June 19, 2011

Today's report from my Ride

Started at 5:45 am and finished at 2:45 pm.

Covered 74 miles, 15.0 mph ave speed, 39.0 - max speed 

Riding time - 4 hrs, 55 minutes

Wind - out of the NE, but very minor. On the "Hurt/Help" Wind scale - +0.5.

The "Hurt/Help" Wind Scale is my way of saying "this is how much the wind hurt/helped me over the course of the day". It can Hurt me up to a -5, or help me up to a +5.

About today: First of all, it's my son, Greg's, 25th birthday today.  Happy Birthday Greg!!!  Hope you had a great day.  I love you!!

Well folks, I starting to realize that it's one thing to sit at the kitchen table in the middle of winter and plan out how far each day is going to be, and it's another thing to get out in June and ride them!  The reality of time and weather are shredding some of my plans, and that bugs me.  I only got in 74 miles today instead of 135 (yeah, yeah, I know.  My eyes were bigger than my legs.)  But, it's the best I could do considering weather and the time I had.  When your host family is fixing a wonderful supper and your sag drivers (who have been away from home and deprived of their spouses for 3 entire days) need to head back to GI, you've got to call it a day a bit early.  Ah well.

It started out very interesting.  When I left Kimball, it looked REALLY icky, lightening, dark blue clouds, etc.  When Pastor Mars shook my hand, looked me in the eye and said, "The Lord go with you", I know he was dead serious!  (-:)

Between Kimball and Sidney I had to stop and take shelter twice from lightening.  Here are some pics.   It was threatening to rain from the moment I left.  

The "bad thing" that was stalking me!  I had lightening on both sides and behind me.  Certainly helps one ride a bit faster...



My first shelter, dry but still creepy with lightening and thunder popping all around.

I sat under there for probably 20 minutes and then  rode out into the rain (after lightening eased).

For a brief time, this was on the horizon.  Faster Mike, faster!!



Then it was replaced with this. 
It's hard to keep riding when you know it's going to be wet and nasty ahead!  





My second place of refuge when it was lightening/thundering again was under the front of a 5th wheel horse trailer. 

Looking out from my snug little spot under the trailer. 

Two horses who wished they had a dry place to stand!

Well, I finally made it to Sidney, where I met my sag drivers. 

Later on it turned out to be a very nice, even hot and humid day.  Here are some pictures from Hwy 26 on the south side of Lake McConaughy.  That is a really pretty stretch of highway!

the south side of Big Mac

a little further down the road

We stopped in Ash Hollow.

Where the wagons came down Windlass Hill.

The "dip" in the middle is where the wagons were lowered down Windlass Hill.

lunch break

 My report is a bit sparse tonight.  I'm really tired, even with my "power nap" that made me late for supper.  Thanks for understanding.



Thank-yous for today:

First of all to Sally Harris of Sidney for picking up my stuff in Kimball and taking it to Sidney for my support drivers.

Also to my four support drivers for their THIRD day of putting up with me!! 

I am very grateful that you were there for me today.



And finally to Terry and Gwen Johnson for allowing me to stay with them in Ogallala, for fixing a wonderful supper, AND for being so patient when they had to wake me up from my nap for supper!  I told them I'd be up at 6 pm, and it was 6:15 when Mr. Johnson finally roused me from the depths of sleep (My phone alarm had tried to do that for 20 minutes!).  It's not very often that I'm late for supper...(-:)  It was fun to visit with Terry's mother Ruth Johnson as well. 

Bible verses dealing with Jesus and “wishes”.  A WISH…

     To give a friend hope and her brother life – John 11:1-44



Quote of the Day:

“When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race.”  - H.G. Wells



I came out for exercise, gentle exercise, and to notice the scenery and to botanise.  And no sooner do I get on that accursed machine than off I go hammer and tongs; I never look to right or left, never notice a flower, never see a view - get hot, juicy, red - like a grilled chop.  Get me on that machine and I have to go.  I go scorching along the road, and cursing aloud at myself for doing it. - H.G. Wells, The Wheels of Chance

Forecast for the next day:

I'm probably going to get wet, but I will have a tailwind out of the NNW between 25-30 mph.  Sweet!!!


