7/24-Does the Rain Make the Gravel Better?

The forecast didn’t call for rain today, but it most certainly did rain! I had to dig my rain gear out from the bottom of the bag. I left the hotel and rode the sidewalk along the busy highway to where I could turn to head back to the route. It wasn’t long before I hit the first gravel section. It was like the red gravel/sand sections of the Cowboy Trail, but now add washboard. My speed took a definite hit, but I was able to ride it. It was a relatively short section. I came to Hwy 24. Before turning on to the Hwy, I pulled out my hi-vis vest. I haven’t worn it since Montana! It was just so dark and dreary and I wanted to be as visible as possible. 

There was a gratuitous gravel section that went off from 24, only to come back to it. The shoulder on 24 was fine, so I just stayed on the hwy. 

I rolled into Stanton 13 miles in. I wasn’t going to stop, but there was a Casey’s. I got a chocolate milk and a donut. I was also able to get a travel sized toothpaste, and some more wipes. Casey’s has it all!

The route wiggled through the town to the next gravel section. 

The first real hill I’ve climbed in many days!

The rain had pretty much quit. The next gravel section was more of the same. 

I just rode right down the middle!

I’m really hoping that Iowa gravel is going to actually be gravel, not just sand with a few bits of gravel! I have to think that the rain must have made it better. At least there wasn’t any dust! Wanda handled it well. The washboard wasn’t bad most of the time. 

There was a brief bit of pavement into Pilger, then it was back to another stretch of gravel. 

They were also long straight roads.

Then, somehow, I was miraculously transported to…

Germany!

Actually, I think this area was settled by Germans. In Stanton I had gone by a church that’s name was in German.

That section of gravel popped me out onto Hwy 275. It’s definitely a busy Hwy, but the shoulder was wide, and most importantly, smooth as buttah!!! It looks like they are adding  two more lanes (it will make it a divided highway. 

This went all the way through Wisner.

In Wisner, I stopped at another convenience store for a snack. I looked at the route, and decided, since I was going to West Point (off route), I would just stay on 275 as it went to West Point directly, and I would end up not far from the park I’m camping at. 

The highway became a 4 lane divided hwy, but the shoulder was still as wide and smooth. As I came into West Point, I could see that the shoulder disappeared. I looked on my phone and saw I could turn off the hwy, and take backroads to the park. I was riding down the road when I spied a bike path!

Of course I hopped on it. It wasn’t long before it curved away from the direction I needed to go, so I had to get off. But, I was almost to the park anyway. 

I rolled into Neligh Park (funny, I stayed in Neligh the town…) at about 1:00 after 47 miles. I found the tent camping area. Just like in Ainsworth, showers were at the pool. One annoying thing is that the restrooms are quite aways away. 

It is a very nice park, though, with a huge playground, a fishing lake, and I nice walking path, in addition to the pool. There are a fair number of RVs in the RV area, but I’m the only tent. 

I went to a restaurant in town for dinner. It was a good burger. Vivian and Ken are here in West Point too, but at a hotel near where I came into town. Might not see them for a few days, as our trajectories are a bit different for awhile. Tomorrow my plan is to stay on 275 to the town of Scribner. There I will pick up the route again, and continue making my way toward Omaha. 

7/23-An Amazing Day With Kim!

Today was the day! I was going to have company on my ride! I’ve been in contact with my friend, Bethany’s, sister’s friend, Kim, since before South Dakota. She had planned to come ride with me for a bit on the Cowboy Trail. She is from Sioux Falls (about 2 hours drive from Norfolk). She would park in Norfolk, then ride toward me on the trail. 

I left the Deluxe Motel at my usual time of about 6:45. Funny thing, the trail was actually just across the road from the motel (okay, a little bit of grass between the road and the trail). On the map it often looks so far away, when it really isn’t. After just a short bit on the trail, I came to the second detour. This one had a sign. 

About 4 miles on the Hwy

The route came back to the trail just as I came into Oakdale. It was early, so I didn’t need to stop. I did, however, need to stop to take this photo.

Yep! 27 miles to Norfolk!

