Final Denver to Minneapolis ride post

Well, it has been over two weeks since we finished the ride. I delayed a final post, waiting for all the aches and pains to subside. I still have significant numbness in my left hand and partial numbness in my right hand. Only the little finger and part of the ring finger are still numb.

I have been told this is not uncommon, and it may take over a month to heal.  While it hasn't improved and is frustrating, I was provided some advice from some good friends.  I have used the advice, and stretching exercises are most helpful.  I have learned that pain is not actually from the hand or the wrist but from the elbow.  As many bicycle websites describe, something called Ulnar Nerve Entrapment at the elbow causes numbness.

This makes sense since I really did all I could to minimize the impact on the hands and wrists, yet the pain did not subside. I will have myself refitted on the bike because it is now apparent my bike position resulted in extra elbow strain.  I should have thought of this earlier as, in all my years of running, ankle pain could be caused by the hip, knee pain could be caused by the foot, and hip pain could be caused by the knee.  It is really odd how this outstanding machine (the human body) we are given has so many intricate parts that affect other body parts.

Well, some bicycle lessons learned include:

•  Take time to enjoy the scenery and the journey. As a result, I was on a mission and planned to make it from one point to the other as the primary focus. If I were to do it again, I would plan out every single option for hotels or camping without any preconceived notion of where to stay. That way, I can take each day, and the elements presented to us as they come and adjust accordingly.
•  I plan hotel stays.  For the estimated $300 we could save by camping, the energy used to set up and take down the camp and decreased sleep quality detract from what should have been an outstanding experience.  S may ip itself would be very inexpensive.  However, there are many expenses, including bike maintenance, eating, and other needs, that some people need to remember to consider.  Having a good sleeping experience, a shower, and no concern over the nighttime weather would make the entire trip easier.
•  I could have eliminated about 40 percent or over 20 pounds of gear if I had not planned to camp. This would have made the ride easier and, again, preserved energy.
•  It is essential to know the road conditions on a trip like this.  The road conditions were well known as I had driven from Colorado to almost the east side of Nebraska.  However, due to unknown construction and other activities, we needed to be more knowledgeable about the road conditions for Iowa and most of Minnesota.  This created great tension and stress and detracted from the ride quality.  In addition, I test-drove the planned route on a Saturday, and weekday traffic was much higher and often dangerous.
•  It is essential to ensure you have a good pump and plenty of tubes for the bikes. Well, we had a decent pump and used 8 tubes. When our hand strength diminished, we could not use the pump consistently. We could get the tires to about 65 psi but not the desired 100 psi. While we had the CO2, that required frequent filling. The CO2 air, for some reason, just does not sustain, and overnight, we would end up with a flat tire.
•  Calories and water are the most important (well except butt butt'r).  If you lose control of these, recovery will take more than a day.  We reminded each other often to eat or drink.

That sums up my thoughts.  It was a ride I will never forget.  Well, there are times I will forget on purpose, just as one could expect with any type of stressful ride such as this; I will always look at this as a positive experience.  I hope my son feels the same way?

I may be way off base, but I don't know how many 51-year-old men would even venture on such a ride with their child. The stamina, strength, and overall well-being of a 25-year-old compared to a 51-year-old are significant. I am proud that I accomplished this, but I am also aware that it would have taken a greater amount of time had I not had the support and guidance of my son.

This final entry is the end of the blog.  I may resurrect this blog if I attempt another trip. While typing these words, I realized this was over, and this fatherhood chapter of my life would never be the same.  This venue enabled me to forever archive, in real-time, with edits, which would have been very difficult to do 15 years ago.

So carry on, my friends. Moreover, if you ever have the chance to do something like this with your child, do your best to avoid turning it down!

Second to last post

 If there is interest, here is the Garmin track of our last day -  http://connect.garmin.com/activity/508736959

I still get up early, even when I should sleep late and recover. This gives me the time to make a fresh-ended post about this journey on this blog. My first point is to thank all the readers who kept sending positive vibes.

Yesterday, we woke with no intention of finishing the ride today. Over 130 miles was a little more than the worn bodies could handle.  We woke at 7:00 AM, and it was wet outside.  It looked like the rain was on and off all day.  At this time, wind and weather no longer impacted us mentally.

NOW THIS IS FUNNY!  Late in the ride, I had told Jordan this was a slice of heaven (the nice trail outside before Faribault) and to cross our fingers.  We tried, but we could not cross our fingers.  Our fingers were in so much pain and fatigue we could not cross them!

Today is a pleasant yet sad day for me.  This time was precious, and it will be a parent-child adventure most will not have in a lifetime or take the time to get.  I am so proud of my son and all he has accomplished.  Even though we complained and yelled at each other throughout the trip, I would not give it up for anything. We should head back to Colorado since we have time.

FINISHED - 51 year old men can cry...