Route/Towns for the next day:

Ogallala south to Benkelman via Grant and Imperial.



June 18, 2011

Today's report from my Ride

Started at 8:00 am and finished at 2:45 pm.

Covered 65 miles, 14.4 mph ave speed, can't figure out how to get max speed off my new odometer.  I'll have to look at my "owners sheet" again.  It's amazing in that it has the same instructions in 11 other languages besides English. 

Riding time - 4 hrs, 28 minutes

Feet of elevation climbed - sadly, my new odometer doesn't track this

Wind - out of the SW, but very minor. On the "Hurt/Help" Wind scale - +0.0.

The "Hurt/Help" Wind Scale is my way of saying "this is how much the wind hurt/helped me over the course of the day". It can Hurt me up to a -5, or help me up to a +5.

About today:

I fulfilled a long held wish (well, for at least the last two weeks) and slept in until I couldn't sleep anymore.  It was glorious!  It also resulted in a late start, and late starts have NOT been good to me on this trip.  When I went to make sure my tires were at 110 psi of pressure, I popped a valve off my floor pump.  Well, I suspect the next town I'm going through that would have a bike shop with a floor pump for sale is Kearney, so we had to problem solve that one.  My support ladies (Connie, Diane, Donna and Lorry) went to Scottbluff National Monument (took pictures for me) and then to the bike shop after it opened (to buy a floor pump) before taking off to catch up with me in Bridgeport.  Here are some pics from the top of the Bluff.  I have not yet been up there...)-:), but they assured me that it was a spetacular view AND that they were all bringing their spouses back here to see it.  The Bluff is 800 feet above the North Platte River at its base!



Scotts Bluff National Monument from Gering



the entrance



from up on top



notice the trail to the top



more of the Bluff



the Bluff



Chimney Rock!



      Between Scottsbluff and Bridgeport, we passed what is easily the most familiar landmark in NE, Chimney Rock.  It's not as tall as it was 150 years ago, but is still a fascinating landmark! 

      We met up in Bridgeport for a quick lunch.  I headed south on Hwy 88, which loops past Courthouse and Jail Rocks as it turns west and goes for over 30 miles to Hwy 71 between Kimball and Scottsbluff.  They are two really neat rock formations!





Courthouse and Jail Rocks, south of Bridgeport



Courthouse and Jail Rocks,
two very famous landmarks in NE history!






As I pedaled west on Hwy 88, the day got really interesting.  I could see very dark clouds moving in, lightening, thunder rumbling off to the SW, which means I'm very likely going to get wet, which is why I'm glad I have a support vehicle.  Wait!  Where IS my support vehicle??  I try to call them.  No answer, so I leave a message, "Are you gals going to be out here pretty soon?  It's starting to look kind of icky."  Well, 20 minutes later, it was past icky.  (Naturally, all of my rain gear was in the support vehicle!)  I can see the rain moving toward me.  This time Diane does answer my phone call.  "Man is it good to hear your voice!  Where are you ladies at?  Just leaving Bridgeport?  Good.  Hurry!"  Five minutes after that lightening is flashing all around me and the thunder is doing that high-pitched crackle/kaBOOM stuff!  So, by now, I've laid my bike in the ditch, moved away from it and am laying on the ground watching east for my knightettes in shining armor.  My last phone call was simply, "Ahhhh, Diane, it's ok if you speed a little."    Well, they screeched to a stop, gravel flying all over the place, just as the first rain drops started to pelt down.  And low and behold, I had to put the bike on the rack all by myself!  Every other time I put the bike on the rack, they all piled out to assist me (as good sag drivers ought to do), but noooooooooo, not this time.  Hmmm....