I arrived in Tilden at about the 14ish mile point. I texted Kim to tell her I was in Tilden, and going to grab a chocolate milk at the convenience store.

An actual trail shelter!

She was at Mile 17 (I was between 22 and 21). I had a feeling we would meet around mile 20. 

Funny dressed up posts

Here she comes!

We did meet up between 20 and 21! Kim turned around, and we continued to Norfolk. 

More funny posts

It doesn’t show up well, but the trail was lined with blue wildflowers

The one on the right has a scary clown vibe

Kim!

We took a snack break at the Meadow Glade town sign. It was so nice to have a snack, and have someone to talk to!

The trail was still near the Elkhorn River. This was a pretty cool bridge. 

Mid bridge lookout!

Metal trestle

Elkhorn River

Just a couple of Cowgirls on the Cowboy Trail!

Before too long, we were rolling into Norfolk. We made a plan where I would dump my stuff into the back of Kim’s car. Then I would ride to the post office to see if the tire had miraculously arrived. Meanwhile, Kim would meet me at the bike shop. 

Cowboy Trail complete!

I made my way to the post office. As expected, the tire wasn’t there. The postal clerk had me fill out a forwarding mail card. When the tire comes in, it will be forwarded to my house. I also sent home my cooking gear. I kept my cup and bowl, but sent home the pot, stove, spices, long spoon, and neck knife (and the magnets from Devils Tower, Rushmore, and Crazy Horse). I’m just not cooking enough to make it worthwhile to carry. 

I made my way to the bike shop. FYI, the address of the bike shop on the RWGPS route is wrong. It’s 311 W Norfolk, another block over. Kim was waiting for me with the Maxxis Aspen tire she brought from Sioux Falls. We dropped off Wanda, and Kim insisted on treating me to lunch (even though I wanted to treat her to lunch!!!) We went to a Mexican place that Jason, the bike shop guy, recommended. When we got back to the shop, Jason was still working on Wanda. Her rear brake pads were worn out. I had him put the ones I was carrying on because he didn’t have any full scintered pads in stock. Then he said the chain was right at 50% wear. Since he had a chain, I had him put a new one on. So, Wanda now has a new rear tire, new rear brake pads, and a new chain! She’s like a new woman…er…I mean…bike!

I rode to the Super 8, and Kim met me there with my stuff. I’m not sure what I would have been able to figure out with the tire if not for Kim. Plus, it was really nice getting to ride with her today! I definitely have a new friend!

Wanda’s new tire!

Selfie time! Thank you a million times, Kim!!!

We said our goodbyes, and I checked in to the hotel. Who should roll up just as I was finishing? Vivian and Ken! Actually, I knew they were coming here. Back together again! Of course, we will eat dinner together!

Side note: Norfolk is the hometown of Johnny Carson!

Here’s Johnny!

7/22-Rain, and Rabbits vs Miles

For the first time since Montana, precipitation descended from the sky! It started about 1:30am. I got up at 6:00 and got mostly packed up before it started again. I left my tent up while I fixed my breakfast. When it stopped again, I was able to get my tent down and packed. 

Today was a 40 miler from O’Neill to Neligh (pronounced knee lee)..

Rainy

Lots of bridges today

It started raining again, but I was fine in my rain jacket and rain shorts. The rain didn’t seem to affect the trail much (I was hoping it might make the soft stuff more firm). It pretty much rained most of the way to Ewing, which was the halfway point for today’s ride. 

In Ewing, within eyesight of the trail, there was the Double H Bakery. It was 10:00, and high time for a break and a snack (let’s face it, even if it wasn’t, I would still stop).

I had a bacon, egg, and cheese croissant, and orange juice, and a frosted sugar cookie. All delicious! While I was eating, the rain stopped. 

Back on the trail, just a bit out of Ewing, I saw a rare thing. It was another cyclist!

Chris is doing the GART and started in DC 11 weeks ago. 

We exchanged trail condition reports, then went our separate ways. I did tell him about the bakery just ahead.

