Saturday, June 25th, 2011 (Day 9)
We woke up today and Ruthe made us all pancakes, bacon, and sausage, it was awesome. Ray wanted to be sure we got to the highway safely so they made a sign for the back window of their minivan that said B-I-K-E-S across 5 sheets of paper taped on.
Ray rode his quickest SWB bent he had and led us to the highway after taking some pictures with us. Ruthe followed behind us all with her hazards on. We all rode 15 miles to the next town down the highway. I was feeling good and held 24mph the whole way there. When Ray got to the gas station we stopped at he said, "Jesus, you guys are giving me a workout!"
Ruthe gave us some gatorade and we were back on the road. We were holding 20mph steadily. Ray stayed with us for another 10 miles then got into the van with Ruthe. After a bit further they pulled ahead of us then pulled over to take some pictures with us before heading back.
Ray rode his quickest SWB bent he had and led us to the highway after taking some pictures with us. Ruthe followed behind us all with her hazards on. We all rode 15 miles to the next town down the highway. I was feeling good and held 24mph the whole way there. When Ray got to the gas station we stopped at he said, "Jesus, you guys are giving me a workout!"
Ruthe gave us some gatorade and we were back on the road. We were holding 20mph steadily. Ray stayed with us for another 10 miles then got into the van with Ruthe. After a bit further they pulled ahead of us then pulled over to take some pictures with us before heading back.
Adam and I kept going until we made it to Columbus, NE and went to the Wal-Mart there for lunch and a rest.
The rest of the day was absolutely gorgeous. The sun was shining, my music was cranked up, and there was no wind, nor hills. After leaving that Walmart we were able to hold 19mph for the rest of the day, with next to zero effort, literally. We went 25 miles without stopping, and the towns in this part of NE are sparse.
While riding (dead straight roads) you would see one large building in the distance (usually some sort of old grain processing building) and it would take at least a half hour to get to it.
We had been riding for about 20 miles when we passed our first mini town, which consisted of a gas station, some abandoned buildings, and a huge silo. I was following behind Adam, and I was hoping he wouldn't stop. I was enjoying the ride so much, and when I saw him pass right by the gas station (a common stop for us) I smiled and sped up. He was thinking the same thing as me.
We did stop at the next mini town though. We went to the gas station for a drink and a piss. An extremely generous woman there insisted on giving us $50. She had seen us earlier in Columbus, NE and couldn't believe how far we'd come after talking to us. We tried to refuse her money but she said, "No, take it, you guys are awesome!" and went to her car and drove off.
At this point we had gone 82 miles. We decided to go a bit further to Central City, NE. Those last 10 miles didn't last long enough. Adam & I both agreed it was the most enjoyable day of riding either of us had ever had.
The rest of the day was absolutely gorgeous. The sun was shining, my music was cranked up, and there was no wind, nor hills. After leaving that Walmart we were able to hold 19mph for the rest of the day, with next to zero effort, literally. We went 25 miles without stopping, and the towns in this part of NE are sparse.
While riding (dead straight roads) you would see one large building in the distance (usually some sort of old grain processing building) and it would take at least a half hour to get to it.
We had been riding for about 20 miles when we passed our first mini town, which consisted of a gas station, some abandoned buildings, and a huge silo. I was following behind Adam, and I was hoping he wouldn't stop. I was enjoying the ride so much, and when I saw him pass right by the gas station (a common stop for us) I smiled and sped up. He was thinking the same thing as me.
We did stop at the next mini town though. We went to the gas station for a drink and a piss. An extremely generous woman there insisted on giving us $50. She had seen us earlier in Columbus, NE and couldn't believe how far we'd come after talking to us. We tried to refuse her money but she said, "No, take it, you guys are awesome!" and went to her car and drove off.
At this point we had gone 82 miles. We decided to go a bit further to Central City, NE. Those last 10 miles didn't last long enough. Adam & I both agreed it was the most enjoyable day of riding either of us had ever had.
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I saw Adam pointing his camera back at me when he took this, and if you look close enough you can see me giving the peace sign inside my velo. This was taken during the most enjoyable part of any bike ride I've ever been on.
With the $50 we just recieved, we figured we may as well put it to use, so we bought a room at the Crawford Motel. The man who owned the place was at least 70. After knocking on the door he came out with his button down shirt completely open with no under shirt, some ratty looking shorts and a baseball cap on.
When we asked how much it would be for a room for the night he said, "Hmmm... let me think of what I have..." as he looked around. We could see there were 8 rooms total. The only cars in the lot were his, and another car that had a flat and had clearly been sitting there for months.
After a couple minutes of asking us about our velos, mumbling, and pondering, and occasionally looking up to either of us for an answer, (we could hardly understand him so we usually just nodded) he showed us our room. It wreaked of cat shit, but it was only $30 so we can't complain.
But here we are complaining anyway. The shower is scummy & scary looking, the sink is the same, as well as the toilet. There are various stains all over the beds, carpet, curtains, walls, and ceiling. The beds are spring mattresses that are saggy and bounce forever. The door is no where near sound proof nor is it air tight.
Since Adam and I had some laundry to do, we decided to wash them in the sink tonight. When we first turned the faucet on the tap water was brown... then after letting it run for a few seconds it cleared out, nasty. When we cleaned our clothes in the water it turned clear water into grey-brown crap water. It's disgusting how much crap gets kicked up onto your clothes from the road.
We wouldn't touch the sheets on the bed for fear of infection, so we slept in our sleeping bags on top of the comforter, making sure we didn't touch the bed at all. This allowed us to get the worst night of sleep possible.
When we asked how much it would be for a room for the night he said, "Hmmm... let me think of what I have..." as he looked around. We could see there were 8 rooms total. The only cars in the lot were his, and another car that had a flat and had clearly been sitting there for months.
After a couple minutes of asking us about our velos, mumbling, and pondering, and occasionally looking up to either of us for an answer, (we could hardly understand him so we usually just nodded) he showed us our room. It wreaked of cat shit, but it was only $30 so we can't complain.
But here we are complaining anyway. The shower is scummy & scary looking, the sink is the same, as well as the toilet. There are various stains all over the beds, carpet, curtains, walls, and ceiling. The beds are spring mattresses that are saggy and bounce forever. The door is no where near sound proof nor is it air tight.
Since Adam and I had some laundry to do, we decided to wash them in the sink tonight. When we first turned the faucet on the tap water was brown... then after letting it run for a few seconds it cleared out, nasty. When we cleaned our clothes in the water it turned clear water into grey-brown crap water. It's disgusting how much crap gets kicked up onto your clothes from the road.
We wouldn't touch the sheets on the bed for fear of infection, so we slept in our sleeping bags on top of the comforter, making sure we didn't touch the bed at all. This allowed us to get the worst night of sleep possible.
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Sunday, June 26th (Day 10) ->
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It was worse in person I swear
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The result of cleaning our clothes in the sink... all that nastiness must've kicked up from the road... mmmmmm
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Miles covered today: 92
Miles covered total: 658
Overnight Town: Central City, NE
Miles covered total: 658
Overnight Town: Central City, NE
