend.

Tulsa starts Friday night with a night time criterium. Then another one on Saturday night, finishing up with a really hard, hot race on Sunday afternoon. It has something like $100,000 total prize list between all the catagories. If you can believe it, that is way down from previous years. This hard economic times must be difficult in Oklahoma. I really can’t believe they have been able to put on this incredible event for so many years straight. It is amazing.

I’m not too sure how to train before Tulsa. Probably need to motor pace a day, but I doubt that will happen. Maybe a high altitude training camp would be best?

Not cheap by any means.

Some of the Albo glass stuff.

Keith’s tweet from yesterday. He definitely deserved a beer.

I have a personal rule that I stop for nearly any turtle I come upon when I’m out riding. I stop in my car too if it’s safe. This is about the time of the year when there are turtles galore out on the roads. It’s probably the combination of all the rain and heat. I’m not exactly sure why, but it seems like early June is when it really gets going. Green turtles, snapping turtles, box turtles are all on the move.

Yesterday I ran upon two turtles while out on the group ride. The first one was a medium sized green turtle high tailing it across the road. I stopped, but by the time I had turned around it was nearly to the other side. Three cars were coming and I was waving my arms, pointing down at the turtle. Not one of them even slowed the least bit and the last one missed squishing the turtle by an inch. I couldn’t believe it. The turtle just kept going at full speed and ran right off the road.

So, towards the end of the ride, there was a small snapping turtle in the other lane. I turned around to get it. I’m not big on snapping turtles. They are very primal looking and seem to be pretty mean, like they want to either bite and/or scratch you with their crazy claws at all times.

So, I toss the turtle in the water in the ditch. Right then, a way overweight, Australian Cattle dog comes running towards me from an adjacent house. I have my right foot clipped in and am just getting going. The dog charges me and turns it head like it is going to bite my left leg. I just kick back and whack the dog in the snout. It backs off a little, but still is crazy aggressive.

Right then, I hear someone shouting from the porch to, “Leave my dog alone and get off my property.” I’m taken aback. I see these rednecks on a wood porch, grilling. I say something back about maybe they should call their dog back. It, the dog, is still going crazy. But, the guys keeping yelling something about moving on down the road “off their property.” I was on a state highway. Not even close to their property.

I couldn’t help it, but I ride back to “discuss” the definition of their property. I guess I knew up front that wasn’t going to go anywhere. But, just then, Catherine came riding back to see what’s up. The dog immediately goes for her. I tell her to turn around because the dog is vicious and because she is not great at making good decisions around vicious dogs. The guys yell again from the porch. Catherine yells something like, “hey, come get your dog.” They yell something back with a lot of F@#% you, etc. Then they say something like if we don’t leave, they are going to call the police. Man, these guys were idiots. Catherine is starting to get worked up. I tell her we should just leave and ride off. She followed reluctantly.

I don’t mind the dog guarding its perceived property. But, I am not big on having a fairly vicious dog running loose. And when the “owners” see the dog acting aggressively towards people, they make no attempt to defuse the situation, like call or get their dog.

But then they threaten to call the police. That was a weird “threat” on it’s own, since I was standing in the opposite lane of a state highway, not even in front of their property. Nonetheless, what is this all about not being able to just talk like regular people? At least as regular as these yahoo’s can be. I would of loved the police coming by at the time.

So, we’re riding down the road, trying to catch up with the group, when in a church parking lot a mile down the road, there are two sheriff cars parked, the guys talking. I make a spur of the moment decision, turn in and ask which one of them wants my business.

So, I give them a 30 second description of the altercation. I tell them I have no problem with the dog, just the owners. And that I understand that there isn’t a lease law in the county, but it would have been a pretty scary situation for most people. The sheriffs say they’ll go by and “talk”. I feel weird sicking the sheriff on those guys, but I think that was one of the only ways to convince stupid people, like these guys, to act the least bit like responsible citizens.

Here’s a place you can buy a turtle costume for your dog. What a great idea.

Here's a great photo. A redneck in the back of his pickup truck with a huge snapper. Boy, how proud he must be.