Bill writes:

Thursday July 13, 2006
We started out with the bikes casting very long shadows across the highway and we finished the same way. Except the shadows were on the other side of the bikes. 575 miles in 12 hours. In 100 degree temperatures. But we made it and it was actually a lot of fun.

Back roads up to Lexington Nebraska. Then a 60 mile run on the Interstate during which we ran through a rain shower. We got soaked and it felt GREAT!!! Regretfully, we were dry again within 10 miles. It is really hot. We turned off the Interstate at North Platte and began to run up to Gordon. The Nebraska countryside flew by as we had the roads pretty much to ourselves. I'm not telling how fast we were going but it's a good thing the State Trooper we met (and gave a kazoo to) at a gas stop wasn't following us.

At one point a very small yellow plane flew alongside us at about 100 feet. We waved. He waved. Then he pulled up to miss the line of tress and power wires.

The water and gas breaks are fun as we find new ways to pour water over ourselves and cool off. At one stop alongside route 2 Greg spooked a mammal of some sort that got us looking for more for a bit. But mostly it was ride, ride, ride.

And then we stopped at Car Henge. We were here last year and we wanted the new guys to see what this was all about. Pop culture at it's best (or worst) He made sure Henry saw it all. We didn't want him leaving this trip without getting something educational out of it <<GG>>

And finally, at 7:30pm we pulled in to Gordon. Exhausted but happy. The day had gone very well and we all rode together really well. We finished the day off with a surprisingly good meal at the Western Café. I highly recommend the Chinese food. Ask David. He thought it was great also.

Tomorrow....Rapid City!

Greg Writes:

Thursday July 13, 2006
We actually came very very close to leaving at our designated time. Kickstands were up and we were rolling by 7:07. Gassed up and headed up 283 North in the morning light. We had rolled up over 100 miles before 9 a.m. It was relatively cool at 74 degrees at 7 when we were leaving.

We rode 283 up to Lexington, at I-80. We ate at a Wendy's and had a confab over lunch over the best way to route ourselves and get everything done and seen. We changed the original route a bit, and instead of heading north to Broken Bow, we headed west on I-80 to North Platte, where we topped off a couple of tanks, handed out more kazoos, and took off up Hwy 83.

We intersected Hwy 2 and headed west on what is listed in the Harley atlas as a "scenic" road. Yeah, it has a bit of scenery, and some nice curves and a few rolling hills. Mainly, though, what Hwy 2 has is expansion joints. For miles and miles and miles, we rode to the steady ka-thunk ka-thunk ka-thunk ka-thunk bone-jarring rhythm of "scenic" Nebraska 2. Somebody at the HOG-atlas-making-store needs to actually ride that road and see if they still think it's scenic.

We rode beside railroad tracks for a long way, and saw an engine "up on blocks" as they were changing out wheels. We also saw a crop-duster plane that matched our speed about 100 feet off to the right, hugging the tops of the bean and corn fields as the pilot waved to us.

We arrived at Alliance, then took 87 north to Carhenge. It was still there, that's for sure. Still painted primer gray. We did see a part of
the "park" we didn't see last year, the upper part with the "covered wagon" and "Fourd Seasons". Explanations wouldn't suffice. You have to see the pictures.

After Carhenge, we took 87 north to Hays Springs, then Hwy 20 east to Gordon. Remarkably, the Western Cafe had some of the best Chinese cooking anywhere.

All in all, we rode 574 miles today, mostly on back roads.