Salina Kansas to Oacoma South Dakota. A short trip through Salina for dinner last night took us past four different Lutheran churches. There must be a lot of different Lutheran flavors. North on I-135 at I-70 it is no longer an interstate but simply four lanes of limited access US 81. Then just north of Minneapolis Kansas it is no longer limited access but the speed limit is 65mph. This is like Texas. You pull out of your driveway onto a four lane road were traffic may be doing 70mph or more. Across the state line into Nebraska and back to helmets required. At Hebron we stopped for gas and a weather check. Sure enough scattered showers to the north. Cars from that direction showed signs of rain. C-Zuki and Burgma had been wearing rain gear since we left Salina. Reluctantly I donned my banana suit to be prepared and avoid having to stop and climb into it when the rain started. Sure enough scattered showers all the way to O'Neill, Nebraska. None heavy enough to be a problem. Each time the rain lasted only a few minutes. Like the rain in the Florida Keys which lasts only a short time and clears quickly, but in Nebraska it does not warm up. Soon we reach I-80, take it west just to Grand Island and turn back north on US 281. (All day the roads get narrower and rougher as we progress. We are now down to old fashion two lanes, but the traffic diminishes too. By the time we reach South Dakota it will be long straight two lanes, just us, the cows and an occasional local pickup truck.) Lunch in St Paul, Nebraska at Runza which appears to be a local chain. I had to try the namesake sandwich. C-Zuki nailed it: the Runza is stroganoff on a hoagie roll. Mine came with swiss cheese and mushrooms. Rich and tasty if unusual. The side of "Frings" is simply french fries and onion rings mixed. We are now rural. Each time we stop for gas someone saunters up and asks where we are coming from and where we are going. In Runza's parking lot a man about my age shares that he went through the Canadian Rockies on an R75 (750 cc BMW). After gas in O'Neill, Nebraska we finish our run on 281 and head west again on US 18 now the terrain starts to roll. Passing the local truck traffic becomes more difficult because the hills and curves limit visibility. Eventually we will turn north again on state route 47 and take it to I-90 and South Dakota. Farther south the road was straight as a string and the hills were gentler and longer. This has been a day of great variety in roadways and scenery: an excellent and very enjoyable route.
We have gone mostly north for two days and the winds have been very strong from the west and south west. Especially yesterday in Kansas, but also today in Nebraska. Even headed west the winds from the south west have pushed her left to right. When we check tire pressure tomorrow I want to check her tire treads. I am sure that they are worn more on the left side as she has leaned substantially into the wind for two days and 900 miles. Check the mess on her left side case. A bird was apparently too intent on snagging and insect on the fly and did not see her. It glanced off her leg and hit her side case squarely leaving only blood and guts.
Just south of South Dakota there is a ten mile stretch under construction. Fortunately it is not as rough as it appears, but with just a few miles to go to the border we crest a long hill and the road ahead is dirt! We can see a car or truck in the distance kicking up a large dust cloud as it moves toward us. Then the bottom of the hill comes into view. Our paved road veers 90 degrees to the left and the road straight ahead is a county road. We are all relieved.
We are encamped tonight on the banks of the Missouri having reached I-90 (after starting today just south of I-70 and traveling mostly on secondary highways). Tomorrow is a short day with a scenic trip along the river to Pierre and then a stop by to reminisce in Gettysburg before joining friends in Stockholm.