 I woke at 5:30 AM, and it was raining. I knew today would be a miracle if we did not encounter rain! We conceded that fact last night. I let Jordan sleep until 7:00 AM, and we packed up to head out after breakfast. Packing was so easy after Shelley took the trailer and other gear. It gave us confidence that we may make it very close to home today.

We left at 7:45 AM and rode very hard, as Highway 15 was very dangerous with high traffic.  People were very disrespectful, so I am trying to be excellent.  We could handle this for only 4 miles (really should have been less, but nowhere to turn) before we found 170th Street and turned right.  Here we go again, improvising in the spirit of safety.  We decided to go to Highway 169, which would be better.

We were pleased with Highway 169, for about 3 miles.   Then, it became rough, and riding on the shoulder was difficult.  There was no alternative for 10 miles at Highway 30.   We had ridden 14 miles of pure danger in the first 27 miles!  Jordan was unhappy with me, and I tried to explain that I had done my best.  At this point, we just wanted to get home and finish the journey!

We were looking forward to Highway 22 being an improvement in Mankato.  It was not!  The road was near the worst we had encountered, and Jordan continued to yell at me for taking such a wrong route.  I had two flat tires.  We experienced hard rain, road construction, and drivers that rival Mad Max (for those old enough to understand what that means).  This was not enjoyed by either of us, and we stopped several times just to get our nerves back in order.  We reached Mankato at 12:45 PM, which was nice, although we were soaked from the hard rain.  I was concerned about the cars being unable to see us when it was raining so hard.  Even though we averaged over 16 mph, we had well over 2 hours of stopping, mainly to calm our nerves as it was SO BAD!!!!

We found a Subway (figures) and discussed how we had 74 miles left. We knew we could get home today if we cut the break short! That would make a 130-plus-mile day. We figure it is possible by 9:00 PM if we are issue-free. By 1:30 PM, we were off. We are both ready for a finish!

We looked forward to riding the next 35 miles on a nice bike trail. However, when we reached the trail, we realized it was old and very bumpy. Jordan once again criticized my planning. One good thing is that we had heavy rains that would have stopped us from being on the road. The rain was so bad at one point that we even sought shelter. 

After 18 miles on the trail, we were both excited, as it was NEW! It was very smooth and at least 12 feet wide. We deserved a break, and here it was, especially after our hands were destroyed from the past 18 miles of old and very rough trail. We averaged about 11 mph on the rough trail. 

We made Faribault, Minnesota, at 4:39 PM.  We traveled 95.58 miles for the day at 6:31:17. This did not include the time to eat and fix the flat tires.  We totaled 8.25 hours since we left the hotel.  About 36 miles to go...  While we were both spent, we had a slight increase in excitement.  This positive thinking was increased as I was assured the road conditions were good, with a nice shoulder for most of the remaining ride.  The rain had subsided, but we knew another wave was coming.

It was only 12 miles to Northfield, Minnesota.  The wind and rain held out for the first 10 miles, and then an intense wave of wind and rain appeared.  I was tired and ready to call for a ride for the last 25 miles.  Jordan decided I needed a lift, so he got on a toy bike and said let's go!  It lifted my spirits, and we took off for 25 miles.  Jordan exclaimed, "It's less than a marathon, and we have bikes!"

Jordan has a new bike

Let's go, Dad!

Four miles to go, and the LAST HILL

Less than 2 miles to go!

We made it!

When we are done, it's a great reason to smile!

At 8:30 PM, we made it home, and we were exhausted!!!!! We rode 130.3 miles in 9 hours and 11 minutes and spent 12 hours and 9 minutes today (including fixing flats, massive rain delays, and eating).  

SUMMARY OF DAY 11: 130.3 miles and 14.2 MPH (riding time only) and a total on-bike time of 9 hours and 11 minutes.  It was just over 12 hours for the day, with a temperature range of 59 F at the start to almost 75 F at the peak.  Total ascent (according to the Garmin Connect) was 2,188 feet with a decent of 2,370 feet.  SO IT WAS A HILLY RIDE!  We had a 504-foot elevation decrease for the day, decreasing from 1,460 feet to 956 feet overall.

Our 10-mile splits from MapMyRide (time includes breaks, and mph is based only on riding time) were:

0-10 in 0:37:57 - 17.2 mph
10-20 in 0:36:22 - 16.5 mph
20-30 in 0:45:55 - 15.4 mph
30-40 in 1:05:29 - 15.4 mph
40-50 in 0:56:25 - 13.7 mph
50-60 in 1:44:15 - 11.9 mph
60-70 in 0:48:07 - 14.3 mph
70-80 in 1:05:28 - 13.6 mph
80-90 in 0:38:13 - 16.5 mph
90-100 in 1:06:01 - 13.8 mph
100-110 in 1:02:20 - 11.8 mph
110-120 in 0:48:36 - 13.7 mph
120-130 in 0:51:49 - 13 mph

The trip totaled 908.9 riding miles in 71 hours, 12 minutes and 46 seconds.  The average pace was 12.76 mph!

