NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: http://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/498175
everyone that if needed, they could stop in Battle Creek at Tilly's Gas Shop for a quick break. While the others rode past the new Cowboy Trail Bridge outside of town, Jamie and I stayed with Amanda and her sons. The boys told us that was the farthest they had ever ridden on their bicycles. We hung out at the bridge while Jamie showed the boys insects and plants by the river. When Amanda and her sons left, we got back on the trail to play catch-up with the others. We passed through Battle Creek without stopping. I had brought two bottles of water and a hydration pack with a 2-liter bladder, more than enough to get to Meadow Grove, which was 18 miles from our starting point. The limestone gravel grew soft and deep the farther away we got from Battle Creek. Even for those of us with mountain bikes and wide tires, it was slow going, especially for the lucky ones with trailers. Later, we found out that Bob had decided to get off the trail and hop onto Highway 275. His road bike had narrow tires that were not suitable for the trail's loose limestone surface. "I learned by early afternoon that I had brought the wrong bike," said Bob, who wished he had wider tires and rode the highway that parallels the trail for most of its length from Meadow Grove. We regrouped at the Sportman's Family Grill in Meadow Grove, located just across the highway. Carine's husband Larry met us there for lunch, and it gave us a chance to bond as a group. The service and food were great, and the ladies were happy to refill our water bottles. Jim even bumped into an old friend. From there, we pushed on to Tilden, where the trail was rough and loose. It was a painful crawl, my tires and trailer dragging slowly through the gravel. Fortunately, the surface did improve some after Oakdale. The trail didn't seem to faze Nancy. I'll bet she stuck with me and Jamie just to be polite. With fewer amenities in Oakdale, we stocked up before leaving Tilden, where we had the Branding Iron Steakhouse & Lounge, PDQ Shoppe e s S o B s b h h s t l c t I a m G s d B m s o o t 22 NEBRASKAland • MAY 2015 The author picks wild asparagus along the trail east of O'Neill. Long Pine State Recreation Area Keller State Recreation Area 13.2 Miles 10 Miles 11 Miles 9.3 Miles 9.1 Miles 12 Miles 10.9 Miles 9.9 10.5 Miles Valentine Arabia (no amenities) FOOD WATER CAMPING MOTEL/HOTEL HARDWARE STORE BIKE SUPPLY STORE Wood Lake Johnstown Ainsworth Long Pine Bassett Newport Stuart Niobrara River Niobrara Riv Elkhorn River AREA ENLARGED X X X X X H H H H H L L L X H L y AMENITIES KEY X H L y y y X H y y y X H y