special thanks

I had an excellent stay with Mr. Walters in Lincoln. I ate and slept
well. It's wonderful to receive such hospitality.

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"charlie's fixin his van with the left arm tan"

Papillon, NE -- a few miles from IA

I had hoped to get into Iowa today but couldn't quite make it. I
started out in Lincoln during morning traffic. Lincoln, despite being
a college town, is not a very bicycle-friendly city. Or so it seems
to an uneducated tourist. I think maybe if you knew where you were
going it would be easier.

Found the "MoPac" rail-trail, which was nice, but surfaced in crushed
limestone which is a little slower than pavement. After that I got
stuck on some roads that got progressively busier and louder and
faster as I neared Omaha. Finally I was in five o'clock traffic in
the outskirts of Omaha on a 4-lane and I had to call it a night. It's
always a toss-up out here whether to pick the paved busy road or the
lonely but gravelly side road. Not too much in between sometimes. I
think as I get into Iowa on highway 92 it should get nicer. It's a
lot easier to pay attention to my surroundings when I don't have
traffic breathing down my neck.

My good fortune with weather seems to be ending too, with colder and
wetter conditions in store. Hopefully it won't be too bad. I have
the gear for it but it's probably unavoidable that I'll endure some
discomfort.