Jan the Librarian

Akron City Library

Welcome to Akron, CO

It appears we have been climbing.

Lunch in Akron, CO (Might be the highest point between here and Akron, Ohio.)

Lunch time in Akron, Colorado.

"We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open" Jawaharal Nehru

I decided to take advantage of this fine small town library and post early.
Jan, the librarian had a most engaging smile and cheerfully welcomed me to the library, a building built back in 1931. She has worked here for twenty-years and the facility is perfectly maintained.
Right now, it's about 55 degrees, and a gusty wind is blowing from the south east. Today's ride from Yuma to here was only twenty-seven miles. I have about thirty miles to pedal before reaching tonight's destination of Anton.
While stopping for fuel (powdered donuts) in Otis, I talked to Mark, owner of a gas station, and his customer, also named Mark. They said the farming season looked pretty good and that most farmers were busy preparing for winter. I can confirm that based upon today's wind winter might be harsh.
Just as I was departing Mark's station, three motorcyclists from North Carolina pulled in for gas. Charles, David, & Harry, three retired gentlemen were returning from Yellowstone.
They were bundled in leather and their BMW's were overflowing with camping gear. David had just lost his wife four weeks ago, so they decided a motorcycle tour would be a good idea.

Can you believe David fell asleep while going sixty miles an hour, and crashed into a hay field. Amazingly, he suffered only bruises while his motorcycle was totaled. That's an interesting story, but it gets better. Having decided not to give up on motorcycling, he found a relatively new BMW K-1200LT and bought it in Wyoming on the spot. (I had inquired about his Wyoming license plate) The seller; was non other than the Attorney General of the State of Wyoming. Evidently, he had quit riding and decided the time was right to sell. So, there you have it, a willing seller and a willing buyer. Deal consummated, and these three bikers were back on the road.

I said goodbye and continued on to Akron.

Oh, I almost forget to mention the super Mexican dinner I enjoyed last evening.
Directly across the street from the Nelson Inn was El Deportivo. Service was excellent, and my were the Tacos delightfully tasty. PS: Donato recommends this establishment to all who pass by on Highway 34.

Have a great afternoon and look for a post tomorrow evening. (Saturday)

Leaving Yuma, CO

Cool temperatures this morning.
Today's forecast calls for cloudy and a high near 60.
I'm off to Anton, which is about 55 miles southwest of Yuma.
Enjoy your Friday and have a great weekend.

Crossing into Colorado (Benkelman to Yuma, CO)

4:30 pm Mountain time and I have arrived in Yuma, Colorado.

"One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. Henry Miller

This is a spiffy town with significant agricultural commerce. Just east of town, I passed the Three Rivers Feedlot, one of the largest commercial cattle operations in the U.S. It seems to go on for several miles and cattle can be seen everywhere.
I'm posting from a really nice Yuma City Library, staffed by two friendly librarians. They are, Tish, and Alicia. Thanks ladies, for answering all of my questions about Yuma.

Going back to last evening in Benkelman, Betty, the motel proprietor, had an interesting story about Amtrak. The passenger train operates between Chicago and Denver with a regular stop in McCook. A few weeks ago, the train made an emergency stop in Benkelman, to drop off a very ill Amish woman who was heading home to Pennsylvania. You see, Benkelman with a population of just 1006 residents has a small hospital. The local medical staff was able to save the woman's life and arrange for alternative transportation. Someday, I would enjoy traveling across the U.S. by train, and it would be fun to see this countryside again.

After breakfast this morning, I said the weather was perfect. Well, it was perfect for about an hour. As I approached Haigler, NE, dark cumulus clouds suddenly appeared, thunder was heard, and it just poured buckets of rain. And my did the temperature drop! I would estimate during the rainstorm we felt temperatures in the mid forties. As quickly as the storm arrived it departed. An hour later we were riding under clear blue skies and warmer temperatures.
Right now it's about 78 degrees and still sunny.

While crossing into Colorado, I stopped for a mandatory photo of the "Welcome to Colorado" sign. This passage rekindled good memories of my first Colorado crossing, twenty seven years ago. Cathy and I had left Clear Lake, IA for a family get-together just east of Denver.
Since this was my first time to see true mountains (not like those little ones back east), I had to stop and take a picture almost every mile. By the time we made it to Breckenridge and Estes Park, I had exhausted all my film. (What was film?)
Today, I had those same feelings of wanderlust, just like all those years ago.

While posing for pictures at the Colorado border, I met a most interesting and enthusiastic gentleman named Jay. We had a super conversation covering the gambit of bicycle touring, hiking, and mountain climbing. Jay just turned fifty and is embarking on a new phase in his working career. He and his wife have three children including an adult son in Boulder, CO.
Jay was on his way to climb Long's Peak with his son, and then head out to Portland, OR, to pick-up his wife. From there they will drive down the pacific coast for some relaxation in Napa Valley. Note: Jay had mountain climbing gear, hiking equipment, and a competitive bicycle in his car. Talk about a man that loves the outdoors!
Jay also has a blog at http://www.jaywalks.blogspot.com/.

This afternoon, a perfect tailwind expedited my arrival here in Yuma. Thank you God.

About twenty-five miles east of here, I stopped and talked with Joe, who each day cuts about twenty miles of roadway grass. His tractor and mower appeared brand new. Cutting grass alongside a highway might be dangerous, but he appeared calm and collected. I suppose you must constantly remain alert and watch for debris that could jam the mower blades.
Thanks Joe for keeping Colorado roads so beautifully maintained.

