I am on my way

 There are so many possibilities that I am getting overwhelmed.  Do we ride on a four-lane highway with a more prominent shoulder, a two-lane, less traveled road with little or no shoulder, or last, gravel roads?  As gravel would have many issues and slow us down, we have decided to avoid all gravel.  Getting out of Colorado is moderately complex.  We are to ride the Interstate (Legal in Colorado) to Nebraska or take side roads up to Greeley, Colorado, head East to Sterling, Colorado, and take the State 138 to Nebraska and the Lincoln Highway.

Once we reach Nebraska, we can take the Lincoln Highway to Fremont (Almost to Omaha) or zig-zag through the sand hills of Nebraska.  If we zig-zag, we may not have phone access and need help finding food and water.  On The Lincoln Highway, the segments are:

1.        Ogallala to North Platte – 53 miles
2.        North Platte to Gothenburg – 36 miles
3.        Gothenburg to Lexington – 25 miles
4.        Lexington to Elm Creek – 21 miles
5.        Elm Creek to Kearney – 17 miles
6.        Kearney to Grand Island – 40 miles
7.        Grand Island to Central City 25 miles
8.       Central City to Columbus – 40 miles
9.        Columbus to Fremont – 50 miles
10.        Fremont to Sioux City – 70 miles

I took the time to drive back from Colorado on May 10 on the intended route options.  That was a blessing, for sure.  A few issues were evident.  Like the total reconstruction of the road so it did not exist and then a 40-mile detour on less-than-desirable roads.  As I drove all these roads, I found a great route to get to Sioux City, Iowa.  Then all hell broke loose.  Between Sioux City and Mankato, the route is not usable for a bicycle.  I spent over 6 hours rerouting Sunday, making it reasonably safe and logical.  I am not driving this segment; I am worried but do not have any other options.

Either way, I fly out in three days and start the ride in 5 days.  The days flew this spring, and I only hope I will think the same after the ride.

At this point, I have 13 rides planned, giving us a three-day margin for error.  The rides are:

DAY	From Golden
1	96.64
2	60.5
3	89
4	86
5	64
6	66
7	73
8	45
9	45
10	83
11	80
12	75
13	71
TOTAL	934.14
PER DAY AVE	71.9

  Doable? It will be doable.  We have all day to ride and rest.