July 4, 2019
Day Twenty-five: Chadron, Nebraska to Gordon, Nebraska
This was a short, uneventful day, which started off slowly, before I even left the hotel, when I received a message from Verizon saying that I'd used up all my cellphone data for the month. I spent some time (and some of Joy's time) trying to get this resolved, then fiddled around in my suite for a while, then went down to the breakfast, which was sub par compared to the rest of the hotel's amenities.
I rode through town, but then stopped after only a mile at a "Pump and Pantry" to buy snacks and sunscreen.
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While dawdling at the Pump and Pantry I realized I'd somehow wasted a couple of hours since waking up, and my original, ambitious destination of Valentine was now impossible. It would probably need to be a short riding day today.
I had a headwind. US-20 continued to have a wide, ride-able shoulder, fortunately. There wasn't much traffic anyway.
I passed a modest home with a display of annoying, angry political signs and flags. Guys like this always seem to prefer constructing these elaborate displays rather than maintaining their messy, junk-strewn properties.
After twenty miles I arrived in Hay Springs, population 570.
There was a mixture of closed and open businesses - but mostly open ones. Hay Springs seemed to be doing alright. There was even a tiny coffee shop. I don't drink coffee, but I went in anyway and ordered a smoothie.
A young couple came in, pushing their son in a stroller. I assume they were just traveling through, because the guy said "I thought only big cities had coffee shops!" Like me, he seemed surprised to find one in Hay Springs.
A burly local guy, the only other customer, who, in the coffee shop's concession to local customs was eating biscuits and gravy, something not normally found on a "big city" coffee shop menu, piped up. "I don't like big cities. I only get to Chadron a couple times a year."
Chadron is only twenty miles away, and has a population of less than 6,000.
I got back on US-20, which continued to be an empty road.
Rushville, population 890, was only about twelve miles away. I looked around and took some photos, then continued on US-20.
It was fifteen miles to the next town. There wasn't a lot to see, but the riding was nice enough.
I'd ridden less than fifty miles when I arrived in Gordon, population 1,612. It was already mid-afternoon, it was hot, and the sky looked dark to the east. It was 93 miles to Valentine, the next town with any services, so clearly I was done for the day.
I felt a little down because of the short day and my lack of progress, and the fact that I was far from home on a holiday.
I got the last room at the Jefco Inn, cleaned up, then walked next door to the grocery store and bought snacks. I didn't feel like going to a restaurant, so I went back to my room, lay down, dozed off, and then was awakened by thunder and rain.
The storm didn't last long, and later I walked around town, but didn't see anything very inspiring.
I decided I need to do a long ride tomorrow, and make more progress getting across Nebraska, so I went to bed before 8:00, awakened briefly a few hours later by Gordon's Fourth of July fireworks.
Today's ride: 49 miles (79 km)
Total: 1,998 miles (3,215 km)
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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.)
5 years ago
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
5 years ago
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.
5 years ago