USNA 1973 Ride-2-Remember

Day 29, 1 September: Chadron to Gordon, NE

Start 0600

Temp 65F, overcast and humid. Showers threatening on horizon.

Expansion/contraction joints were horrendous on shoulder so after 19 minutes of abuse, numbing of hands, wrists, arms and shoulders and incessant pounding of your butt, I pulled onto the road for some much needed relief with Tes right on my rear wheel. Short respite since at 0620 we were in the clutches of the law. Nebraska State Police to be precise.  He informed us that we had to be on the shoulder. We knew this to be untrue because Mark had researched Nebraska Statutes and DOT and you can ride on the road. But rather than argue with a tightly wound State Trooper with a loaded weapon we stayed on the shoulder. The trooper soon came blasting back with lights and siren pulling over a speeding Jeep. Seems that section of road sees a lot of early morning drunks.

Bill reconnoitered a segment of the Cowboy Trail that parallels the highway as an alternative to the incessant joints on the shoulder. Parts are very good but others are really only suitable for gravel bikes.  We hope to find better sections in a few days.

Rolling hills with large ranches were the scenery for the day. Lots of acres of sunflowers, hay and corn with one field of sorghum. They call it Milo here.  

We rode the 46 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes today including 2 rest stops.

Arriving in Gordon early we first went to the American Legion and waited till the Legionnaires arrived and talked with a few of them. They invited us to their dinner and meeting tonight, but it’s at 6pm. Bill, Tes and Ron went. Longest ride tomorrow, 91 miles.

Rawhide refers to our butts.

Dave Haefner