USNA 1973 Ride-2-Remember

Day 32, 4 September: Ainsworth, NE

Day 32 is “off” but lots going on. I got up for a short run and workout before breakfast. We held a planning meeting at 0800 to address the upcoming (Thursday) route from Norfolk, NE to Onawa, IA, a good deal of which is on Highway 51 which we deem unsafe for riders (and the local police there agree with us). We found a route that accepts a bit of unpaved road without adding too much distance, and will load up the bikes when we hit a final unavoidable patch of 51.

We held quarters and honored Don Marquardt, Don Atchison and Tom Sliva.  We ride tomorrow for Paul Fitzgerald, Noe Salazar and Jack Dempsey of 20^th Company. 

Jake Fernau took Ron, Tom, Dave and me to the Brown County Fair and Rodeo in Johnstown.  We met Brett at the beer garden on the fairgrounds.  While there, they asked us if we would be willing to march in the parade and we said sure. Then someone asked, “Do you want horses?”  Dave, Ron and I looked at each other and said sure, so they found some steeds for us. Tes has never been on a horse in his life and decided not to try it for the first time in a public event.  However, he marched with the local American Legion post color guard.

The other three of us mounted up and entered the stadium, behind the rodeo queen and in front of the fire department at the end.  I gave them Doug’s brief description of us for the announcer.  Brett and Mike got some good video of us.

Afterward we had lunch (a great smoked brisket sandwich followed by ice cream), watched some calf roping and bronco riding.  The rodeo committee asked us to pose with them for pics, and we finally returned to the motel as the temps topped 100. Back to Big John’s for dinner this evening and prep for another day on the road.

I can’t say enough about the welcome we’ve received in Ainsworth. The Fernaus and everyone here have been simply wonderful. It truly gives us a sense of small-town Americana that few of us from the cities ever experience.

Breakfast at 0600, 0645 launch.  2 more stops in Nebraska.

Bill Montgomery