The Dakotas – Day 48 – (Neligh) Norfolk

39.2 miles cycling, 142′ of climbing (2519 tot) – to read from the beginning, click here.

A good Super 8 breakfast prepped us for the cloudy day and some more rain. We had our sights set on 70 to Norfolk, but also had 39 to Neligh as a backup. It was another slog and yesterday’s effort was definitely in our muscle memory. On the way we met Jack, a Frenchman touring the US. He was 3 weeks in from Astoria OR heading to NYC. Much younger than us and going much faster and farther every day than we could hope to anymore. 

We made it to Neligh and stopped at a convenience store. Dana had texted me that Jack was there too. He was dealing with the same dilemma we were facing: another 30 mi in headwind to Norfolk or holding up in Neely. Not sure which he chose, but by the time I got there, Jack was gone and Dana was talking with Joe. He heard our story and that we were going to try to hitch a ride to Norfolk or stay at the local motel, and then he left.

Dana approached anyone with a pickup that looked like they might have room for us. Nothing was planning out, but we hadn’t been there that long. After a few attempts, here comes Joe in his company truck. He stops and says he’s going to take us to Norfolk but that he has to go get a different truck. Wow! was all we could manage along with an “Are you sure?” He was.

He came back in a few minutes and we loaded the bikes into the pickup bed and hopped in. On the way out of town, we saw the famous “Bull Car” pull into a gas station and Joe asked if we wanted to see it. “Hell, yes,” Dana cried, “My friend just sent me the video of this guy getting pulled over.” We headed around the block and Joe stopped right in front of the car. No bull today, but a howling hound dog and, as Joe called him, eccentric driver Lee Meyer. Mr. Meyer did not seem to be interested in Dana’s acclamations as he was busy filling up a gas can. We did get some shots of the car and the hound dog and continued on our way to Norfolk.

Joe dropped us off at the Super 8 for our unprecedented 4th day in a motel. This one was in an industrial area, and you could call it anything other than super, but we were ready for showers and a good rest and thankful for another surprise Road Angel just as we were getting so discoura.

We headed into town in between storms to see what it was like but most everything was closed since it was labor day. We did get groceries and were able to visit Johnny Carson’s statue and his boyhood home. He was born in Iowa, but moved to Norfolk as a child. The town was quite grateful to him and the foundation which gave a good bit of money to the town.

Back at the hotel, I started to “rotate” the tires on the bikes as we are getting close to 3000 on these and the rear takes a bigger beating that the front. While doing that, I realized that neither of use had brought any tire levers. I had two that were part of my multi-tool, but they weren’t adequate for these tires. Luckily, a trip to Walmart fixed that problem and we both were grateful that we hadn’t needed to change an F.L.A.T since we started — or we would have had a great deal of trouble doing so.

Dana crashed into bed and I stayed up and finished the tire swap, and fell into bed myself. Tomorrow we’re heading for either West Point or Scribner, and the forecast is looking more favorable rain and wind wise!