Well, to make their long story short, apparently they were in a shop in Bridgeport trying to solicit donations for Make-A-Wish.  They even claimed they got one.  I still haven't seen any cash or a check yet though.  Plus, Connie was wearing a brand new scarf.  Probably just a coincidence.  Anyway, no one died which was the main thing for me.  (-:)  We drove for a few miles until the rain quit.  Then I rode for another 15 miles until we ran into more bad weather.  There were little maurading storms roaming all over, and it didn't look like it was going to stop.  So, right or wrong I called it a day once I reached Hwy 71. 

These four wonderful ladies were so moved by my terrifying near death experience that when they found out I was riding unsupported tomorrow (Sally Harris was going to transport my gear from Kimball to Ogallala) that they decided to stay with me one more day!  I am very serious when I say that I really appreciate that because weather tomorrow does not look very nice.  I'm going to get a much earlier start than today, AND I will have all my rain gear with me this time!

One fascinating thing I learned during my stay in Kimball, is that there are around 200 ICBM missle silos in this tri-state area!  Ken took me out to see two of them just a few miles south of here.  They don't look like much, a fenced in area with a big concrete slab and poles with cameras, satelites dish, etc.  But, I guess if you go goofing around next to one, you will be surrounded by and answering questions from some very serious chaps with M-16 rifles within just a few minutes.  He also said that there is a couple who lives outside Kimball and their home is one of these abandoned missle silos.  They are willing to give tours of their home.  That would be interesting! 

Kimball "Missile Center USA" is the center of the largest complex of Intercontinental Ballistics Missiles in the world. Two hundred Minuteman III ICBM's are harbored in silos in the immediate Tri-State area of Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming.



ICBM missle silo



     

Thank-yous for today:

I am deeply grateful for my host family tonight, Pastor Ken Mars, his wife Vickie and their four delightful children!  Thank you for making me feel so welcome! 


Abigal, Nathaniel, Lydia, Ken, Vickie and Timothy Mars

Thanks also goes to Donna, Diane, Lorry and Connie, who failed miserably to convince me that the lady at the bike shop just gave them a $40 floor pump and therefore I don't owe them anything for it.  Thank you also for supper tonight.  It was a joy to spend the time with you.  I am already grateful for your company tomorrow as well. 

Bible verses dealing with Jesus and “wishes”.  A WISH…

     For us to follow Jesus as the Good Shepherd – John 10:1-18

Quote of the Day:

"When you're cruising at 20 mph, a unique (and satisfying) sound is produced by a grasshopper flying into your front wheel spokes." - Common Knowledge 

"To escape the snarling dog chasing your group ride, simply ride a little faster than the slowest person in the group." - Common Sense 

“It is nearly impossible to fart while sitting firmly on a bicycle seat.” - Common Challenge

Closing thoughts for the day: 

First - Late starts MUST be avoided!  Second - I am deeply grateful for Jesus' love, for all the folks who love and encourage me, and for the chance to do this ride for as many Make-A-Wish children as I can!  Time to get a good night's sleep so I can hit the road early.  Talk with you tomorrow.  (-:)

Forecast for the next day:

Gloomy...

Route/Towns for the next day:

June 19 - Kimball to Dix to Potter to Brownson to Sidney to Colton to Sunol to 

                    Lodgepole to Chappel to Oshkosh to Lewellen to Ogallala         

June 17. 2011

Today's report from my Ride

Started at 5:15 am and finished at 3:15 pm.

Covered 126 miles, don't know ave speed or max speed

Riding time - don't know for sure.

Feet of elevation climbed - don't know

Wind - out of the WNW. On the "Hurt/Help" Wind scale, today was a +1.0.

The "Hurt/Help" Wind Scale is my way of saying "this is how much the wind hurt/helped me over the course of the day". It can Hurt me up to a -5, or help me up to a +5.