A video Shelley took of us arriving.  It was a day to remember!

Day 10 complete IN MINNESOTA

Day 10 started with a huge thunderstorm in Cherokee, Iowa. We delayed leaving until the radar showed the storm had passed, so it was later than planned, starting at 10:00 AM. Immediately, there was an issue with the trailer. Somehow, the support was bent, and we were not able to connect to the bike. After the panic settled, we took out the tools and could bend them to a proper shape.

About 2 miles out of Cherokee, Iowa, Londell's bike was having what seemed to be a significant issue, and Jordan could not find his glove. After much work, we finally found his glove and got Londell's bike operating freely, as it was just a minor issue with the chain and rear sprocket. Strangely, the cows would follow us in Iowa with a look like, "What the hell is that!." If we stopped, they all huddled up and watched us.

It was strange how the cows followed us...

We hoped this would be a day of little wind, but we were wrong. We had a side wind of about 10 to 15 mph for the first 25 miles. Our ride was also extremely dangerous. There were at least 300 cars per hour and no shoulder. It was a 65 MPH road.

It was a lovely day, except for the wind!!!

As usual, I needed a clearer look...

The best choice was to take another detour. We found a very narrow road that was seldom traveled. However, this meant we had the side wind again for several miles. Finally, after 43 miles, we were able to head north. To our surprise, the wind was very strong, averaging about 22 mph. To our delight, the following 30 miles were fantastic. The miles just ticked away at an amazing pace!

When we turned east, we encountered a very dangerous Iowa road again. Again, there were about 400 cars per hour and no shoulder. The sheriff even stopped and discouraged riding on that road, especially with the holiday traffic.

Fortunately for us, this was near where Shelley would meet us. She met us and picked us up no later than 15 minutes after we had left when the storm came roaring through. What luck!!!! Shelley got us safely to the motel in Fairmont, MN. Yes, it is so nice to say Minnesota!!!!

Shelley had GREAT timing!

We had to stop...

MINNESOTA - YES!!!! (Note: Jordan no longer has that huge smile as Londell Grimaces

It will be so nice not to have the trailer and all the gear. The trailer was about 60 pounds, and Jordan had another 20 on his panniers. We will still carry about 15 pounds of gear, but I expect a huge difference. Shelley was an angel today, assuring us we were safe and ridding us of significant baggage. Her ride was still less than all the detour miles we had taken. It was not SAFE and the best possible decision.

As we rest and eat, we pray for good weather tomorrow. At this time, we can make Faribault. That means we would have 40 miles on Wednesday to finish the ride. I do not want to look ahead as we still have much to do. Nevertheless, after completing 796 miles with about 130 to go, I think we are over the hump?

SUMMARY OF DAY 10: A total of 70 miles and 16.2 MPH (riding time only) and a total on-bike time of 4 hours and 19 minutes. It was 5 hours and 40 minutes for the day with a temperature range of 66 F to almost 86 F. Total ascent (according to Garmin Connect) was 1,047 feet with a decent of 932 feet. We had a net elevation increase of 72 feet, from 1,388 feet to 1,460 feet overall.

Our 10 miles splits from MapMyRide (time includes breaks, and mph is based only on riding time) were:

  0-10 in 0:53:31 - 14.2 mph
10-20 in 0:43:57 - 15.6 mph
20-30 in 0:41:17 - 17.1 mph
30-40 in 1:00:58 - 14.4 mph
40-50 in 1:06:01 - 16.1 mph
50-60 in 0:28:52 - 20.7 mph
60-70 in 0:45:16 - 17.0 mph

708.6 miles ... Day 9 Complete

The Holiday Inn was a treat, as we were very comfortable. I took the time to replace my worn chain. It was a little messier than I wanted, but it worked out.

Jordan again spent over half the night in the bathroom.  I feel so bad, but he said sleeping with his legs on the toilet is the wrong way to sleep.  This morning, we woke to rain, which stopped before we started riding.  However, the humidity was unbearable.  We ate the breakfast buffet at the Holiday Inn and were on the road by 9:30 AM.

The roads out of Sioux City are not bike-friendly. We were lucky to do this section early on a Sunday morning, or we may have been at too high a risk.  We were fighting a heavy side wind that significantly impacted the panniers and trailer. 

Trying to get out of Sioux City, Iowa, is baffling!

This is the road out of Sioux City, Iowa.

The first 12 miles were rough, with high traffic and a bad shoulder. We were both really feeling fatigued. We stopped to rest at a nice stream and very wooded area just outside Hinton, Iowa. (It was much later that I realized my nice sunglasses were left there.)  

Floyd River just East of Hinton, Iowa

See the side wind on the flag?

Once we left Hinton, we were on a low-traffic road, yet we still used caution. One thing we were surprised by was the rolling hills in Iowa!  

