Ms Greenwood after the close encounter.By Verri Flatte

A British cyclist was recovering today after stumbling across one of Kansas's most notorious hills.

Susan "Lightening Bug" Greenwood, a lazy-eyed writer from London, was innocently pedalling from Eureka to Newton when she found herself suddenly experiencing a long-forgotten sensation - that of going uphill.

The plucky 27-year-old said: "I couldn't believe it. One minute I'm bombing along listening to Fleetwood Mac, the next I'm having to change gear and actually use some energy. There was no indication on my map. Someone has to shoulder the blame for this."

Ms Greenwood is one of a number of unsuspecting victims to fall prey to the hill close to Rosalia, during this year alone. A local farm hand, who wished to remain anonymous said: "We have been trying to get the federal government to steam roller that hill for the last few years. It's ruining Kansas's reputation as the pancake state among cyclists. But the administration seems hell bent on preserving the sunning Flint Hills as it's the nations largest remaining tract of tallgrass. Weird."

As if dealing with a 250ft climb on a 0.03% incline wasn't enough, Ms Greenwood also had to turn her bike at least three times. "I've never seen anything like it," she said. "At one point I even had to 'bear left.' It was appalling."

Ms Greenwood, who has abandoned plans to catch a train across part of Kansas owing to what she calls a 'complete lack of a viable rail network', was forced to wait at a level crossing for 25 minutes this morning as two engines pulled 67 trucks of coal through town and out across the country. "Viable for coal doesn't count," she was heard to mutter.

Despite her shocking experiences Ms Greenwood remains positive in her outlook. She said: "Oh golly gosh I just love Kansas! But frankly I feel decidedly underdressed as everyone here walks around in ruby slippers. I was forced to throw mine out in the Ozarks to save weight so I'm feeling a little stupid now.

"But everyone is so friendly - the lorries even move out when they pass you, people offer you water all the time and oncoming truck drivers wave which is delightful."

She claims it's a unique experience to be surrounded by so much space yet to feel totally locked in by land, admits to being "charmed" by the dinky town of Toronto and "spooked out" by the freaky trees in nearby Toronto Lake.

If all goes according to plan, it should take The Bug another six days to cross the state. After recovering from her ordeal by necking a bottle of chocolate milk in Cassoday, Ms Greenwood was last seen zooming off towards Newton whooping "Show me more farmer's markets, I need some veggies! Check me out, I'm like the pioneer people! Yeeeeeeehar!"

Additional reporting by Trey Windy and Lotta Cows.

PS Anyone interested in the flyover action over the flyover state should check this link out. Scary huh?

PPS A really good point was made on my last blog by a Wisconsin resident who said America has done a great deal for the environmental movement and that I was prone to attack McUSA. In response I'd like to say that the whole point of this trip was to prove that although we in the UK may see the US as environmentally unfriendly, it is possible to show the good work it does too - look at the laws affecting the use of air-conditioners which came into effect in January and should cut down their impact on electricity demands.

So far it's been really cool to see how individuals and communities are committed to making a change and that although things like massive cars, propensity to cut grass with tractors and unnecessary amounts of food packaging are still major issues, I've managed to cycle 1,800 miles leaving a very small footprint so anyone else could too. Although I may have overdone the chocolate milk ...