Pearson and Pete rode mountain bikes for 20 miles on an unpaved gravel road (Tank Farm Road) to avoid the interstate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pearson & Pete off-roading on Tank Farm Road in Wyoming (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)<\/p><\/div>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Just as they turned onto Tank Farm Road Pearson got a flat tire (#9 for those who are counting).\u00a0 <\/span>And halfway through the dirt ride Pete was charged by a cow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pearson with another flat rear tire (Photo by Julia Wrona)<\/p><\/div>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n We stopped in Douglas, WY to warm up, eat and wish the rain away (which worked for a while).\u00a0 <\/span>P&P made 101 miles (after the long 137 mile day to Casper!) but had to stop 10 miles outside of Lusk because it was too dark to continue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n On Tuesday September 2nd<\/sup> we began again 10 miles west of Lusk and traveled across the Nebraska border to Chadron, NE.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Julia filming Pearson & Pete riding into Nebraska. (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)<\/p><\/div>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n As soon as we crossed the border we were greeted by friendly people: waves from drivers, smiles from strangers and people chatting with us every time we stopped.<\/p>\n We found great hospitality and excitement about our project from Annette and her family at the Bunk House Motel.\u00a0 <\/span>She even called the local media for us. \u00a0Check out the article from the Chadron Record.<\/a><\/p>\n On Wednesday Sept 3rd<\/sup> Meghan, Pearson and I took the day and drove up to South Dakota to briefly explore the Badlands and see Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse.\u00a0 <\/span>We had a great time and can\u2019t wait to return to spend more time in the Badlands.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Julia & Pearson in Badlands (Photo by Meghan Sheridan)<\/p><\/div>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n On Thursday Sept 4th<\/sup> we found a big itinerary snafu.\u00a0 <\/span>Chadron to Valentine was listed as a long, but manageable 109 miles, but was actually 139 miles.\u00a0 <\/span>To make the day longer and more painful there are large cracks across the road- sometimes unfilled, sometimes covered with loose gravel- every 100th<\/sup> of a mile.\u00a0 <\/span>The unrelenting road condition did quite a number on P&P\u2019s wrists, arms and saddles and really hurt Pearson\u2019s back and knee.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gravel covered cracks on Route 20 in Nebraska (Photo by Julia Wrona)<\/p><\/div>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n When we arrived in Valentine late in the evening (after crossing into Central Time) we met Howard the super nice and hospitable owner of the Motel Raine<\/a>\u00a0who very generously put us up for free!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Somehow Pearson and Pete got up on Friday September 5th<\/sup> and rode 115 miles (which makes 564 miles in 5 days of cycling) to O\u2019Neill, Nebraska.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Late in the afternoon we passed the halfway point of the country\/ trip: Stuart, Nebraska.\u00a0 <\/span>We stopped and had a champagne celebration which was bittersweet because while it\u2019s great to make progress, we don\u2019t want to see the trip end.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Pearson](\"https:\/\/blog.longbikeback.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/09\/tankfarmrd.jpg\" "\\"Tank")
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