7/27-The T-Bone Trail…Angel

On this, my favorite number day, I planned to rendezvous with a bull named Albert in the town of Audubon. It would be a shorter day than the previous two, which was a good thing. 

First order of business was checking out the spider beetle (or is it the beetle spider???). I rode down to the fairgrounds in Avoca. It wasn’t exactly at the fairgrounds, but close by. 

It’s a Volkswagen Beetle turned into a spider!

Back to the route, there was a short bike path that went to the aquatic center. Then I was back out on the road. The road out of Avoca was much better. There was even a narrow shoulder that was mostly rideable. The wind was slightly in my favor according to the direction they were facing. 

Wind energy!

The first town was Walnut. There weren’t any services I could see, but that was okay because I was just 7 miles in. The next town was Marne. Nothing to speak of there either. 

Ben had told me about a road closure on the route. I came to where I would need to detour to avoid it. While I was looking at the route on my phone, a pickup truck pulled up that said Cass County Secondary Roads on the side. The man in the truck rolls down the passenger side window and says, “You must be tough as nails! It’s 95 degrees out here!” He turns off his truck, and we start talking. He asks how old I am. Turns out he’s also 64! His name is Richard, and this area is his patrolling area of the secondary roads. He knows all the roads. I tell him I’ve been told there’s a road closure on Buck Creek Rd (they are replacing a bridge). He tells me how I can get around it. I tell him I’m heading to the T-Bone Trail. He’s familiar with it. After we chat a bit more, he offers to throw Wanda in the back of his truck, and just take me over to the start of the trail. Of course I accept! It really wasn’t that far, but it gave us more time to chat. 

I told Richard he was what we call a Trail Angel!

Even though it wasn’t that far, it really made my day. Not because I didn’t have to ride, but because I got to meet a great person!

I said goodbye, and made my way onto the T-Bone Trail. It was a former railway that went from Audubon to Omaha (I think). It was how the cattle were transported, hence the name “T-Bone Line”. The trail doesn’t go to Omaha, but it goes from where I got on, all the way to Audubon, nearly 20 miles. 

It was wonderfully shaded much of the way. 

Going by corn fields and beans.

The first “town” was Brayton. Not much there (except a post office and a nice trail park). Richard told me it was where his family had settled.

Next up was Exira. Just off the trail was a Casey’s. By now I was hungry. I got my usual dose of calcium (chocolate milk), and a cream filled maple bar. 

There was a park called Plough in the Oak. It was on the other side of the road, but there was trail access. Well, there were several oaks, but I never saw on with a plough in it (shouldn’t it be “plow”?). Then I could hear thunder, and it started to rain. I ducked under a big oak to wait it out.

Just a small thunderstorm, lasted about 5 minutes.

Richard had told me there was a place in Hamlin that was known for pie and sirloin steak. Funny thing, it wasn’t a POI on RWGPS. I’m really glad he told me about it (Darrell’s Place) because it was a rather nondescript looking building from the trail.

Does that look like a restaurant to you?

Even though I wasn’t terrible hungry, I had a BLT and a piece of coconut cream pie. 

Yummy!

When I came out, it was thunderstorming again. I rolled Wanda over to the Randi Jo Munch Memorial Park picnic shelter next to Darrell’s Place. It was 1:00. The forecast said it would be sunny at 2:00. I waited. 

Staying dry

Sure enough, close to 2:00 the storm had passed. The sun came back out, and boy was it ever humid!!! Literally, a bunch of water had been thrown on the ground, and it was an absolute sauna! I just had about 3 miles to go to Audubon, and my rendezvous with Albert, but it was oppressive!

As I neared the end of the T-Bone Trail, I saw the Bluegrass Inn. I could also see Albert. I made the decision to go to Albert first, then come back to the hotel. It was just too humid to try to camp. 

I saw actual cardinals today!

T-Bone Trail trailhead sign

ALBERT!

As you can see, he’s kinda big! The eyelashes make him look a little feminine (cow like), but he’s got the goods in the back (all bull)!