Scoping rolling hills in Iowa

Even though he is riding 15 mph, the side wind blows the flag more...

As we continued to struggle, we were frustrated when we came upon yet another detour! While it was not long, it was not appreciated. Today was very hard for me. Jordan also has pain in the inner left thigh, which concerns us. This is the first leg pain Jordan has felt the whole trip, or he could be hiding the pain, as Londell has been complaining to him for days, and he keeps pushing and encouraging Londell.

One big thing is that Londell is getting so fatigued that his hand shakes when he lifts his water bottle to his mouth.  He needs two hands to drink.  The arms are so weak, and a side wind affects the bike stability (so do panniers), so the arms were pushed to the limit today.

In summary, we made Cherokee, Iowa, late in the day.  It was the shortest ride for the entire trip, but we were lucky the weather held.  It looked like a massive storm was coming, so we found a Best Western and stopped for the day.  There was a pool, and it was very refreshing.

Our grocery store visit made us wonder if we could push these?

The forecast for tomorrow is thunderstorms but a favorable wind.  Our opinion on that is WHY NOT as every weather obstacle, but snow has been tossed our way, and as I said before, we are accustomed to all the crap Mother Nature has thrown our way, we are beginning to say, who cares, and we just pedal on!

That means we have about 230 miles to go.  We plan 70 tomorrow (but we should do 90).  Shelley is coming to see us on the road.  Bless her heart for taking the Holiday, well, half of it, to give us a mental boost.  I also want to thank those who have commented on the blog, as they are helpful comments.  If you have not read any comments, Carolyn Lane made us laugh the most with one of her comments.  She exclaimed about Jordan and I arguing, "Have a Snickers; you know yourself."

Shelley will take the trailer and most of the supplies.  We decided to stay in a hotel for the rest of the trip.  This will drop a manageable 50 pounds of weight I have been pulling since Colorado.  Well, close to 70 pounds for the first 5 days until Jordan got a rack and panniers.  Do not get me wrong, I love the trailer, but with thin tires and low weight, the trailer can toss the bike around so much, and it was unsafe for Jordan.  I had only minor issues controlling the trailer as I have about 199 pounds more weight and 28 tires.

Since we had a few detours that added about 60 miles to the trip, we may just hitch a short ride to Fairmont, MN, if she blesses us with a visit late in the day. Jordan and I do not think this would be cheating, as we would have had a shorter ride if the roads were safe or not under construction.

Later, friends, as we are exhausted!!!  I decided it was my turn to sleep in the bathroom.  Here is my bed.

Londell's bed

SUMMARY OF DAY 9:  A total of 57.4 miles and 11.3 MPH (riding time only) and a total on-bike time of 5 hours and 5 minutes.  It was just over 6 hours for the days, with a temperature range of 64 F (and MUGGY) to almost 82 F.  The total ascent (according to Garmin Connect) was 2,119 feet, with a decent of 1,860 feet.  We also CLIMBED a net of 543 feet in elevation for the day, going from 845 feet to 1,388 feet overall.

Our 10 miles splits from MapMyRide (time includes breaks, and mph is based only on riding time) were:

  0-10 in 0:51:13 - 12.8 mph
10-20 in 1:09:51 - 10.7 mph
20-30 in 1:15:23 - 10.1 mph
30-40 in 1:05:56 - 11.2 mph
40-50 in 0:54:54 - 12.4 mph
Last 7.3 in 0:46:00 - 10.7 mph

Minor issues and Day 8 complete!

 Last night, we arrived at the campground in Windham, Nebraska, and found it empty. That seems strange on a holiday weekend. We set up our tents and prepared to go to sleep. We quickly realized why this campground was so empty. It was immediately next to a railroad track, and a train ran at least every hour. 

The train was near an intersection, blowing its whistle four or five times every time it crossed the road. The rumbling was so intense that we could feel the ground shake throughout the night. Jordan thought my snoring shook the ground, but it was the train. 

We woke at approximately 6:00 AM, and the bugs were atrocious. We quickly packed up as soon as possible to get on the road before 7:00 AM.

Early Morning and Londell Packed up while Jordan had much-needed rest...

Lighted tent meant Yahtzee; Jordan finally won the series!

The planned ride today was approximately 60 miles but very hilly.  Of course, what goes up must come down.  We made good time because we could go up the hill at a relatively good pace (often walking), and downhill, we could reach 25-30 miles an hour regularly. In addition, WE HAD A SIDE WIND and not a headwind.  We managed a 13.5 mph average.

Londell on the road to Iowa

Londell walking up a small hill - The walk gave a needed break.

We did not push hard since we knew this was a shorter day. We took a few breaks to see the sights (well, there were a few). We stopped at a fuel station on the Indian reservation, where more liquor was sold than gas or water. Many who stopped looked at us as if we were freaks. 

A little sample of the scenery in Nebraska

Can he open his eyes?

Will my dad make it? 