Today, played a game I called rabbits vs miles. I counted the rabbits as I made my way along the trail. The goal was to see more rabbits than miles. For awhile, the rabbits were winning! At one point, I had seen 17 rabbits in 14 miles! But then, no rabbits for awhile. The miles were creeping up. I kept encouraging the rabbits, even asking the birds where their rabbit friends were (you try riding a straight trail for miles and miles in the rain…you too will start talking to the animals)! Alas, the miles caught up and surpassed the rabbits. In the end, the score was 29 rabbits vs 40 miles. 

Here’s a few more photos from today. 

Just before this, the Elkhorn River, there was a detour off the trail due to there being no trail bridge across the river. If my Garmin hadn’t told me to turn off the trail, I don’t know how far I would have gone before there was a sign that said the trail was closed.

When I returned to the trail, there was a closure sign

Elkhorn River winds around. The trail has clearly been moved as the river is eroding the bank. 

My plan tonight was to camp at Riverside Park in Neligh. However, the weather forecast is calling for rain u til 6:00pm. I wimped out, and am staying at a cute motel called “Deluxe Motel”. I’m not sure what makes it deluxe, but it will do. 

Coming I to Neligh, I went by the old Mill Site. They have preserved the building. 

There’s a taco place the next block over. I’ll hit that up for dinner. 

7/21-Finally! A Day Below 100!

In fact, it was significantly below 100! When I started this morning at 6:45 it was 67 degrees! Almost, dare I say, chilly! And it only got up to the mid 80s.

I got up at 5:30. That’s a little too early because it’s still dark this far west in the Central Time Zone (it also stays light pretty late making it hard to go to sleep). At the point when I took this sunrise photo, I already had most everything packed up. 

Today there were numerous towns, one about every 10 miles or less. 

Next town…Long Pine

Today was again playing the game of which side is better. Particularly if the gravel was red. For some reason, the red gravel is more thick than the grey gravel. On the grey sections, it was fast. Very few soft spots. The section to Long Pine was mostly red. 

I crossed Long Pine Creek on a long high trestle. 

Long Pine Creek comes from a nearby Spring. It supplies all the water to the town. 

On the trestle, I met Lena. She was out walking her two dogs. She said she moved to Long Pine because of all the trees. I told her I was from the Pacific Northwest, and I understood trees. 

This morning, I think because it was so much cooler, there were rabbits everywhere.

Run little bun bun run!

I also saw this example of Americana. 

The next town was Bassett. By then I was ready for a snack. I found the market, and got a chocolate milk, a banana, and a danish. I went back to the trail to eat it. 

Each town has two trail signs, one as you enter, and one as you leave. The mileage to the next town is reflected in the distance it takes to get from one end of town to the other end. 

Once again I saw another turtle on the trail. This one was a bit bigger. 

Howdy trail turtle!

The trail to Newport, the next town, was through wide open spaces. 

Notice the red gravel. Slower going!

In Newport, the route guide said to check out the Pool Hall. 

Always open!

With an actual pool table!

And snacks for trail users! I had a lemonade. 

The gravel from Newport to the next town of Stuart was back to fast grey gravel. So nice to be able to look around!

There wasn’t much to Stuart, so I cruised on through. Next up was Atkinson. This was a much bigger town. I was ready for some lunch. Guess what they had! A Subway! Something I’ve noticed about these Nebraska Subways is that they also have ice cream! I got a 6” sandwich and a bowl of ice cream. The ice cream was my favorite peanut butter and chocolate, but honestly, there were too many peanut butter pieces. Also, it was a lot of ice cream. I couldn’t finish it. 

There was one more town called Emmet before I got to my destination of O’Neill. 

In O’Neill I would be camping at Carney Park, which isn’t really close to any restaurants. I didn’t really want another restaurant meal anyway, since my lunch was so big. I just stopped at the Pump and Pantry, and picked up a snack. Then I made my way to the park. The tent camping is this little strip, but it works. 

The building is the shower/restroom. It’s a nice shady spot, that I think will stay shady. 

I did 67 miles today. That leaves me with 40 tomorrow, then 35 to Norfolk on Thursday. The forecast says rain tomorrow. Might have to dig my rain gear from the depths of my bags!