Ain't Pullin' Your Long Pine; It's AINSWORTH!!!

Long Pine Bridge on the Cowboy Trail over Pine Creek

Hi folks, live from Ainsworth Public Library. It's been a tough couple o' days. Pretty wet and forecast has more of the same tonight. Last night and this morning I've been struggling with being overwhelmed with my task at hand. I suppose it's normal, just tryin to stay off the MAD HIGHWAY!!! Outlook was better though when I passed over the Pine Creek bridge on the Cowboy Trail. Just awesome. Really lifted my waning spirits. It is beautiful country up here. I love it; the harshness, the solitude and the openness.
This morning I had a surreal moment riding by a large herd of Angus cattle. They were all mooing a very very unnerving tune and I stopped to listen - unnerving it was crazy, it literally sounded like a John Coltrane meditation. I then saw why. Two "Cattle Drive" Peterbuilts were billowing their stacks over the hill.

I hit 300 miles just outside of Ainsworth. Felt good.

Layin high & dry this evening in Long Pine, along Hwy 20. I've never been up this way before. Beautiful country. Longest day so far at 63 miles. Had a lot of help from a good tailwind. The landscape has changed. All of a sudden I'm riding in pine-laden canyonland. A welcomed change. Short day tomorrow ending up in Wood Lake.

Top o' the Evenin to Ya from Ireland!! (well as close as I can come in Nebraska)

First Bridge Out

Nothing better than jumpin in a river when it's 90F out!!

Starlight Drive In theatre in Neligh...On of the last remaining in the country.
They were showing Cars 2 or 5 or whatever.



2nd Bridge out



Hello all, first off wish you were here. kinda gets lonely out here. Had a great time in Norfolk. My parents met up with me and put me up in a motel for the night. It felt great. They saw me off Sunday morning at the Cowboy Trail trailhead. The trailhead really felt like a jumping off point. This is my first long trip on a bike and, well, you never know what's going to happen. really for the most part it seems much like going on a car trip except it take much longer to get there. It is the getting there that's important though. It's the things and the people that you experience along the way that make the trip. You really get to experience your surroundings which can be a blessing but is also a curse. An example is today: I stopped in Inman, a tiny little town just 8 miles from O'Neill. NOBODY stops in Inman but something told me to. On my way in I saw an old lady hanging about an old storefront. At first I just rode around town a bit but then I decided to go talk to her.  Turns out she owned the store and I asked her if she had any candy bars. She said "Yes, but they're 75 cents; th'were 50 for the longest time." I said "I'll take one, I need the fuel." She invited me in her store and we proceeded to chat for a good half an hour and I could tell she was just tickled to have someone new to chat with. Turns out she was married in Loup City in 1936. I mentioned my family was from there but she didn't know them. It was a neat experience and I'm finding that on this journey I really need to listen to that inner voice; like the one yesterday that told me to go jump in a river...OH IT FELT SO GOOD!!! Made the day.

Hey thanks for reading this y'all. One negative note...boo to the cowboy trail website. They said it's all open but it's not. I've got a muddy bike to prove it!! Followed hwy 275 most of the way to O'Neill

Ridem Cowboy! - Started the trail today

Ridin out a hellish storm here at a park in Neligh. Initial wind gust was about 60 mph! 'bout blew me & my tent away. Had a good day on the bike, swam in the Elkhorn & met a cool family from Canada. They're bike touring all around No. & Central America. You can check 'em out at www.pedalpoweredfamily.com They're ridin out the storm in Elgin tonight.

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!