We finally reached South Sioux City, Nebraska, at about 1:00 PM.  We went to the Knights Inn, where we reserved a room.  The person at the desk, quite unfriendly, told us the reservation was for last night, and we had already been charged, and they needed the room.  This was really upsetting, especially since I had asked the person several times about the reservation for Saturday night.  She had very poor English, and I was concerned about an error. This could be a blessing as the place was really a dump.  We rode approximately four additional miles, which put us in Iowa.

Happy to leave Nebraska!

We found a reasonable Holiday Inn in a much better location. It's been nice to continue onward and get another 20 or so miles in today, but there is only one place to stay closer than 60 miles from Sioux City. We also needed the rest. 

Jordan is actually keeping quite strong; only the butt and the hands are an issue.  However, I am very fatigued and need an easy day. Is it enough of a break to get me through the rest of the ride?  Over the past three days, I wanted to call for a ride several times. This is the most difficult challenge I ever recall attempting.  I have right hip pain and lost feeling in both little fingers.  The hands are so fatigued it is hard to shift the bike. 

We were both hungry and ate at Chili's and walked downtown. The place was a ghost town, with nothing open, few cars, and even fewer people. This is the eighth day in a row for riding, and we have completed 651.2 of the planned 910 miles. That is 81.4 miles a day.

Jordan did find a reason to like Sioux City, Iowa.

We had planned this trip to take as little as 10 days (94 miles a day) if all the conditions were excellent and could extend to 16 days (58 miles per day) for poor conditions.  The plan was to complete the trip in 13 days (71 miles a day), and we are one full day ahead of plan. 

The plan is for over 60 miles tomorrow, followed by three 70-mile days to end the ride. Wow, it would be nice to be done in 12 days...

SUMMARY OF DAY 8:  A total of 64.6 miles and 13.1 MPH (riding time only) and a total on-bike time of 4 hours and 54 minutes.  It was just 6 hours and 38 minutes for the day, with a temperature range of 53 F to almost 82 F.  Total ascent (according to Garmin Connect) was 1,301 feet, with a descent of 1,385 feet. SO IT WAS HILLY! We had a net elevation decrease of 329 feet, going from 1,174 feet to 845 feet overall.

Our 10 miles splits from MapMyRide (time includes breaks, and mph is only riding time) were:

0-10 in 0:50:24 - 13.3 mph
10-20 in 0:52:23 - 11.8 mph
20-30 in 1:03:25 - 12.7 mph
30-40 in 1:11:55 - 12.7 mph
40-50 in 0:45:04 - 16.4 mph
50-60 in 0:49:55 - 15.0 mph
Last 4.6 in 1:05:10 - 9.3 mph

One week complete

 Even though we had a short day yesterday and less wind, today we are both spent. We slept later than planned, and Jordan spent another night on the bathroom floor. The quad and calf muscles are the only things that feel OK. We both have hand swelling and weakness issues, so it is hard to zip up a coat.

It is hard to explain how the bike feels. There is no comfortable way to sit on it. To make matters worse, the last 15 miles were so rough that I compared them to a 100-year-old brick street. The hands and backside may have had more comfort in a grinder.

The temperature was 76 degrees at noon, and with a 13 mph southeast wind, we were riding east for another 15 miles before turning north. If the wind holds, we will have a nice change for once: we will not have a headwind. We can not say that for the past five days.

Just past Ames, Nebraska, the shoulder totally disappeared.  Jordan almost bit the dust from a semi-truck, which was disrespectful!  We were short-tempered and yelled at each other once again.  We talked seriously about quitting.  We decided to dredge forward on a gravel road to get off the highway.  It was VERY LOOSE gravel, and we struggled.  It was still dangerous When we returned to the Lincoln Highway.  We walked against traffic for about a mile and were excited to see a shoulder again!

We laughed, nothing about Bicycles, just RV's

We made it to Fremont, Nebraska, at 4:00 PM and looked for a place to eat. We found a diner called "Mel's Diner." Of course, I knew the name was symbolic, but Jordan needed to learn. The sitcom Alice was centered around Mel's Diner!  We fueled up, knowing we had about 15 miles to a municipal campground. We made the campground just after 6:00 PM.

Dinner at Fremont, Nebraska

We camped at Winslow, Nebraska, about 70 miles south of South Sioux City, where we made a reservation at a Knights Inn. Tomorrow's route is very hilly, so we will have to work very hard just to get the needed 70 miles. 

ALL SET UP in Winslow Municipal Campground

We are at 586.6 miles after 58 miles today and have about 375 miles. We had some of the worst road conditions, and trucks almost removed our chances of success. We had a 3-mile detour on loose gravel and walked about 3 miles for safety. After today, we researched and found we must change the route to be as safe as possible. Even then, we have some unknowns.

I wish I could write more, but I am so tired.

