Day 28

Good night's sleep ... still no aches or pains ... and on the road for 07:00. Cycled along a lovely quiet main road to Lexington for a good 'Ulster Fry' type of breakfast... the town is deserted ... didn't notice too many churches so just assume everyone is still indoors. The scenery hasn't changed much in the last few days .... it's flat ... flat ... boringly flat.


No Indians, no nothin'! In fact there is very little reference to Indians ... they are the bad guys and have been airbrushed out of the history in these parts.


Lots of references to the brave early settlers on the Oregan and Mormon trails but nothing much about the native American Indians. I thought the tourist industry would make something out of it but you have to go to a museum to get the info. Pity? Met a fellow touring cyclist coming in the opposite direction.


It was Jack Day, a very fit 67 year old, travelling from San Francisco to Maine. We swapped stories and chatted for a while ... great comparing notes! A passing motorist stopped thinking we were in trouble? "Good luck Jack, safe journey" ... nice meeting you. Will stop off in the small town of Gothenburg for my siesta ... not sure how I'm gonna get on the Internet on a Sunday?


Passing through this tiny town of Cozad and noticed this sign to Mark meridian 100W ... now, ain't that sumthin'? There's McDonald's outside Gothenburg near Interstate 80 ... I'll go there and cool off in the AC and get onto Wifi ... perfect. Susan McQuillan picked up this piece of info for me. http://www.mtayrnews.com/News/TopStories/tabid/63/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/919/Irish-Oldguyonbike-stops-on-crosscountry-bike-trek.aspx This is how to keep small kids in check while in a US McDs


Still very warm outside but I'll have to go shortly. I'll nip outside under a tree for a short nap. It's like an oven outside but I'll push on a bit further ... then it happened ... hisssssss! Oh no, a puncture! For a brief instant in time it feels like a disaster but in reality it's part of cycling and it's not really a big deal ... I had picked up a sharp sliver of wire in my new rear tyre ... changed the inside tube and was on the road again in 15 minutes. The road is very straight at this point and in the far distance I could discern the figure of an oncoming touring cyclist. It was Hamish Hunter from Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye.


Wonderful ... a fellow countryman on his way from San Francisco to NYC. We sat down on the grass verge like a couple of tinkers and enjoyed cream buns and a big bottle of Gatorade! I was impressed with Hamish's maturity for such a young person ... and he was encouraged with my ability to get out here from NYC in 28 days. He had purchased his bike on the west coast and is planning to sell it in NY ... I can see why he is a third year student of Economics at Stirling University! Well done lad ... it was great chatting to you and sharing our experiences. Passed on my info about crossing the Missouri. He warned me about the big mosquitoes he met in the Rockies. Need to get some good repellent out of Walgreen's. Bon voyage!


I enjoy these snippets of local history. Wish there was more of it ... Buffalo Bill owned a ranch near here.


These beat up old cars are for sale. You can either restore them or make them the base for a cool hot rod. Either way it's an expensive game. The terrain has suddenly changed now ... no more crops ... we're passing up through the broad Platte valley with gentle rolling hills to the north ... this is cattle country and I can see huge herds away to one side.


There's an opening down to a ranch ... I'll pitch my tent behind some round bales of hay and call it quits. 61.4 miles clocked ... it's a peaceful evening with a large expanse of sky from horizon to horizon ... and there's the Moon glowing like a familiar lightbulb! Just noticed that I've run out of H2O ... bad move ... will be shaving in the morning using Gatorade!! Another satisfying day.

Location:Gothenburg, Nebraska