Yeah, never the sign you want to see when you’re ten miles from your destination and the detour requires backtracking into the wind. I thought about it, asked a local who said that there were three bridges out for replacement, but that there might be points to ford the stream or dry creek bed. In the spirit or adventure and stubbornness, I decided to go for it. I’ve been three for three with these road closed situations before. I was rewarded with a nearly empty road and … three brand new bridges followed by this:

This is what happens when the railroad won’t stop for the smaller grain elevators anymore. Now trucks haul gain to more distant giant elevators and the small ones are abandoned. This puts a lot more truck traffic on the roads. It is also a much less energy efficient means of transport.

I was left wondering about the economics of this. Could added road maintenance costs of the truck traffic  possibly be covered by fuel taxes or is government subsidy of roads driving irrational and environmentally harmful policies?

I think about these things as I ride. I once got a long talk about the economics of round versus square hay bales from a couple of farmers at a little breakfast spot in Michigan.

A little roadside stand in Nebraska was selling these tomatoes. I thought they were so good that I put them on a pedestal. Great to find fresh food in farm country! I had been missing it.

I stopped in at the bowling alley for a bite to eat and ended up with home grown cherry tomatoes and red peppers just off the vine and a place to stay. Thanks Sarah and Brent!

Sometimes you just have to take a chance. I’m four for four so far in betting that there will be a passable bridge. I was ready to ford a couple creeks when I heard that the road was closed for bridge replacement rather than backtrack many miles. Instead I got miles I’m of traffic-free smooth pavement 

Ugh. It’s 2:30 am and everything is wet. I didn’t think I needed that rain fly in my tent tonight until water was coming from everywhere. This is not my best night. Not sure whether to set up to sleep more or just ride before it gets hot. The bit of good news is that the forecast for today’s high ifs only 92 not 97. Maybe I can just find dry ground and sleep.

OJ and water keeps me going!

Selfie of me lying down for nap.

Nope, not dragging bike down steep embankment to siesta-ville. It’s way to rural to even care about things like that. Slept well in this rare spot of shade in the sand hills.

So, I’ve heard some comments on my wonderful journey that have been hard to respond to as well as I would like. I’m just not used to hearing racist comments in my regular life, but it’s come up a few times over the last month. It has always been in a context where the person making the comment is “just telling me how it is” or seems to be looking for agreement. First, an older woman in Ontario, is selling peaches from her farm that had been damaged by a recent hail storm from when a man who could be Pakistani fills his bag to the brim (the peaches are sold per bag) and asks for another bag and spilts the peaches between the two bags. The woman says “Well I’m not done kind of (who’s that racist guy from that 70’s TV show?) person, but I’ve noticed certain characteristics  of certain ethnic groups.” I was taken a bit off guard and the best I managed for a  response was “I think it can really be a matter of perspective.” The moment was quickly over. I was glad I let her know I didn’t agree, but felt like I could have done much better with the moment had I been prepared.

A week or so later back in the US, I was travelling through a very rural area in Michigan known as “The Thumb” having breakfast at a little hometown joint where some middle age and older guys sauntered in and out and all seemed to know each other well. Eventually the conversation turns to the city of Saginaw, which is a poor urban community in central Michigan. The man mentions that it is a good place to avoid. I inquire about industry leaving, which invites a very long pregnant pause … after which he explains that the place has gotten “darker.” So here I am hoping to respond a bit better than the last time, so I mention my experience as a teacher in a low income, largely African American public school, sharing stories of people working hard to improve their lives and those of their kids. I wished I had included mention of many fine folks I have known in my personal life add well, but at least my response was better. I was more prepared.

So I was a bit taken aback when during a convenience store chat in Iowa with a pretty reasonable seeming fellow a week later my response to the statement “the problem is those nigs” in discussion of news of some murders in a nearby city was to simply look at the floor. I wasn’t ready as I thought I was. Not for this to come from someone who I thought was OK.

I feel fortunate that this type of blatant racism in my daily life in Massachusetts. I’m wondering how you, gentle reader, respond or wish you had responded to such attitudes.

Yep, it seems that one of the things I think about a bunch is how to keep my phone charged, since it is hour I navigate and keep in touch. I’m pretty happy with this WordPress app that lets me update this blog without having to use a computer.

Today has been good. I woke in a nice free campground with power and met two awesome people in the morning. Larry Powers had much to say about history and good perspective on some racist attitudes I’ve encountered, but I can’t find his picture. I first met him yesterday outside an A A meeting.

Nila in the pink jersey was tough to catch up with, but was fun to ride with. She’s a doctor who does medical missions from time to time and bikes with her 4H girls.

A bit of tailwind today. Forty miles so far. Forty to go. Heat of the day has passed. Aiming for St. Paul Nebraska tonight.