SUMMARY OF DAY 7: A total of 58 miles and 11.2 MPH (riding time only) and a total on-bike time of 5 hours and 10 minutes.  It was just under 8 hours for the day, with a temperature range of 64 F at the start to almost 86 F at the peak.  Total ascent (according to Garmin Connect) was 316 feet with a decent of 436 feet.  We had a net elevation decrease of 321 feet, going from 1,495 feet to 1,174 feet overall.

Our 10 miles splits from MapMyRide (time includes breaks, and mph is based only on riding time) were:

0-10 in 0:44:30 - 13.6 mph
10-20 in 1:03:36 - 12.4 mph
20-30 in 1:38:47 - 11.5 mph
30-40 in 1:36:36 - 8.0 mph
40-50 in 2:22:17 - 9.7 mph
Last 8 in 32:55 - 15.1 mph

Day 6 finished

Today, we slept in!  One issue was that Jordan again had difficulty sleeping with my snoring.  I woke at 5:45 AM and left to sit in the breakfast room.  I returned at 7:30 AM and just quietly packed while he slept.  I woke him at 8:30 AM as the breakfast closed at 9:00 AM.   I could tell he did not sleep well as he looked exhausted.  I know I was exhausted.

It was a later start at 10:41 AM, which delayed another flat tire—this time, my front tire. It was hard to change a tube as my hand strength was limited, and it was hard to pump the tires.

We left Grand Island, Nebraska, and the headwind was 10-12 mph, but it felt OK because the past two days were well over 20 mph. With all the drafting, I spent so much time behind Jordan, and that made it hard for him. If he slowed to drink or shift the weight on the bike and I was not paying attention, I almost ran into him. I did my best to avoid additional tension. I hope for a tailwind soon so we can ride side by side. 

One of the best choices we made was to get a hotel room last night, even though we had planned to camp in the state campground. Our bodies have been trashed over the past three days, and we need another round of ice baths. A storm woke us a few times, and we were inside. The winds must have been over 40 mph, and rain pelted the windows. 

So, day 6 was supposed to be an easy day of 64 miles.  The wind was still a headwind, but about half of that experienced the last three days. I still drafted behind Jordan as I felt the wind, and he kept saying, "What wind."

One highlight of the trip was a stop at a small local station for a break and beverages.  The funny thing was that it was obviously the local farmer's morning hangout, as they had cups hanging on the wall. As we sat there, the worker turned the individual cups into the right place for the next day.  Oh, the simple life...

Local store = simple life was evident!

The midday heat was brutal as I never acclimated to the heat over 70 degrees.  The sun was intense all day.  I bet I have a Vitamin D overload?  We did have one minor issue on the 67.1 miles in 6 hours 32 minutes with 4 hours and 48 minutes on the bike, which is the highest pace so far at an average of 14 mph.  Late into the ride, I felt a little dizzy from the heat. I told Jordan I was coming on the left but was really on the right.  My stupidity almost caused a two-bike crash at 17 mph.  Fatigue decreases our communication skills.

We needed another solid night to recover, and the energy needed to set up a campsite required to be saved, so we stopped as planned.  We stayed at a Sleep Inn just outside Columbus, Nebraska, where we washed all our clothes; they needed it!  We ate at Applebee's and were in bed before 10 PM.  We plan a 71-mile ride tomorrow and 60 miles the following day, which should put us in Iowa. The following two days have a favorable forecast with moderate winds but some nasty hills.

SUMMARY OF DAY 6:  A total of 67.1 miles and 14 MPH (riding time only) and a total on-bike time of 4 hours and 48 minutes.  It was a 6-hour 32-minute day with a temperature range of 66 F to almost 86 F.  Total ascent (according to Garmin Connect) was 60 feet with a decent of 432 feet.  We had a 351-foot net decrease in elevation, going from 1,846 feet to 1,495 feet overall.

Our 10 miles splits from MapMyRide (time includes breaks, and mph is only riding time) were:

  0-10 in 0:41:57 - 14.6 mph
10-20 in 0:39:18 - 15.2 mph
20-30 in 1:08:11 - 12.8 mph
30-40 in 1:17:25 - 14.0 mph
40-50 in 0:50:01 - 14.1 mph
50-60 in 1:23:12 - 13.3 mph
Last 7.1 in 0:31:22 - 13.8 mph

5th day complete

It's 1:30 PM Wednesday, May 21, and we are over 400 miles into the ride. We stopped in Kearney to eat at Q'Doba. We had planned to leave early this morning, although I (Londell) woke at 5:30, and the wind was 20 mph. I was totally spent and very sore from that wind on Tuesday, and I wanted to let Jordan rest as he had worked so hard. 

At about 8:00 AM, I woke Jordan, and the wind was around 25 mph. Yes, it was a headwind unless we went back to Colorado. It was actually a strong northeast wind. Jordan suggested we just go to Kansas City in three days with the wind we had experienced. 