About today:

I left very early today hoping to get to Harrison (50 miles west of Chadron) before the wind got really strong.  Didn't work.  I was cycling for 2 hours before my sag drivers caught up to me.  By then I could only go about 10 mph.  So, I had them drive me to Harrison and I biked back at about 30 mph!! 

passed a cool butte!

looking ahead to Crow Butte

       

buttes on north side of Crawford

my finger pointing to where the sender broke off

Well, on the way back, I crossed some of those carved out grooves at the edge of the roads to buzz people if they wonder out over them.  The second time I "bumped" over them, I lost my sender unit from my fork!!  I was going about 30-35 mph and heard a tiny "click".  Unfortunately it  broke off my fork.  Remember, this is one of the things for which I bought a new battery just yesterday!!  So, my sending unit, and it's new battery are laying in a ditch about 5 miles east of Harrison.  )-:)  Now my computer read zero as it could no longer receive information!  This was especially sad because about 8 miles west of Fort Robinson there is a hill that drops (going east) from 4600 ft of elevation to 3900 ft of elevation in about 4.5 miles!  WOW!  With a downhill like that and a 30 mph tailwind, I KNOW I topped 50 mph!  No way to prove it though.  Ah well.  Here is a picture down into that valley looking east from a scenic overlook:

pictures NEVER do the scene justice!

Looking east into a valley that's 700 ft down to the floor. 

On the way through Fort Robinson,  I snapped these two pics.  Fort Rob is a SUPER cool place to visit!

Fort Robinson

Fort Robinson

About 3 miles west of Fort Rob

      Well, at this we drove back to Harrison, and then I started a 56 miles stretch on HWY 29 from Harrison to Mitchell (a sign in Harrison warned that there were no services for 56 miles).  This was some VERY open country!

click it bigger and look at highway on horizon over 20 miles away...

Lots of empty countryside!!

       

Just for you Char!  They were beautiful.

Into the Niobrara River valley and
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument 

The road that never ended!!

          

FINALLY, the Platte River valley on the horizon!!
Almost to Mitchell, NE.

Scotts Bluff National Monument

 
Thank-yous for today:



First, many thanks to my Biker Babes!  They are (from l. to r.), Donna Carlson, Diane Meier, Lorry Dinkelman and
      Connie Moeller, all from Grand Island.  They are my support team today and tomorrow. 
Thank you ladies, and COOL shirts!

Next thanks goes to my host family tonight, Lonnie and Janet Miller.  And not only for a place to stay but for treating all of us to Mexican food at Ole's restaurant!  That was very kind of you.  Janet and Elaine Steinbeck's (in GI) are sisters.   

Lonnie and Janet Miller

Sonnys Bike Shop

And finally, a HUGE thanks goes to J.R. Brester of Sonnys Bike Shop!  He took in my bike very late this afternoon and put on a new computer as well as cleaned/lubed my chain and adjusted things so my shifting would be more smooth.  (He only charged me for parts, no labor!)  Your generosity and kindness are deeply appreciated!!

J.R. Brester

Bible verses dealing with Jesus and “wishes”.  A WISH…

    For us to recognize our own sin and be willing to forgive others – John 8:1-11

Quote of the Day: 
“Toleration is the greatest gift of the mind; it requires the same effort of the brain that it takes to balance oneself on a bicycle.” - Helen Keller

Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self—reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood. - Susan B. Anthony

When I go biking, I repeat a mantra of the day's sensations: bright sun, blue sky, warm breeze, blue jay's call, ice melting and so on. This helps me transcend the traffic, ignore the clamorings of work, leave all the mind theaters behind and focus on nature instead. I still must abide by the rules of the road, of biking, of gravity. But I am mentally far away from civilization. The world is breaking someone else's heart. - Diane Ackerman

Closing thoughts for the day: 

I'm tired and need to go to bed!  That's all the thoughts I have at the moment...
Forecast for the next day:

Pleasant temps, WSW and SW wind.  So, it will hurt me more than help me.  We'll see how strong it actually ends up being. 

