Day 34: Arapahoe, NE to Benkelman, NE

• Distance: 100.43 mi
• Elevation: 2,674 ft
• Dedication: Tammy and Uncle Tim
• Ride group: Maggie, Bailey, Bethany, Jake, and Eli
• Host: Dundy County High School

This morning we were spoiled by an incredible breakfast from the folks at First United Methodist, especially when you consider that we showed up at their door yesterday evening! There was so much food I missed the cinnamon rolls on my first pass at the buffet and nearly knocked over my chair in excitement when Shelby pointed them out. We were so touched by their generosity and many of us dedicated our days to Tammy, a member of their congregation who passed in October from cancer, to motivate us on this long day.

We’ve all chosen 4K birthdays to celebrate everyone on the trip and today was Maggie’s birthday! The birthday person gets to wear a fun outfit, pick their ride groups, and request a special lunch. Unfortunately her knee was bothering her quite a bit so she ended up racking at lunch, but we still had a lot of fun celebrating her!

Our first 40ish miles were very flat and straight so Eli and Jake both took a shot at breaking the 4K record for longest distance biked with no hands. 4K records aren’t very official but I’m pretty sure they both broke it– Jake managed an impressive 25 miles and Eli kept it going for a total of 40 miles.

It started to get really hot after our second water stop. Eli got his second flat of the day right before our lunch stop, which was at a reservoir. I have never been happier to see a body of water in my life! There isn’t much shade at all out here so we were just baking in the sun while he changed his tube. Lunch involved quickly devouring some Wendy’s, going for a swim, and then eating some more Wendy’s. The lake was a little strange but the water felt so nice.

After lunch, Maggie and BK racked and Bailey, Jake, Eli, and I set out at a pretty quick pace. We stopped again at the Stratton Country Market, where the incredibly kind ladies working there gave three ride groups free drinks. One of them also left us with a very energetic “WHOOP WHOOP!” call that we plan to work into our team cheer. The store was also on Bailey Street, which Bailey and I had to get a photo with (my middle name is Bailey!).

I struggled quite a bit the last few miles due to the heat, tired legs, and some lingering fatigue from COVID. We did stop quite a bit though, one time to take a picture with the sign marking our entry to Mountain Time! I was also working overtime to keep up with Bailey, who after so many weeks off the bike was feeling strong and ready to crush her first century. She absolutely crushed today despite the heat and her knee and everything else and I am so, so proud of her (plot twist, this blog is just a Bailey fan account).

The host ended up being at the top of a pretty ridiculous hill, and when we got there we were at 95 miles. We decided to ride around Benkelman to get us to 100 miles while avoiding as many hills as possible. With just a few miles to go, Eli got his third flat of the day and we once again baked in the sun while he fixed it. We arrived to the host utterly exhausted, drenched in sweat, sunscreen, dirt, and chain grease, and devoured some delicious sandwiches the host van got donated for dinner. I took a mediocre shower and took care of a few things, and I’m currently half asleep on my sleeping pad, so excited to go to bed!

Until tomorrow,

Lauren