The good news is the wind is supposed to decrease to 17 mph later today and 15 mph on Thursday. Never thought I would be looking forward to riding in a 10-15 mph headwind, but after this morning, that sounds nice. 

The ride is so hard due to the headwind and guess what?  I now have a painful blister on my right hand.  I am enjoying my time with Jordan, but the bike ride faces challenge after challenge!

Londell is getting a blister!

THIS IS A DAY TO FORGET. The wind was... (I will skip the words I want to use to keep this blog clean). The wind was so bad. If Nebraska is God's country, then God is saying bicyclists keep the (keeping it clean) out! Our Garmin would say we are going about 11 mph when a truck goes past and slows us instantly to about 9.5 mph, and at times, we thought we would be thrown into the ditch. 

The first 20 miles out of Lexington, Nebraska, stressed Jordan and me out.  The break at Kearney, Nebraska, helped a little, but the 90-degree heat and the wind took their toll about 15 miles out of Kearney.  Jordan was now equipped with an additional 20 pounds of bike weight for the second day, and I think he was feeling the pain.

It is easy to know we love and care so much for each other, but we became worse than Frank and Marie Barone, Archie and Edith Bunker, Al and Peg Bundy, or you name them.  You always knew they loved each other but bicker to death.  Well, today, we both had enough and shared some choice words.  We became that old bickering couple everyone will look at and laugh at as they bicker. 

We had taken the wrath of God long enough.  We had just finished about 55 miles and had another 25 miles to reach Grand Island, NE.  We had experienced 5 flat tires, did not pack the right pump, and had a third day of over 80 degrees with the sun beating hard.  We may need a third tube of sunscreen before we end the ride. 

Anyway, this ended with me yelling at Jordan to "go the *&@# home," and I took off. He did start back, and after about 25 minutes and much wasted energy, we regrouped. It was not a good scene. We are both just destroyed by the hard past few days! In addition, Jordan has not slept well. He is a real light sleeper, and my snoring keeps him awake. In fact, I learned that last night, he slept on the bathroom floor to avoid my snoring.  

After we reconciled and proceeded toward Grand Island

We worked together and dredged ahead.  Several times, we stopped and fell over the handlebars.  Looked like we were dry-heaving from the sheer exhaustion from fighting the wind and the truck traffic, which was at least 1 every minute. 

However, after 10.4 hours total, with 7 hours and 3 minutes on the bike, we made Grand Island at 7:45 PM.  We decided not to camp but went to the Travel Lodge, bought lots of ice, stocked up at the grocery store, ordered Pizza and Wings, and rotated ice baths.  My body has been beaten up, and I feel much more beat up than when I finished the superior 50 miles in 2007, yet I am only halfway through this ride. 

SUMMARY FOR THE FIRST 5 DAYS

• Saturday - 111.1 miles (15 added miles due to bike issues) - 8 hours and 44 minutes on the bike with a pace of 12.8 mph and over 13 hours for the trip!

• Sunday - 90.6 miles - 7 hours 10 minutes on the bike with a pace of 12.7 mph and just under 12 hours for the day

• Monday - 93.3 miles - 7 hours 10 minutes on the bike with a pace of 12.9 mph and just over 10 hours for the trip

• Tuesday - 87.6 miles - 7 hours 22 minutes on the bike with a pace of 11.0 mph and 12 hours 21 minutes for the trip.

• Wednesday - 78.9 miles - 7 hours 3 minutes on the bike with a pace of 11.2 mph average and 10 hours 20 minutes on the trip

TOTAL miles in the first 5 days: 461.5 miles, 37 hours, 41 minutes total time on the bike, and 47:40 out on the road, a 12.25 mph average.

This averages 92.3 miles per day, most of it with heavy headwinds. I am just amazed at how we have made that pace. To put it in perspective, we were on the bike as much as most people are working in five days. Recall that in the 8-hour shift, most get two paid 15-minute breaks, which means most people have a 37:30:00 work week. So, the first five days are like riding a bike every working minute in a typical work week.

Tomorrow, we have decided that 64.6 miles will be the maximum stay in a motel in Columbus, Nebraska. However, the forecast is for a 30% chance of rain but only a 15 mph headwind.  This makes me end with the same thing I started with if Nebraska is God's country, he is telling us we are not welcome...

SUMMARY OF DAY 5:  A total of 78.9 miles and 11.2 MPH (riding time only) and a total on-bike time of 7 hours and 3 minutes.  It was just over 10 hours for the day, with a temperature range of 59 F at the start to almost 88 F at the peak.  Total ascent (according to Garmin Connect) was 287 feet with a decent of 794 feet.  We had a 1,033-foot elevation decrease, going from 2,879 feet to 1,846 feet overall.

