3rd June - Ponca City, Oklahoma

I was late leaving partly because I had only just realised I had past through another timezone (the third of four to go through) and partly because it was already 28C. In an attempt to explore something different to the plains of Kansas, I headed south east to Oklahoma. I passed the Red Hills in southern Kansas which are mined for gypsum. A change to the sea of wheat stretching in all directions.

But the road remained very long and straight. And the temperature kept climbing. It hit 33.5C and stayed there all day. When I opened my visor it was like opening an oven door. I boiled. The turkey vultures circled overhead, swooping down to check for roadkill. Or on me. Not sure. I stopped frequently to try and cool down. Didn't work.

As I was plodding along at the speed limit (65mph) referring to my map on the tank when something suddenly caught my eye. A deer leapt onto the road taking the last possible moment to cross. I had no time to react. Its long legs sprawling for grip it just managed to miss me. I could have put my hand out and touched it. 

Soon after, I gave in and dived into an air conditioned room just over the border in Oklahoma. I decided I cannot go further south as the heat will kill me. So east it is to Arkansas. Only problem is there is big weather just north in Missouri which maybe travelling south. Could be interesting.