June 10, 2011

Today's report from my Ride

Started at 6:30 am and finished at 4:30 pm.     

Covered 127 miles, ave speed of 16.2 mph.  Max speed - 30.7 mph

Riding time - 7 hours and 51 minutes.  

Feet of elevation climbed - 2585'. 

Wind - out of the NNW.  On the "Hurt/Help" Wind scale, today was a +2.0. 

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:


Terry and Ann Hofman, Mike


Today's ride went VERY well!  Beautiful country, not much pain and terrific support drivers!  My sag folks were Terry and Ann Hofman from Grand Island.  They did a great job and seemed to have had a wonderful day.  They saw some beautiful country side.  It started out with a crossing of the Niobrara River just south of Valentine. 



Niobrara River south of Valentine



Niobrara River south of Valentine



hmmm...



As I approach Ainsworth, I suddenly found myself in the "Middle of Nowhere".  I had already suspected I was there before receiving visual confirmation. 

Between Ainsworth and Bassett, I crossed over the Cowboy Hike/Bike Train.  This 321 mile long trail (made from an old railroad bed) stretches from Norfolk to somewhere around Chadron.  Here's a picture of it. 

The Cowboy Trail



Wind turbines south of Ainsworth. 
I counted 47 of them!



from bridge over Long Pine Creek



Barrel Cactus in bloom!!



open country between Ainsworth and Brewster



                   

beautiful country!



Swallows at the bridge over the Calamus River south of Brewster





A row of swallow apartments!



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

     For sight – Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52

Quote of the Day:

Perhaps the most vivid recollection of my youth is that of the local wheelmen, led by my father, stopping at our home to eat pone, sip mint juleps, and flog the field hands. This more than anything cultivated my life-long aversion to bicycles. – Tennessee Williams

Perhaps the most vivid recollection of my youth is that of being flogged by the local wheelmen, along with the field hands, the postman, and a young Tennessee Williams. This more than anything cultivated my life-long aversion to his plays. – Truman Capote

No spin home wisdom story as I couldn't figure out how to pull it off my hard drive using this computer.  Sorry.  More good ones to come though...(-:)

Closing thoughts for the day:  It was a wonderful day!  Tomorrow will be even better as I get to see a group of friends of MAW at the courthouse in Ord, then I get to see my wife in Loup City where I am staying for the night.  Many thanks to the couple from Peace who paid for the motel room!  You know who you are.  Your generosity is deeply appreciated. 

Also, thanks goes to Uncle Bucks Lodge for letting me stay and eat for free tonight!!  Check out their website.  This is a totally cool, awesome place.  http://www.unclebuckslodge.com/

Forecast for the next day:

Wind out of the SSE, exactly the direction I am going.  So, not as nice as today.  Ah well.  

Route/Towns for the next day:

June 11 - Brewster to Almeria to Taylor to Burwell to Elyria to Ord to Loup City