Valentine to Ainsworth Nebraska
We planned to leave at 730am. Meanwhile, Sandra started driving up from Oklahoma. Joan tried to leave at 730am but the car wouldn't start. By the time Brenda was able to arrange to have her car towed to a shop that said they would try to get her car fixed, it was around 10am.
A little bat was hanging out by our motel room all morning. All our commotion didn't seem to bother him.
So, we left around 1030am. We got on the Cowboy Trail. The bridge over the Niobrara is about 4 miles from town.
The trail was nice and in good shape. It is very pretty as it cuts through the Sandhills.
Maria (Ma) at Ma's Cafe in Wood Lake let us cool off with ice cold drinks for a while.
Then we headed on. At the L-Bow Room, the owner gave use ice water and advised us not to ride the trail into Ainsworth due to goat head stickers. Brenda had already returned to the trail, while we got on US20. She didn't have any trouble. At dinner, we met a family (with 3 young kids) that had ridden from Wood Lake to Ainsworth... they had 3 flats on that section that we avoided. Mike ended up taking Joan to Grand Island where her husband was going to get her, while Sandra slept. We rode with our stuff. Mike and Sandra will meet us tomorrow. It looks like Brenda's car needs a new fuel pump and should be fixed by the end of the week. Not sure how Mike or Brenda will get their cars back. We're all thinking of solutions. This is a great team of friends who work together to solve problems that come up.
48.5 miles
325 feet climbing
Check out my activity on Strava: https://strava.app.link/54I16eL8UBb
Relive video: https://www.relive.cc/view/vWqBP2Po3YO
Tomorrow we ride more of the trail.
