Cowboy Trail, Nebraska May 2223

For years Mac has wanted to ride this trail, but I always resisted sure glad we waited to do it on the e-bikes. It would have been hard on our regular bikes since the distances between lodging and food are far apart. The cowby trail is a rail trail in Northern Nebraska. it occupies an abandon Chicago and north western rail corridor. From Valentine to the end at Norfolk is 185 miles. It is a dirt trail covered with fine red cinders and in some sectons the cinder is pretty loose. Wide tires are certainly better. After driving 510 miles from Debois we arrived in Valentine under very smoky skies. It did rain on an off all day. checked into our motel. May 19 Valentine we found the trail right by the motel and got off at 9.30 weather cool but sunny wind at our back, after a few miles we crossed the Niobrara River on a very long tressel high above the river. we made good time and arrived at the first little village Woodlake after 25.6 miles. There was no Lake and only a few houses. we stopped at bench and had some snacks Rode on and stopped at the next place Johnstown,main street, just a few shut shops , a bar, a closed down postoffice. Our next nights stay would be in Ainsworth, we arrived there after 49 miles at the Ainsworth Inn. We were hungry and very lucky to find a Subway, the only place to get something for dinner. Next morning breakfast at the Inn was typical,some muffins in plastic, oatmeal, waffle makings and horrible Margarine instead of butter. In the morning it was cool and calm. At Pine creek we crossed another long tressle and stopped in Long Pine for a bit. From Long Pine the trail was washed out so we detoured along the hwy. The next town, Bassett we stopped and had ice tea at a pizza parlor. All the people we met there were nice. On to Newport where there's a town pool hallalong the trail. It has snacks and drinks with an honesty box. The pool table barely fitin the room. We sat outside under a shade tree but 20 feet away I noticed a king snake and a rattler in a fight to the death. We left before we found out the outcome. On to Stuart and then Atkinson where we stayed at the Sandhill guest house. Subway again for dinner and rode thru downtown and the neighborhoods. The towns here have nice houses and well kept yards and no fences around the yards. unfortunately the downtowns are dying.

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