Alfalfa & Axle Grease -- Next stop Norfolk

Street running though Pilger

This road kill seems a little fishy, no?

Alfalfa field looking SE towards the Elkhorn...Just west of Pilger

I love the smells of the country and they always jar memories for me. I must say I've been truly blessed with no alergies to speak of. Riding though these small towns and gravel roads reminds me of the farm of Albert & Margrite Schwaderer, my grandparents. They lived just north of Loup City, Nebraska. Directly to the south was an alfalfa field that, in the summertime, infused the air around the farm with that sweet distinctive smell. To the north of their house was grandpa's machine shop. Grandpa's main occupation was as a road maintenance and excavating contractor. He moved dirt and did it very well by accounts I've heard. All I ever knew was that he was fun to be around, he had a great smile and next to the machine shop parked a beast of a machine called a road grader that was a veritable jungle gym. Many a visit was spent climbing on the yellow behemoth. The machine was intensely huge when you're 7 years old, with tires twice as tall as you.  It wreaked an equally sweet smell of diesel fuel and, you guessed it axle grease. Amazing what comes to mind riding your bike!
After a day of big hills and big wind I'm pooped. Only went 30 miles but it felt like much more. With gratitude I'm sitting in a motel room with a/c, clean clothes and company! My folks rendezvous'd with me here. It's good to see them. Tomorrow with heavy weather in the forecast I may stay here a day and chill before I begin the journey down the Cowboy Trail. I'm excited to check it out!

Technical Difficulties...this is from yesterday


 
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Elkhorn River from Wisner City Park

  

Currently residing in Paradise: Wisner City Park is beautiful, right on the Elkhorn River, stiff south breeze keepin the skeeters away, free camping & best of all pay showers! Rode 51 miles 2day, pretty much all gravel...the shower was almost orgasmic! If your ever up here be sure to stop at Wisner.

On the Road!

Big D leavin' the Big O

Elk City Courthouse



Winslow City Park Daybreak

 Live from Winslow! If you wanna come hang, I'm in the city park. Rode 45 miles; mix of gravel & pavement. Was crazy tryin' to leave today. I decided, last minute & with much angst, to bring the trailer. It adds about 20 lbs. but lets me spread my stuff out more. Well, got a few good pix today (will do a photo dump on Sat.). I was rushed, not leavin Omaha 'til 2pm. Next couple days will be chill.

Mmmmmmmm

Ok...went 2 Zio's instead.

Estoy Listo...adios amigos

OK....Leaving tomorrow morning...finally...going to Caniglia's Venice Cafe for a boost of Carbs.

Me, stuff and bike weigh in at 300 lbs. yikes. MOre to come...

dadadada bah bah bah bah dadadada bah bah bah bah dadadada bah bah bah bah..BAH BAH BAH BAH

Could it be the Soundtrack?? Oh no...OH YES...Christopher Cross & Michael McDonald...You gotta admit it's pretty good. Especially MM's Hair. I'd love to see a deathmatch between MM's hair and 80's Michael Douglas' feathered mane. It would be an all out brawl! Could do some tag team with Bill Clinton and Ben Nelson.

Thanks Ry

I do promise tho, this is a NO BOB SEGER ZONE! Get outta here Segerites!

The Urine has blocked me

OK...so no leavie on July 4th...Buster the cat has a urinary tract blockage. Poor thing. Every year he gets it late spring or early summer. Went to the vet Sunday morning and got some anti-biotics and some steroids to relax things down there for him. He seems to be doing better but need to watch him. Thank God there was a vet open today. Last year he got blocked over Memorial Day weekend and he had to wait (hold his urine) for nearly 36 hours. I thought he was going to die, he was in so much pain. Yes there is a surgery to basically make him a her but the odds of it working aren't the greatest and plus, as a man, well, I don't think I could do it to him. Hope he gets better!

Sheesh, will I ever leave

I'm leaving on Independence Day, rain or shine. Will I dodge fireworks all the way outta Omaha? Hopefully not at 6 am. First day I'm hoping to make it to Dead Timber SRA north of Scribner, NE. About 55 miles. Hope I can make it without too much strain. I haven't been riding too much these last couple o' weeks. Might be rather slow going. Anyway I have some tentative routes posted on Google maps. This is day 1. You can also find day 2,3,4,5,6&7,8&9. OK so 8 and 9 is pretty ambitious and their is lots o' doubt as to whether it would be safe or sane to try it...it's just the dream in my head.

I'm mobyiler

Ok...got mobile set up for bloggin'...should get real good @ texting

Paha Sapa Saga Begins!

The planned bike tour is coming up in 2 weeks and I'm furiously getting my shit together for it. Never done this before save for a couple of short trips. Tentative plan is to head northwest to Paha Sapa and beyond.

Nervous to say the least. Hard to keep my anxiety level down. I am a very nervous person though I don't often show it. I worry about just about everything, to the point of embarrassment! I will keep moving forward though because this is the decision I've made and I need to stick to it...NEED to cause I don't have anything else! I've wanted to do this for a while now and here the opportunity has presented itself. We'll see what happens. I still have the dream to ride from Alaska south to Argentina. I just think that would be an amazing journey!

Been prayin quite a bit.