Sorry about your laptop, but thanks for letting us know. A tip, in case you didn’t know already - when you cross Iowa, don’t choose Route 2, the one just north of the Missouri border.

Thanks, Ione. Sorry it took me so long to respond. I've altered the route I had planned, and will be in Iowa, at Ruth's house, for a couple of days. Do you have any tips for preventing those two cats from crawling on me while I sleep? I seem to recall you had some experience with that...

Thanks, Suzanne! Sorry it took me so long to respond.

...I did eat a salad one day on this tour, mainly because it came with my grilled cheese sandwich ;)

Yeah, I think Casey's is the best of the gas station pizzas. Distant second place is Hunt Brothers.

I love Caseys Pizza while on rides... especially the breakfast pizza!

Thanks, Gregory.

No flat tires yet. And I've maintained the vegetarian diet, mainly by eating a lot of junk food, grilled cheese sandwiches, and french fries.

Sadly, my laptop died yesterday, so I'm not sure if I can keep doing the journal.

I can write the text using my phone, but I use a DSLR camera, not my phone, to take photos. So I have no way to upload them without the laptop.

Hi again,
You are very lucky with the weather, even with the thunderstorm. July in Hay Springs from my memories was hot, dry and the landscape mostly brown. I've seen a few touring cyclists on Rte.20 too. The stretch through the sand hills, your next ride, is interesting and was one of my dad's favorite places. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Keith

Hi Jeff,
I stayed in the Best Western in Chadron many times when visiting my parents who were in a retirement home just down the hill. Nice place, good people.
Cheers,
Keith

Hi Jeff,

Great job so far. Besides the fact that your journal is interesting and well-written, it's also one that I can relate to, having never toured anywhere beyond the U.S. and a bit of Canada. (Though I cannot relate to the daily mileages you rack up. Impressive.) And your pictures somehow seem to tell a story all by themselves. That's a talent that I haven't acquired and probably never will.

Plus, no flat tires or meat-eating transgressions (at least that you've mentioned.)

The need a dislike button....😏

A friend of mine got it somewhere years ago, but never wore it because it was too small for him. I don't follow pro cycling, so I don't know anything about the team - I just liked the color and design of the jersey.

I'll have to ask my friend where he got it originally.

Hey Jeff. I was in the pace line you met outside of Gillette (I think). On any other day I would have had my Euskatel jersey on. How they heck did you come by that???

Pete from Columbus (Worthington actually) Ohio

Thanks, Bill! I was too lazy to look it up myself. I knew it wasn't a rattle snake, because I didn't hear it, nor did I see a rattle.

Multiple people have warned me about rattlesnakes during this section.

Beautiful gopher snake!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pituophis_catenifer

Just beginning to read your trip blog. As usual, the pictures and commentary are superb! I cringe when I hear others say "I can't wait...." but in this case it is me (or is it "I"?) who is saying "I can't wait to to read/view the rest" !!