I rode the quarter mile back to the hotel. This is my 3rd night indoors. The heat advisory is supposed to end tonight. Tomorrow I should finish Segment 4 (Plains) in Perry, IA. I haven’t checked to see if there is camping there, or just a motel. I was feeling bad that my damp tent has been packed away for three days. I’ve spread it out in the room to air it out. 

Rainfly on the other bed, tent is over the bathroom door, and footprint is draped over a small table. 

7/26-Bike Paths, Oh, and Iowa!

I had a wonderful night last night in the comfy camp trailer. Jeannie came as I was packing up. I wanted to get an early start because I knew I had quite a few miles, and it was going to be hot again. Plus, it was going to be a lot of bike paths. Sometimes bike paths are slower going. I left Jeannie’s at 6:20, probably my earliest start. It was still 79 degrees!

I was 1.7 miles from the route. Today was entirely paved (even though it didn’t look like that on the RWGPS route). In just a few miles I was on the Omaha River Trail. 

Omaha River Trail

Good morning shadow!

There were two climbs in pretty short succession. But then, after the second one, my Garmin said the next climb was in 45 miles! Woo Hoo! 

Sometimes it was next to the road

Sometimes it was through the trees

Then there were views of the Missouri

I kept making my way toward Omaha. I saw a few road cyclists (getting their workouts in before too much heat) on the trail. Two guys passed me. Later, I caught up to them as the one guy was messing with his brake. They asked where I was going. 

Aaron and Drew 

I passed them again later when Drew was still trying to fix his brake. I didn’t see them again because I pulled off to go to a Casey’s. My goal today was to keep pouring fluids into my body! As it was, I was sweating it out as fast as it was going in! It was like riding in a sauna! Still, I felt okay. 

I came to this sign. 

It was right out of the airport

Omaha skyline

Then, it was a little weird because there was this sign not long after. 

Is it though? I thought I had to cross the river.

Oh well, better than not getting a sign at all! State number 7! I did come to the pedestrian bridge that would take me across the Missouri, and truly in to Iowa. 

Cool bridge!

Bridge info

On the bridge

The Missouri

I continued on various bike paths, making my way around toward Council Bluffs. At one point, I was riding through a park where they were playing soccer. In my attempt to keep hydrated, I stopped at a restroom at the park. Twice as I was rolling toward the restrooms, an errant soccer ball came rolling toward Wanda. She did a pretty good job “kicking” the ball off her front wheel! 

I continued stopping wherever there was a convenience store. It was so cold inside that it felt even more like a sauna when I came out. But, I was full of fluid, so that’s all that mattered. 

Even as I left Council Bluffs, the bike paths continued. I think there was even a new one along Railroad Hwy. the Garmin said I should be on the road, but there was this bike path.

When I got to Weston, I finally had to get on the road. Sadly, there was no shoulder, but the traffic was pretty good. 

The next refluid opportunity was Neola. The Blue Cow Market fulfilled the need. Plus, a banana and an oatmeal cream pie. I talked to a local guy named Dan. He showed me a photo of another cyclist who had stayed at the church there. It was Paul! Everywhere I go, someone mentions Paul! It’s pretty funny. 

I had made pretty good time getting to Neola. But then…the climbs started. The Iowa hills were a rollin’!

Mindon wasn’t too far after Neola, but I stopped anyway and got some water to replace my hot water. Tracy, the owner, offered me a chair. I took advantage of the coolness of the store. Then, it was time for the final 10ish or so miles. It was a never ending rollercoaster. As you can see in the photo above, the road surface was crap. It was really terrible.

Finally, I could see a town in the distance. I thought it had to be Avoca, my destination! Yay, it was! I decided it was too hot to camp. I found a motel called Capri Motel. $75. Bonus, it’s right next to a Casey’s! 

I did 69.7 miles today (50 before noon!). I was soaking wet!

It’s what happens when you ride in a sauna!

7/25-Back…and yet Another Episode of It Always Works Out!

Back to good gravel, back to climbing, and back to the heat, although this morning you would have never guessed it would get up to 100 degrees!

When I got up this morning, the fog was as thick as pea soup! Admittedly, it wasn’t cold at 71 degrees. I got on the road at about 7:15.

These photos don’t really show how incredibly foggy it was.  I kept having to wipe my glasses.

