I got up and made it to the bike shop. I did not have too get up early since the shop did not open until 10:00. Now supplied with new inner tubes, I again feel confident and prepared to continue the trip.
I am going to ride to Julesburg today. This was not my original plan. Initially, I was going to ride straight north and eventually ride east on Nebraska Hwy 20. Now armed with a map, I decided that is going to far north and a bit west and too far out of my way. I am going to go east from here and angle north as opportunities present themselves via roadways. I will need to make some new choices once I get to North Platte but that is a couple of days away from now.
CO Hwy 138 started off terrible. I had to continually dodge huge potholes on the shoulder and in the lane. The worst road I have ridden on so far. Fortunately, that only lasted for about 8 miles. Some recent construction made that situation much better. Also much better was the wind situation this morning. There is virtually no wind at all. And there are absolutely NO hills either. But the Hwy is great to ride in from a traffic perspective. Most of the traffic is traveling on I-76 which is running parallel to CO 138. Not much traffic on my route at all.
I cannot say it was completely flat though. I lost about 500 feet of elevation over the first 60 miles I rode today. Not enough to notice but I supposed it helped. I did see one hill in the distance this morning but it turned out to be a pile of cow poop piles high in a nearby feed lot. That is how flat it was.
I rode through some little towns that did not have much to offer. A convenience store at a gas station was about it in most cases. So I just kept on riding for Julesburg. I eventually got there around 4:30 due to my late start this morning. I intended to eat dinner at the local cafe and then head for a campground on my map in Brûle, Nebraska. So after dinner, I started riding again. I crossed into Nebraska after only 2 miles.
I should mention that I have been following the So. Platte River for the entire day. I haven’t seen it even once but I know it’s there because the tree lined banks are dominating the landscape. The campground I am heading for is supposed to be near the river.
So arriving in Brûle, I did not see any sign for the campground. Hmm. I turned toward the river at the only intersection in town and eventually saw an old sign for the Riverside RV and campground. It is pretty run down and abandoned. I am going to camp here anyway. I am tired, it is getting dark, and I’ve already ridden 82 miles today. I am not going any farther. Period.
But I did get to finally see the So. Platte River!
Is that a social commentary- the only hill you could see was a pile of cow poop? I’m loving your expanded comentary on the route, roads adn scenery. The south Platte river seems kind of disappointing- is this a drought condition or just what it is? Curious minds need to know!
Stay safe!
The south Fork was disappointing after all of the history of the Platte River. Then I saw the North Fork and the confluence. An all together different story.
I see why the Platte was so much a part of the history of our forefathers migration West. The Platte River is one of a few major rivers that run east and west. It would have been a constant source of water for those traveling through the mid- west. The Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers run east- west too but are farther north and would not have been favored by those trying to get to Oregon and California.
To answer your question, I think that the south fork just doesn’t have much water in it at this time of year. The north fork is a much larger river and I will post a photo when I update with my next post shortly.
Hi Greg,
last fall my family and I drove from Clear Lake, Texas (you know the place) to North Platt to watch the solar eclipse – actually, that eclipse morning we drove from North Platt to Tryon which is a little farm town to be right in the middle of the eclipse. We covered ~1100 miles each way on our journey that lasted 4 days and it was awesome and so worth it! Loved North Platt, too!!
Greg, I have been enjoying your blog. I read it while I ride to nowhere (on my stationary bike)! My journey is pretty calm compared to yours. My weather is good (air conditioning) but the scenery (inside my house) is not so good.
Keep pedaling Marla. Sometimes the journey isn’t about the destination.