July 17 - Rest Day in Wichita

Written by Michael and edited by Gloria.

To answer your and my first question, today Gloria woke slightly stiffer, sorer, and more swollen.  But not nearly as much as I expected.  She applied ice yesterday and today and is moving around incredibly well.  

I tried to rent a car first thing in the morning so I could drive Gloria's bike to a bike shop.  However the only car available at Enterprise was not big enough to carry my bike after I had bicycled to Enterprise.  So we gave up on renting a car. 

Gloria called a bike shop and asked if they could pick up the bike.  Well over an hour later she learned they could.  By that time I had checked with AAA and learned they too would drive the bike to the shop.   So eventually Gloria's bike was driven to the bike shop, checked over, and returned in working order.  She also purchased a new bright green bike helmet, new panniers, new bright green bicycling shirt, new bright green socks, etc.  Everyone will be green with envy when they see her on her bike.  And they will definitely see her!

I had my drive train cleaned at the same bike shop and a new rear tire put on at another bike shop that had the touring tire I use.

Then we all started researching rental vehicles to get us and our bikes to Pittsburg, KS to get back on our schedule.  Things weren't looking hopeful until Eric asked Carol Pandak from Rotary International if there might be any Rotarian who would be able to drive us.  We hope to learn more tomorrow morning.  That works well for me as I still want to be near a hospital if Gloria wakes up feeling horrible tomorrow.  (I now know that she was fine the next morning.)

So we had dinner (and celebrated Eric's birthday).

After dinner we went on one of the free trolleys in downtown/Old Town Wichita and ended up at the river with a delightful wall with water running over it.  We walked a bit then took Uber back to our hotel.

We all went to bed dreaming of a ride to Pittsburg.  We are still ever so relieved that Gloria is alive and doing so well.  Her optimism is contagious and her positive outlook is quite impressive.  She knows we could get in a car accident anywhere or be walking in Chicago and get hit by a car.  She refuses to let fear stop her from living life fully!