TDN and Niobrara River trips

This was Tour de NE's 25th annual trip through Nebraska.  Our route started in Madison, NE, then on to Wakefield, Wasau, O'Neil, Neliegh, and then back to Madison.  Every day was hot and windy.  Rusty and I decided to take our canoe, so we hip-hopped along, taking turns on the bicycle and driving the van.

Di in the aero position

Rusty comes in after a windy ride.

The best part about TDN is spending time with friends we've made over the years.

Bruce, Alyssa, and Brent

Wasau is the home of the Vikings.  This rolling ship was entertainment for the entire town.

A Viking Ship

The ride between O'Neil and Neliegh was adjacent to the Cowboy Trail.

The Cowboy Trail is 195 miles long!  Most of it is flat and open, just like this picture.

I snapped this picture while waiting in the van for Rusty. 

Giant cottonwood dwarfs rider and farmhouse.

After finishing the TDN bike ride, we drove to Rocky Ford Campground, which is on the Niobrara River, just south of Norden, NE.  It’s not an easy place to find; few road markings and a long, sandy, poorly maintained road to get there.

For those of you unfamiliar with Nebraska, this area is located in Cherry County.  Cherry County is Nebraska’s largest county.   It has over 6,000 square miles and is larger than Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island.   In the 2000 census, it's population averaged one person per square mile.

On Monday morning we joined fellow travelers on a bus/van ride up to Cornell Bridge, which is mile 4.0 of the official Niobrara River National Scenic River Designated Park area.  It is located next to Fort Niobrara on the far west end of the Niobrara Refuge Center.

Debbie and Peter lash coolers to their canoe.

Deb and Peter.

Rusty with Brad floating behind.

Di & Rusty paddling our tandem.

We paddled and floated for just under nine hours to reach Rocky Ford, which is mile 27.  The river has a strong current of 4-7 miles per hour, but it's hard to stay in the narrow stream of moving water.  The river is so wide that it allows for plenty of opportunities to get stuck on a rock or a sandbar.  The day we paddled, the last 10 miles had plenty of headwind.

Dean lights his cigar and prepares for an enjoyable float.

Terry and Dean

Canyon walls show colors from early formations.

Nice big campfires at night.

 A motley crew on "the stair steps"

Our trip home through the sandhills was every bit as beautiful to me as the unique Niobrara River valley.  We traveled south through Rock County, which included Basset (pop. 619), Rose (pop. 2), and Taylor (pop.190).  Good to have a full tank of gas when traveling in this part of the state.

 The rolling hills of the grass-covered sandhills are just gorgeous!  The sedges near the water's edge were so dark green that they appeared to be black—quite a contrast to the sparkling waters of the aquifer that have risen to the surface.

It was a good trip and a safe trip, but we are always happy to return to our home.