Tour de NE and other celebrations

Tour de NE is such a special ride for Rusty and me.  We met there 7 years ago.  It is a fabulous way to see the small towns and back roads of Nebraska.
This year's tour started in Doniphan, NE, just south of Grand Island.

Off we go!

Rich tries to stay ahead of us, marking the route.

Some of the things one finds along the way are truly amazing.  Not far from the start, we found the Martin Brothers' historical marker.
"The general Indian uprising of 1864 centering in the Platte Valley caused great loss of life and property among the early settlers. The area of one of the most dramatic events associated with this outbreak is marked with this stone monument.  On a day in August, 1864, George Martin, an ex-English jockey who had come to Hall County in 1862, and his two young sons, Nat and Robert, were loading hay in a field near their homestead. Suddenly they were attacked by a small band of Sioux Indians. While the father attempted to ward off the attackers from the wagon with his repeating rifle, the boys jumped on their mare and, riding double, started for home. Pursued by the Sioux, the fleeing pony and her riders became targets for numerous arrows, one of which passed through Nat's body and lodged in Robert's back. Thus pinned together by a single arrow, the boys tumbled from their horse. The Indians, evidently believing that the boys were nearly dead, rode away without scalping them. Robert never recovered fully from his back injury, and although Nat nearly died of his wounds he lived to tell this story to his grandchildren."

Sometimes the locals really get into catering to the cyclists.

Here's a creative entrepreneur.

Musicians entertain us in Callaway

Dar and Susan, this picture is for you!

We spent a little time wetting our whistle at The Dam Bar in Rockville.  Who ever heard of Rockville, NE?

We had deep-fried gizzards with our beer.

An X-rated bumper sticker at The Dam Bar.

Most of the small towns are VERY proud of who they are.

Rusty and I were self-sagged, so we avoided the bag search each afternoon.

 Have you ever heard of Oconto, NE?  I had not.  An Oconto farmer enjoys up-cycling old pieces of iron.  Here are just a few of his pieces displayed at the entrance to town.

We enjoy seeing some of our friends who do the ride each year.

Clayton is a retired LPS teacher who subbed for me many times during my last 4 years as a teacher.

Bruce and Alyssa are two of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet; they are awesome riders!

Some of the hills were pretty big, especially on the way to Callaway.

The hills on either side of Callaway were tons of fun!

The best part about pumping up those big hills is giving yourself permission to eat pie.

Dar, I had some fabulous sour-cherry pie!

Many thanks to our hosts, Susan and Rich Rodenburg.

This year's route was Doniphan to Loup City to Callaway to Holdredge to Blue Hill and back to Doniphan.

As much as we love Tour de NE, we shortened our trip this year so we could attend the 25th Anniversary of our two, very dear friends, Becky and Mary.

It was a beautiful evening with beautiful people.  We were honored to be invited.

Becky and Mary delivered a tear-jerking speech that celebrated each of their guests.

Our party hosts, Emily and Ross Faubel (daughter and son-in-law to Kate Mason).

Rusty and I ended the month with our own fifth-anniversary celebration.  We went to dinner at Dish, where we had our very first date.

Rusty surprised me with some beautiful new bling!!!!!

Becky said, "...over the years, watching Rusty tenderly provide DiAnn with new roofs from which to fly her kite, and watching my friend sail her kite higher and farther in new directions, I am so very glad that DiAnn grabbed both the kite strings and the heart of this good music man."

ME TOO!