Today we said goodbye to the Rockies with mixed feelings. We learned about two of the three "H's" of the Great Plains, hot and headwinds. Humidity will come later. It was a grueling day, especially for the newcomers on the tour. Talk about a "baptism under fire"! One hundred degree temperatures and moderate headwinds, along with a high mileage day. We have 17 cyclists starting in Denver, with the same number finishing the western four weeks at the same time. I hope we all do what we can to make them feel welcome and encourage them as they cycle along with us. We cycled out of Denver for about 30 km. on the Platte River Trail, one of the many bike paths that connect all parts of this city. It was here on these trails that my love of cycling began. I have biked literally thousands of kilometers on Denver's trails during my layovers here, in my life as a long haul trucker. Lots of good memories this morning as we rode out of town.
Leaving Denver on the Platte River Trail.
Last view of the Rockies.
Tuesday July 29: 142 km. 90 F sunny. Fort Morgan Colorado to Wray Colorado.
We left the Platte River Valley today and turned east thru sagebrush country again. A few farms and ranches, but mostly pretty desolate country that had seen a better day. The temperature was a bit cooler today, but we encountered a pretty stiff headwind in the afternoon, making us work for every mile.
Anyone interested in seeing some videos taken by one of the cyclists, Josh Krabbe, from his bike while traveling down the road, log onto youtube.com and hit jdkrabbe in the search function.
Glory days long gone.
I can't help but wonder how many dreams lie shattered along the fields and highways of rural America.
Wednesday July 30: 155 km. 97 F sunny. Wray Colorado to McCook Nebraska.
Another blazing hot day with not a cloud in sight. We traveled into Nebraska today and marked the halfway point of our trip as far as time is concerned. Halfway in distance will occur on Friday. The new cyclists that started in Denver are still having some difficulties with the heat and long miles. I wish that we could do something for them, as we have been conditioned by our previous four weeks. At times we make not think that we are stronger now than when we started, but it is pretty obvious that we are much in much better physical shape than four weeks ago. I'm sure that as time goes on they too will become much stronger cyclists. The terrain is about the same as we travel along, not as much variety and far fewer photo opportunities. For the third day in a row the prevailing westerly winds failed to show. We had a pretty steady crosswind all day, making for a longer and tougher day. But not a mountain in sight to slow us down!
Nebraska, here we come on our aluminum and carbon fibre steeds! Not quite as dramatic as Buffalo Bill, is it?
Typical western Nebraska landscape. No agriculture would be possible in the western half of the state without irrigation.
Thursday July 31: 156 km. 100 F sunny. McCook Nebraska to Minden Nebraska.
In spite of the heat and the distance cycled, this was one of the best cycling days of the tour. Rolling hills to start, then flat prairie with a moderate tailwind all day. Everyone made excellent time all day, making for great day cycling. I was doing 33 kph, quite a bit higher than my normal speed, cruising right along, when I heard some commotion. It was John Pierce from Michigan leading a six man paceline which smoked by me at 48 kph. Cycling at it's best!Typical central Nebraska scene. Cornfields and grain elevators shimmering in the summer heat.
This is what happens when you bike almost one hundred miles in 100 degree heat. Nick Ellens of Hamilton Ontario getting a drink.
Friday August 1: 152 km. 90 F partly cloudy. Minden Nebraska to York Nebraska
What a difference a day makes! Yesterday it was clear sailing with a tailwind, and today the wind was our enemy. It blew out of east all day at about 20 kph, making for tough slugging. But it was a bit cooler, and the occasional cloud floated by overhead. But all in all it was not a bad day. We still got to where we needed to be, and camp just looked that much more inviting when we finally got there. Another day thru endless corn and soybean fields, with all the modern technologies of farming on a massive scale on display. We are so fortunate to live here in this land of plenty. It takes some soul searching to see all this abundance of food, while we are on a very small scale, trying to do something about poverty. Add to that, a great deal of this food is being used to make fuel, not feed people.
Beautiful courthouse square in Minden NE. So typical of American small towns.
Halfway point of the tour, 3123 km. somewhere between Minden NE and Hastings NE. No champagne or caviar, no marching bands, only a little sign to hold up in front of our portable toilet along the way.
A welcome sign along the way in rural Nebraska for a few of our cyclists.
Saturday August 2: 154 km. 95 F sunny. York Nebraska to Fremont Nebraska.
Another hot, sunny day where the prevailing westerly winds failed to appear. We had instead a 30 km. wind out of the southeast, which was a headwind most of the day, and a tailwind for the times when we turned north for time. The wind was in a sense a blessing as it keeps us cool in the heat and humidity. This weather is always better than rain, which we have yet to see. According to USA Today, the low temperature for the continental US was 37 F in Kremmling CO, where we stayed last Thursday night. I don't think anyone of us would trade that for today's weather in Nebraska. We cycled thru more corn and soybean fields all day, and more of the same for a few weeks to come.
Cooling off after a long day cycling.
What do a bunch of Canadians do in the middle of Nebraska in August in 95F temperatures? Why, they play hockey of course, what else!
We stayed in a municipal park next to a brand new YMCA arena, where you could rent ice skates and hockey sticks, so it was a no brainer for most of the younger Canadians. Even Pastor Markus Lies, a recently retired CRC pastor, from Newcastle ON, got in on the act.
How's this for a macho hockey outfit?
Sunday August 3: Fremont Nebraska
Today was spent trying to escape the 100 F heat with a heat index of 110 F. Cyclists were bused to CRC churches in either Lincoln NE of Omaha NE for worship services with lunch afterwards The rest of the day was spent sitting in the shade and maintaining or repairing our bicycles, doing laundry and otherwise preparing for the upcoming week. A few cyclists stayed back in camp and attended services afterward at a Lutheran church across the road. The parishoners there were so impressed with our tour and mission, they invited us to return at 1 PM for lunch they generously prepared at the last minute. They had a brand new gymnasium, very nicely air conditioned and asked us to stay inside for the day and camp out for the night indoors to escape the oppressive heat. Again, we are all so humbled by everything that people are doing for us along the way.
Getting ready for the coming week.
Temperature sign at the funeral home next to the church in Fremont NE. Getting people ready for their future perhaps?
4 comments:
Hi, Dirk,
We just wanted to say Happy Birthday, and to let you know how much we're enjoying both your commentary and your pictures. I hope that you survive the humidity and just remember that the headwinds help to cool you off!
Bill & Sylvia
Dirk I love your blog and I follow it faithfully. I think it's additive.
Thanks for keeping me connected to what you're doing and seeing.
George
Thanks, I hope all who follow my blog find it of use to keep track of how we are doing as a group. I use it in place of a paper journal.
Dirk
A belated birthday from your very proud sister. As you cycle your way across the US today, I am making a similar journey across Canada - from the Queen Charlotte Islands in BC back to Saint John in NB - the quick and dirty way. Had an amazing few days on the water but was still able to follow your blog in the fishing lodge in the evenings. Thanks for taking us all along on your amazing adventure.
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