I just rode 275 to Scribner (about 12 miles). Funny thing, I wasn’t running the route because I wasn’t on it until Scribner, I saw the sign for the high school. I decided to fire up the route. Wouldn’t you know, that was my turn! Lucky!

I hit the first section of gravel. It wasn’t too bad, still moments of sandyness, but I could usually find a good line. Lo and behold, my Garmin said there was a climb! It’s been 280 miles since my Garmin initiated the climb pro! This was the last climb of 10 climbs for this 498 mile section. 

I popped back out to pavement just before the town of Hooper. In Hooper, I stopped at the Hooper Market. Sadly, he didn’t have any chocolate milk, but I got a banana and a Bai Coconut drink. The guy working there said another guy riding to DC was there a couple of days ago. Said he was from Tasmania. I said, “Oh, that was Paul.” Told him there are a few of us doing the same route. 

As I was leaving Hooper, I saw this bike path. I thought, why not?

I just rode it one block. It was too soft. It looked like it went for awhile. 

I knew this route segment was coming to an end (not Segment 4, just the Garmin segment). Sure enough, it said end point in 7 miles. I found the next course for the remaining miles of Segment 4, and I was off again. 

The gravel got better and better. This is what I thought the gravel farm roads would be like. In addition to good gravel, the climbs started coming fast. This section is only about 147 miles. There are 39 climbs that initiate the climb pro! Compare that to 10 climbs in the last 498 miles! Needless to say, it was very rolling terrain. 

Interesting fence art

Going up means views!

And the gravel rolls on!

I was riding along when I heard a plane. It was a crop duster doing its crop dusting thing. 

It flew over numerous times

I was reaching a point where the banana and coconut drink were long gone. RWGPS said there was the Dew Drop Inn in Kennard. I really hoped they were open because there wasn’t anything else there. 

Oh, they were open alright! There were also about 50 motorcycles there too! There was a line out the door, but I was too hungry to pass it up. The line moved pretty quickly as it turns out most of the motorcyclists were there to get their poker card (it was a Poker Run). I went right up to the bar and ordered a Dr Pepper (ended up having 2), and the pulled pork sandwich special with potato salad. It was chaos in there, but the ladies serving at the bar were very efficient. I filled up my water bottle with ice water. I meant to take a photo, but forgot. 

I thought I had about 19 miles to go. The climbs were continuing, and were getting a bit steeper. One weird section was through a neighborhood. I think it was in the Nickerson area (the next stop on the Poker Run). I didn’t go into the town proper, if there was such a thing. 

I stopped to check the route, and see how many miles I had left. It was very hot and humid. I thought I would have about 65 miles today. Nope, it was going to be about 71. I decided to finish in Fort Calhoun, about 4 miles (and two climbs) away.

The final downhill into Fort Calhoun

I had googled camping in Fort Calhoun. I was headed to Riverbend Campground. First I made a resupply stop at the Shell station. I drank a chocolate milk AND a Fanta orange soda. The clerk was kind to make me a seat out of cases of water. Re-fluided, I headed to the park. 

I got there, and there was a gate. Just then a vehicle came up and opened the gate. I followed it in. As I made my way, a guy in a golf cart stopped and said it was private property. Justin was the owner. I told him I had found it on Google as a campground. He said it’s not, it’s an RV park, and he is full. 

He gave me the number of Jeannie, the woman who owns the park next door (same situation). I called and left a message. He called for me. She was at the beach (it’s on the Missouri River). She said to come on over. So I did. Jeannie met me in her golf cart, and had me follow her. She set me up in her camp trailer (with AC, shower, toilet, and everything)! She said I could just sleep in the trailer! Then she said they were having chicken and ribs for dinner. She brought me a plate!

Yum!

My hero!

Home for the night

Wanda and the Missouri River

So, you see? Once again, it has worked out! Jeannie is amazing! She doesn’t even live here! She lives in Omaha, but grew up on this property. After a flood destroyed her and her mom’s home, it was awhile before she could get the property up and running as a private RV park. People rent spaces for the season (March to November). They leave their RVs here. They may not live very far away, but Jeannie said it’s how they can have access to the river. I’m so thankful she was willing to let me stay!

Tomorrow, it’s on through Omaha!