X-Sender: keg@mail.speakeasy.org (Unverified) Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 21:08:01 -0700 To: wetleather@micapeak.com From: "Kathy E. Gill" Subject: Day Ten : The Plains Today's excitement provided courtesy of North American Van Lines. Now, for a word from our sponsor .... Was ready to leave the Howard Johnson's at 8:30 ... glanced (again) at the Grand Island Independent story from Sunday ... and picked up the phone. "News room, please." I briefly state my story, tying it to Sunday's piece on the bicyclist, and the reporter asks me if I can stop by the newspaper before leaving town. I say "sure." The reporter, Carol Bryant, asked the expected questions ... and told me that the story would be up on their web site: http://www.theindependent.com/ Gas up and it's 10 before I leave. I remind myself that I'm going to pick up an hour when I cross into Wyoming. Route 2 is an excellent choice -- good road surface, no patrol cars , not nearly so windy as I-80, small towns with gas often enough so that you don't have to stop each time you see gas. Stop in Broken Bow for lunch - decide to "do the local" thing (instead of Pizza Hut, Subway, or McD's). Even though it's early (11:30ish) the place is packed. So-so choice (very mid-west - gravy and fried stuff. carbos.). Back on the road - the terrain is rolling -- then there's wheat mixed among the corn and beans. Beef cattle appear (to eat all that corn) -- and there is more and more wheat as I head west. There is evidence of protracted depression in agriculture -- unpainted farm houses and barns, derelict and abandoned structures, boarded up store fronts in the (very) small towns. In Alliance, I "turn north" before hooking up with 20 and turning back to the west at Crawford. Now the terrain has a badlands feel -- very "rolling" and yellowed and lots of good hiding (ambush) places. There are rock outcroppings - not sure what their proper name is. Stop at an historical marker and read about the Cherokee Uprising. Working from memory - the Cherokees, after the Trail of Tears, were shipping to Nebraska. Somehow, some young braves got their hands on weapons and there was an uprising and massacre somewhere along the White River. I've been running anywhere from indicated 80-105 - depending on road surface, road contour, and wind. Average is probably high 80s (aka high 70s). Somewhere on the stretch between Crawford, Nebraska and Lusk, Wyoming -- I approach a North American Van Lines 18-wheeler. He's behind a teeny car. We run up a long hill - then there is a long flat area followed by another hill. I pull over in the left lane (you can see forever) and hang out there a few seconds - to see if the truck is going to pass the car. He's right on the car's bumper -- but makes no movement to pass. So I commit. As I approach the junction of the trailer and the cab - the driver decides to pass the small car. The only problem is - I'm there and he's not looking. Fortunately - this was one of the sections of 20 that had an ok shoulder and I was riding a bike with grunt. without thinking, I swerve left onto the shoulder and throttle on. I don't look back until I've passed the small car by several car lengths and returned to the right lane -- and then my stomach does a few little shakes. I have no idea if the truck *ever* saw me. Suggestions on what I might have done differently welcomed (pls remember to copy me as I'm on digest) -- hang out there in the left lane longer before starting to pass? This is my #1 discomfort with 18-wheelers. Stop in Lusk at the Outback Truck Stop - I've done 400 miles in 7 hours (including the long lunch). It's time for another break. A couple on two HDs (from Cheyanne) stop in as I'm finishing my snack (mozarella sticks and diet coke). We chat - they haven't had good luck with rear tires - both have had to get replacements on this trip. I'm 105 miles from Casper -- crank the bike back up to indicated 90. I watch a storm for a while -- wonderful lightening and what appears to be heavy rain. I cross my fingers and pray that it's further north than my route. The road takes a turn "left" and the storm disappears from my horizon. I-25 comes up sooner than I expect - and now I'm headed north. Traffic is moderate - and I have one V1 scare (if it was a cop, he was headed south and didn't turn around). The speed limit is 75 - I'm sitting on high-80s - and I'm passed by an SUV like I'm parked. Stop at a Texeco in Casper to get gas and phone around for motel availability. Settle on EconLodge because (a) it's close, (b) it's mid-priced, (c) they have a first floor room, (d) and a hot tub. Sit for a few minutes at the station - as a hellish wind storm flips through -- tosses trash cans around! Followed by Great Big Rain Drops - the kind that hurt when they hit but have lots of "air" around each drop (in other words, a drizzle on steroids). Run by Gart Sports in hopes of replacing the danskin shorts that I left in Ft Morgan CO - but they have none in my size. Actually, they have only long ones anyway. Check in and head *immediately* to the hot tub. ;-) Kathy on digest