Another shorter ride as I avoid the worst heat and wind. The weather forecast for today was similar to yesterday: high around 103F and a SSW wind between 15mph and 25mph becoming windier and hotter in the afternoon. So I used a similar strategy: depart just before sunrise and make a shorter distance. This worked well enough today, despite a headwind the last 10 miles.

I continue to slowly climb, briefly topping 3500ft elevation today. I get the sense there are irrigated fields in the valley (mostly corn) and grasslands further from the river. It is all very flat though I had some slight hills at the end.

First exercise was to cross the South Platte River and get back on US 30. Here I am stopped for a passing train.

Nice shoulder today until Ogallala. Not much traffic so shoulders are not as much of a concern.

Much of the history is about (a) native Americans (b) people traveling across the area as much as settlers who came later.

Roscoe had a grain elevator and not much else.

Ogallala was the largest town I crossed today with a population of ~5k. All others had less than 1000.

Brule was the next settlement. Here comes the train… After this the wind started to pick up.

Historical marker.

Post office in Big Springs. I didn’t see much in the town. More of the activity seems to be a mile away at the interstate

A good day to sell flags…

Big Springs is between North Platte and Sidney, just above that northeast corner of Colorado. Both today and yesterday there was a corridor of gusty going NNE and calmer not far west. I have slowly been moving across that wind to cooler and drier areas.

There seems to be much more commerce at the Interstate 80 exchange than in Big Springs itself. I came early and first had a leisurely brunch. After that found the motel where they fortunately were able to let me check in early. So far my strategy of departing as it gets light and arriving has worked with the wind and afternoon heat. I also seem to be inching away from the most humid and hottest parts as the heat dome also slowly goes eastwards.

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