112 miles in 10.25 hours – Max Speed 26mph
Sometimes you have these thoughts that when you think back to them, you honestly have no idea what made you believe what you believed. I got up late this day, and putzed around the room for a few hours, even though I knew I had over 100 miles to bike today. But it was okay since ‘it would be easy because it was Nebraska, and hence, flat’. I don’t know how or why I thought any 100 mile day would be easy.
I eventually got going at just after 10, and went back up to route 30. That was an interesting thing about these roads. The entire town was almost always built on the 30 (Big Springs was actually an exception), but most of the services had moved down next to the highway, usually three or so miles away. It was interesting to see how the towns had evolved to the changing conditions.
Historical Marker
Is it sad that grain elevators really were the most exciting things I saw every day?
Anyway, it was more of the same, as I went through numerous small towns, and two large ones. Ogallala and North Platte were nice changes, and I ate Lunch and Dinner in them, respectively. After dinner I got back on the road, knowing that I wasn’t going to make it to the KOA by nightfall. Oh well, that is what I get for putzing around all morning.
Old Town Ogallala
Okay, last grain elevator... I promise.
Empty train that went under me.
Historical Marker
I went through a few small towns as the twilight was waning, then did the last 13 or so miles in total darkness. It was amazing. The sides of the road were just filled with lightning bugs, there was a large shoulder, and almost no traffic. The weather was beautiful, and the headwind that I had died down. Not only that, but you could see the city as just a bulb of light ahead that kept getting larger. It really was a cool ride. Once I got to the town I made it over the freeway and to the KOA, which was somehow still open at 10:45. I got a tent site and went to sleep.
There were a lot of tiny bugs out. They went for the eyes and mouth, but as you can see some missed and only got my arm.
End of twilight
Beginning of darkness
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