Route/Towns for the next day:

June 18 - Gering to Melbeta to McGrew to Bridgeport to Harrisburg to Kimball

June 16, 2011

Today's report from my Ride

Started at 6:30 am and finished at 1:00 pm.

Covered 82 miles, ave speed of 14.9 mph (estimate). Max speed - 29.0

Riding time - don't know for sure, I didn't stop very much though, so I'd say probably 5 hours and 15 minutes.

Feet of elevation climbed - 1700' (estimate).

Wind - out of the S, then the W. On the "Hurt/Help" Wind scale, today was a 0.0.
NOTE: the batteries on my odometer started failing today, so I don't have exact figures (arggg!).  I stopped at the Radio Shack here in Chadron and they put a new one in both my sender and my receiver.  Pics of two very helpful folks further down!  (-:)

The "Hurt/Help" Wind Scale is my way of saying "this is how much the wind hurt/helped me over the course of the day". It can Hurt me up to a -5, or help me up to a +5.

About today:

Today started out with a very moving, deeply spiritual experience, a stop at Carhenge, a place that evokes reverent behavior and hushed whispers.  It is NOT to be confused with the cheap mockup somewhere in England!  While walking among this hallowed area, one can almost hear Druid priests chanting...well..., whatever Druid priests chant.  It is truly hallowed ground. 

     Ok, seriously, you can NOT stop at this place without busting out laughing!  It is American humor at its absolute best.  To think that some group would take the time to create a site like this is hilarious.  Thank you to whomever collaborated to make this place happen!  It was a great way to start my day.  (-:)

      You can see this historical site for yourself about 3 miles north of Alliance on Hwy 87.

north of Alliance on Hwy 87

I headed north on Hwy 87 up to Hay Springs.  It's all fairly flat farm ground with a LOT of wheat.  It doesn't make for a real exciting picture, but hey, I snapped it so you just as well see it.



Bordeaux Trading Post



Museum of the Fur Trade

     Tim stopped in at the Museum of the Fur Trade about 3 miles east of Chadron.  He said it was a really neat place.  You can enlarge the marker and read more about the fur trade and James Bordeaux.



The Blaine Hotel, a cool building in Chadron.

Check out the link below about the horse race from Chadron to Chicago in June of 1893.

http://www.thefencepost.com/article/20100306/NEWS/100309931

 

And finally, here are two folks who were real life-savers to me!  As I mentioned earlier, the batteries in my odometer and the part on the front fork that sends information to the odometer were slowly dying today.  So, I stopped in the Petersen Drug Store/Radio Shack in hopes that they would have these specialized little batteries.  Well, they did and their customer service was outstanding!  Thank you again for your help!!  

Amee Diers and Travis Hencey









 

 

 

 

 

Thank-yous for today:

Thank yous also go to my sag driver and friend from GI, Tim Wegenast! 



Tim Wegenast, from Grand Island



Thank you Father Tim Stoner (of St. Patrick Catholic Church here in Chadron).  He was very gracious to put me up at his house this evening.  AND he is from Grand Island originally!  Another small world thing. (-:) 



Father Tim Stoner



Bible verses dealing with Jesus and “wishes”.  A WISH…

     For the ability to love even our enemies – Luke 6:27-36

Quote of the Day: 

“Newspapers are unable, seemingly to discriminate between a bicycle accident and the collapse of civilization.” - George Bernard Shaw

 

Forecast for the next day:

Winds start out from the NNW and NW (10 mph at 5 am, 25 mph by 9 am) starting early and getting VERY strong as the day goes on.  I'm going to leave very early.  Once I reach Harrison and turn south I'll have a decent tailwind from the WNW (low 30's with gusts over 50 mph), which will help as it's gonna be a long day...

Route/Towns for the next day:

June 17 - Chadron to Crawford to Fort Robinson to Harrison to Mitchell to Scottsbluff

                   to Gering