{"id":17006,"date":"2015-07-29T21:45:57","date_gmt":"2015-07-30T01:45:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=17006"},"modified":"2015-07-30T07:41:49","modified_gmt":"2015-07-30T11:41:49","slug":"day-19-wednesday-july-29-chadron-to-gordon-nebraska","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tourdebocrie.com\/?p=17006","title":{"rendered":"Day 19. Wednesday, July 29 – Chadron to Gordon, Nebraska"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beautiful cool morning facing\u00a0directly into the sun,\"DSCN5273\"<\/a> as we headed on our easterly course. \u00a0The fields seemed greener\"DSCN5294\"<\/a> and there were interesting\"DSCN5276\"<\/a> things\"DSCN5282\"<\/a> to see along Historic Route 20;\"IMG_0753\"<\/a> some very<\/strong>\"DSCN5312\"<\/a>different<\/strong>\"DSCN5311\"<\/a> things, too…..can’t make this stuff up!<\/p>\n

We rolled up \"DSCN5321\"<\/a>17 manageable (and beautiful)\"DSCN5299\"<\/a> miles\u00a0to the 4000 foot summit of\u00a0Pine Ridge,\"DSCN5298\"<\/a>\u00a0that had filled our morning horizon. \u00a0There was no downhill to our ridge and most of the trees disappeared\"DSCN5329\"<\/a>replaced by lush farmland in the middle of harvest.\"DSCN5332\"<\/a> \u00a0We passed small towns,\"DSCN5335\"<\/a> big farms,\"DSCN5344\"<\/a> prehistoric vehicles\"DSCN5339\"<\/a> and an old railroad.\"DSCN5352\"<\/a> \u00a0We had pumped out almost 35 miles by 11:00, when we reached our lunch stop. \u00a0The southeast breeze was picking up, when we waddled away from lunch, and the temperatures were still in the low 70’s, perfect. \u00a0From here, the route was slightly\u00a0downhill and with the wind on our shoulder\"DSCN5358\"<\/a> we sailed\"DSCN5360\"<\/a> through the next few towns\"DSCN5364\"<\/a> to reach our town\u00a0for the night. \"DSCN5365\"<\/a>\u00a0Made a quick stop at the store for some supplies, while Jerry garnered Nebraska wisdom from a local (family roots go back 130 years).\"DSCN5370\"<\/a> \u00a0“Nebraska’s weather is great, but not for women and horses”<\/em> and another classic,\u00a0“The settlers came here with nothing and managed to hold on to all of it.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Met another “rancher” (don’t call them farmer, <\/em>ouch)\u00a0at dinner, just as friendly. \u00a0He works over 1000 cattle on his ranch<\/em> from sunrise to sundown, “…and it gets a bit tough and lonely in the winter when it’s 37\u00b0 below Zero!” \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

We solved the worlds problems over Chicken Fried Steak,\"DSCN5372\"<\/a> then said our good nights and farewells.<\/p>\n\n\t\t