A few years ago, a race director had wanted to use parts of both these popular trails to make a 200-miler, but it never came to fruition. But the idea was planted and I decided to use the full length of both these trails, and because of their "T" positioning, knew out and back was the only way to make it happen. I had completed the 92.5 mile Flint hills Trail, point to point, but hadn't ever done the 52.5 mile Prairie Spirit Trail in completion, despite the many times I have crewed and paced friends there over the years.
I started in Osawatomie, the eastern terminus of the Flint Hills Trail, Mile Zero, and went west to the intersection of both trails at Ottawa and then went south through Garnett and to the southern terminus of the Prairie Spirit Trail at Cofachique Park in Iola before turning and heading back north to Ottawa. I did the 1/2 mile out and back to the Old Train Depot in Ottawa, the northern terminus, before then heading west on the Flint Hills Trail. I was thrilled to find the trail west of Ottawa was now open so I didn't have to detour on pot-holed back roads like in years past. The new bridge over the busy railroad tracks was beautiful. I continued west through Osage City all the way to the western terminus in Council Grove. There are large sections of trail that have been redone in recent years so I didn't have to endure the dreaded mud mile just east of Osage City. This is still a hilly section of trail, but remote and beautiful. On the way back east to Osawatomie, I was looking forward to enjoying some downhill, finally, but the 20mph wind in my face made the push feel anything but. The 20 mile section between Ottawa and Osawatomie is still bumpy and rocky, but with more rain on my last day, it kept the trail from being too soft and sluggish.
I had wanted to finish in a day less than I did, but on my longest day of almost 60 miles it rained all day, I had a fair amount of uphill and my 56 mile day the day before had taken it's toll. So I ended up dividing it into two days. Still, I averaged about 45 miles a day and with temps from 25 to 55 degrees it was my favorite season to be outside doing all the miles. In true Kansas fashion, the high wind was always in my face:D. It was the time of year where faucets and restrooms were closed for the winter (vault toilets were still open) so I had to carry all my fluids for the day, added weight, but at least I didn't have to endure scorching temps. I stayed at a hotel or BnB near the trail each night so I had a blissful shower or bath reset and a short or long enough rest before getting back out on the trail. My only issues with my cart (I had slime in my tubes to prevent flats and didn't have a one!) was my front wheel came off on the morning of my last day. A local police officer in Osage City, Officer Johnson, stopped because he saw me trying to look for a lost lug nut and he happened to live nearby (his wife had actually called him when she saw me searching the road) and had one that fit and I was on my way in 30 minutes. I couldn't believe it. I had embarrassed myself leaking a few tears in frustration, wondering if duct tape and zip ties could fix it, and that lug nut lasted my final 53 mile push!! That pretty much summed up my journey:)