We declined to stay for Merriman's parade and rodeo. Nor did we visit the historic farm museum. A recreation of an 1890's farm. Now that we were in the great plains I wanted to get some serious miles in. I was still thinking about those first couple of weeks that we barely moved in. Patti wanted to take it easy and see the sights. We did something in between.

Today we passed into our third time zone! We were only one hour behind our parents now. We talked to some people from the Pine Ridge Sioux reservation today. They invited us to the pow wow going on but we declined. I was stereotypically concerned about my watch and needed to press on. At some pow wows and indian clown in white makeup runs around disturbing everyone, constantly worrying about his watch. Ha ha! I must admit that my watch costs more than my bike. (It's got an altimeter on it.) I might as well be that clown. :)

Never let anyone tell you that Nebraska is flat. These sandhills were a royal pain in the butt. Up and down over and over. The weather was miserable too. Possibly the worst of the whole trip. Fierce headwinds with stinging rain. Yuck. The weather let up by the time we got to Valentine. We camped at a small campground on the east side of town. Next to an RV pulling a sport utility, being pulled by an actual semi tractor! The eightry cents I spent on gasoline for my stove during the trip probably wouldn't get that thing far.