Our 10 miles splits from MapMyRide (time includes breaks, and mph is only riding time) were:

  0-10 in 1:01:14 - 10.3 mph
10-20 in 1:07:21 - 12.4 mph
20-30 in 1:08:25 - 11.5 mph
30-40 in 2:04:18 - 10.7 mph
40-50 in 1:50:31 - 10.4 mph
50-60 in 0:57:13 - 11.8 mph
60-70 in 1:12:40 - 11.1 mph
Last 8.9 in 0:57:28 - 11.8 mph

4th Day...Wow, what a day!!!

We woke in Sutherland, Nebraska, and it was already windy. I was up at 6:00 AM, and we had separate rooms, so I packed. It was nice to shower, but washing clothes was not an option. The clothes are getting a little rank! We were packed and ready to go by 8:00 AM. It was about 20 miles to North Platte.

Jordan has been a godsend, breaking our over 20 mph headwind. We made North Platte at 9:30 AM.  We were able to find a bike store called Alive Outside.  It was a small owner-operated shop.  They were accommodating, and we purchased a rack, panniers, and tubes.  As stated earlier, Jordan's bike must be set up to pull the trailer, so I have been pulling all the gear.  I can tell a difference without all that extra weight.  We were out of there by 10:30 AM.  We stopped at a grocery store to stock up before heading out.

The trailer is about 20 pounds lighter!

New rack and Panniers

The wind was really irritating us both. For the first time in the ride, we were getting upset with each other and the stress caused by the increased difficulty. We made Gothenburg, another 29 miles, at 2:00 PM, where we were once again at Subway! It seems that is all there is to eat in Cornhusker territory.

We had completed 59 miles and had 28 to get to the campsite in Lexington.  We are out of the planned evening stops as we are well over 40 miles ahead of schedule.  We are improvising stops to avoid the thunderstorms, but they will likely catch us on Thursday.  The forecast is rain for the next 3-4 days.  We are prepared and will plan rides with hotel stops if that is the case. This will allow us to dry out and get a good night's sleep.  One thing for sure is we are both spent!!!!

We made it to Cozad, Nebraska, at about 5:30 PM and were both spent and hungry.  We found the Cozad City Park and rested.  We needed it as we had another 19 miles and heavy wind!  The good thing is that the first 13 were SO BAD (Weather.com listed winds at 25 MPH with gusts of 30 MPH), but we turned south for the last 6 miles and had a GREAT tailwind.  We were able to average 20 MPH with that tailwind.  It was good as, for the first time in the ride, we had a dog chase us.  There is no way we would have outrun the dog into the wind, which scared us both!

We made it to Lexington just before 8:00 PM.  We were going to camp for the night at the City campground.  Quite frankly, it was scary.  We stopped by the local store and met a guy coming out of the station.  He asked what we were doing, and we asked him if it was safe to camp.  He looked a little concerned, and we were as well, by the looks of things.  I explained Jordan just completed his Master's Degree, and we were making our trip to try to be together before he entered the real world and would not want to spend most of his vacation just hanging with an overweight, annoying father.

He went to his truck and said he had something for us. He came out with a $100 bill and said get a hotel and happy graduation.  I tried to tell him it was unnecessary, but he said there was a reason we met today and left.  We went to the Minuteman Hotel, ate at the DQ, and watched the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers playoff game.  It was an excellent game to watch.  The hotel also had laundry, so we had to wash our clothes.  THEY NEEDED IT!!!!

Jordan provided draft opportunities today for about 60 miles when possible.  Yes, at times, the wind was so strong drafting was not possible!  I have no idea how he manages to hold close to a 12 mph average in that wind.  The temperature peaked over 90 degrees once again.  It was typical July heat in Minnesota. So far, Nebraska is not my favorite state in which to bike.  As an addendum to that thought, after the fifth flat tire in 4 days, these roads are a minefield against tires.

So, at 377 miles, we are looking at the weather, and tomorrow may be our last rain-free day for a few days.  With the motel stay, we are planning 90 miles tomorrow, and if we survive the wind, we may go for 110 like we did the first day.

SUMMARY OF DAY 4:  A total of 87.6 miles and 11.9 MPH (riding time only) and a total on-bike time of 7 hours and 22 minutes.  It was 12 hours and 21 minutes for the day, with a temperature range of 54 F at the start to almost 92 F at the peak.  Total ascent (according to Garmin Connect) was 247 feet with a decent of 772 feet.  We had a 466-foot net elevation drop from 3,345 feet to 2,879 feet.

Our 10 miles splits from MapMyRide (time includes breaks, and mph is based only on riding time) were:

0-10 in 0:44:01 - 13.6 mph
10-20 in 0:47:53 - 13.3 mph
20-30 in 3:17:48 - 10.4 mph
30-40 in 1:03:14 - 12.9 mph
40-50 in 0:55:57 - 12.0 mph
50-60 in 2:23:18 - 10.9 mph
60-70 in 1:10:54 - 11.6 mph
70-80 in 0:52:28 - 12.0 mph
Last 7.5 in 1:05:01 - 10.7 mph