Last evening my brother, Dan, assisted with last minute trip routing adjustments. Thanks Dan for researching all the lodging possibilities within a fifty mile radius. It's probably worth mentioning, that had I not stayed in Benkelman, I would have been camping in a city park at Haigler. That's too rocky for comfort!

Best wishes for a fine evening.

PS: Seasons are a changing with crop harvesting, Friday evening high school football, and "rolly pollys crossing the highway.

Wray's Small World Garden

Cows like bicyclists

Why do they all stare as I pedal by ?

Jay, Phillip, & Gloria

Vermont, New Hampshire, & Minnesota residents meet at the Colorado border.

Tina and Alecia preparing another delicious smoothie

Another BNSF Train

Good afternoon.
I'm having lunch at the Canyon Coffee Shop in Wray, CO.
What a fine day to tour.

Starting out early...

Good morning from Benkelman, NE.
I just finished breakfast and it's time to warm up the bike. Weather conditions are excellent with light winds from the north. High today should be about 80.
Enjoy your day.

Nebraska Countryside

Good morning from McCook.
Breakfast here and then on to Benkelman. Sunny and 47 degrees right now with winds shifting from north to south later today. Expect a high of 86.
Looking good for bicycling...

May not have a library this evening so posting could be delayed a day or two.

Good morning from Benkelman, NE.
Breakfast is finished and it's time to start bicycling. Weather appears perfect with light north winds
Enjoy.

Challenging the headwinds of Nebraska (McCook to Benkelman)

Good afternoon!

"Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen." Benjamin Disraeli

Can you believe that I started early today and actually arrived at a destination
before 5:00 pm ? A magnificent morning greeted me as I departed McCook. Bright sunshine and just 47 degrees. What perfect riding conditions, and did I mention no wind? It was a quick fifty minutes to Culbertson and then all of a sudden a character building south wind at 15 to 25 mph appeared. Heading in a southwesterly direction this wind took control, and finally I capitulated to "slow speed" mode.

Let's step back to last evening when I met Randy, and Peggy, just outside the McCook library.
They are both marathon runners and Randy had just finished an amazing feat in Utah.
He completed a 100 mile run in thirty hours. That's simply amazing but underscores his dedication to running and physical fitness. Peggy has completed several marathons while Randy has finished more than thirty. Congratulations to two outstanding athletes who are still running in their fifties.

Just a little bit of information about McCook, NE. It's claim to fame relates to U.S. Senator George Norris, who lived here and now has the main street named in his honor. Senator Norris probably is most famous for creating the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
Most of my Ohio and Kentucky friends are familiar with Norris Lake & Dam in Tennessee. It's a beautiful place to visit. (Duane, I think Julia visited this lake a few months ago.)

While visting an historical roadside marker, I stopped to chat with Jeff, who works for the Nebraska Department of Highways. He travels a large area of the state working on data collection. He is the person that might be involved with putting a counter hose across the highway, as well as working with electronic data collection systems. Interesting work, Jeff, and you sure see a lot of neat places and people. He also is quite the photographer. His pictures of "birds of prey" were fantastic. Enjoy the ride home Jeff.

Have you ever wondered about life on a rural farm? Well, earlier this afternoon I stopped and chatted with Jim and Ted who were preparing to harvest a corn crop. Two friendly souls who took time to talk to me. Looking at the size of their corn field, I imagine it would be a long days work. I chatted for several minutes and left them to their important task. Note: Corn, wheat, and bean crops are in good shape here. Farmers are pleased with their higher crop revenue but I'm certain their costs of doing business also must be escalating.

I had a feeling that this was going to happen. You think about when and where it may occur, however you just put it in the back of your mind. Then out of the clear blue sky it happened to me! What you ask? Well, it was my first encounter with two other long distance bicyclists.
(You were thinking I was talking about some mechanical failure, or maybe a slow speed crash on loose gravel. Ha-ha.)

Nick and Bryan, two freshly minted college graduates were out to see America. I believe it was Nick, who had a degree in Meteorology, and Bryan, a degree in Electrical Engineering.
These two bikers had a full compliment of gear on their Trek 550's. Talk about loaded down and ready to tour...
It was exciting talking to other riders who were essentially on a similar trip. We shared a few stories, and then wished each other safe riding and a fun time. Wow, I can't believe they were planning to ride 160 miles today. That's simply awesome and properly reflects the athletic capabilities of two guys in their early twenties. Oh, to be twenty-three again...
They decided to complete a cross country tour prior to embarking on careers and all other associated life responsibilities. Good call Gentlemen, and I'm sure you will never regret the time and effort spent to complete your journey. You will have a unique perspective on life and on America. (They flew to California, and left Santa Cruz, near San Francisco, and plan to take eight weeks to cross the U.S. and arrive in New York City in mid October.)

Nana is the local librarian here. This particular Dundy County library has been open for more than fifty years. Thanks Nana for allowing me to use the computer.
I'm heading to a nearby motel for a much needed shower. Current local temperature is 86 degrees and the sky is clear blue.

Note: The next three days will be in sparsely populated eastern Colorado. It appears that some route adjustment will be required so that I end each day in a town with services. That of course, may translate into no public library. Also, you may wonder about all the photos taken each day. Once I arrive in Denver, there will be Sprint PCS digital services, and all the images will be uploaded. Until then just use your imagination.

Enjoy your evening.

PS: Thanks for the phone message Cathy. I love you and miss you so much.