Nothing earth shattering has happened lately. I touched upon Valda getting bit by a fire ant the other day. It actually bothered her for a couple of days and she went to an emergency room at a hospital in Benkelman, Nebraska and talked to a nurse. Seems it just needed to work its way out of her system (with the help of Benedryl). She’s okay now, but a little leery of getting out of the RV.

About those large round bales of hay: Valda talked to a farmer yesterday and he said the large ones (about 6′ diameter) weighed about 1,200 pounds (barley and hay mix) and sold for between $50-$80 depending on the market. The smaller ones are about 4′ diameter and are lighter and cheaper.

Miles Covered: 17
Total Miles: 1,593.25
Money Found: $0.39
Total Found: $54.75

By Ammodramus, Own work, Public Domain

Wow, finally I have broadband and with a little help from Chris, I’m connected once again. I’ll try to fill you in and not forget anything. First off, it’s hot! Somewhere around 100 degrees, give or take a couple. We are currently in McCook, NE about 85 miles into Nebraska from Colorado. We are at a small roadside park with seven campsites with water, a dump and electricity. How nice. I had an interview with the McCook Gazette this afternoon and then decided not to walk my six miles until tonight. So, I’ll go out around 6:00 and hopefully walk 9 miles. We’ll see.

{As you know} we left Wray, CO last Friday morning after taking Thursday off. On Wednesday, I had a young man named Branson R. stop and ask me if I needed any help. We talked and he then went on his way. He did say that he wanted to take me out for dinner that night and would see me later. Well, Valda & I didn’t go where I told Branson we’d be, so no Branson, and no dinner. We took the next day off and in the early afternoon Branson knocked on our door. He found us. We had dinner with his mom, grandparents and an uncle at the local golf club. It was really nice meeting these people and getting to know them. It’s what makes the walk worthwhile. Branson is going to George Mason U. in Washington D.C. this fall on a golf scholarship. I asked him what his handicap was and after hem-hawing around, he said one. Now folks, that means he plays golf at about one over par. I told Branson that I play golf in the 70’s and 80’s. His eyes got big (in admiration, no doubt) then I told him when it got in the 90’s, it was too hot. 😋

Miles Covered: 20
Total Miles: 1,576.25
Money Found: $0.50
Total Found: $54.36

Miles Covered: 20
Total Miles: 1,556.25
Money Found: $0.25
Total Found: $53.86

Miles Covered: 20
Total Miles: 1,556.25
Money Found: $0.25
Total Found: $53.86

Rick has limited broadband the first 80 miles or so in Nebraska, and he’s too busy watching out for rattlesnakes to write! 😉

Miles Covered: 20
Total Miles: 1,536.25
Money Found: $0.25
Total Found: $53.61

We entered Nebraska today and so far, the terrain has been rolling hills with a lot of up and down walking. There have been a lot of hay fields, corn fields, wheat fields and pastures full of cattle. I get passed by large trucks full of grain and sometimes these trucks pass and it smells just like beer – stale beer. I think they might be full of barley or hops. If anyone knows what it might be, let me know.

The days have been pretty hot, but the walking has been good. We need to be in Hastings, NE on July 23rd where daughter Syndi and family will hook up with us for three or four days. That’ll be nice. 😀

Valda & I are doing great. I’ve now lost 43 pounds and I promise I won’t bore you with constant updates on that subject, but you’ll know when I hit 50. Valda got bit by a fire ant a couple of days ago taking a picture of a red barn picture. I’m glad she didn’t flinch and ruin the shot. She’s okay now and spent an hour in Wal-Mart this morning getting her shopping fix taken care of. The farm picture shows how they make those big round bales of hay, and of course the Nebraska sign is self-explanatory.

Miles Covered: 20.5
Total Miles: 1,516.25
Money Found: $0.57
Total Found: $53.36

Today is a day off. This blog should have been written last night, but I waited until I was in the campground and could use the electricity. It sure is nice sitting here in the cool air and not out on the road somewhere sweatin’ and huffin’ and puffin’.

Right off the bat I want to thank Sharon R. of Demi’s Diner here in Wray for buying Valda’s and my breakfast. Many thanks Sharon. She aslo called the Wray newspaper and we had an interview with them. It should be out in a week or two, but it will not be on the internet. Thanks also to Virgene Burns of the Hitch’n Post RV Park for giving us a reduced rate on our night’s stay here in Wray. Again, many thanks.

Today was another typical day in eastern Colorado. It was hot and humid with a nice breeze. The terrain is still the same and even though it appears we are walking at a level pace, each town we come to has a lower elevation than the one previous. Wray is around 3300′ and that’s a lot lower than I’ve seen since I was in CA. At about the 4.25 miles walked tomorrow morning, I will pass the 1,500 mile mark – another milestone of sorts. Colorado will be history tomorrow, also. I’ll have the stats on Colorado in a few days.

Keep the comments coming on the blog postings and if you need an answer, go to the ‘contact us’ page and email Valda or me. We eventually answer all our emails. No more blog entries until Sunday night, broadband permitting. I walked to the eastern side of Wray last night and before I got out of town I lost my cell service, so who knows about broadband. Till whenever.

Miles Covered: 20
Total Miles: 1,495.75
Money Found: $0.80
Total Found: $52.79

It seems that every evening around the time I want to go out and do my last 3 miles, the sky gets dark, there is thunder and lightning and sometimes it rains. Yesterday it was about 5 miles South of me and tonight it was behind me and a little North. I have yet to get wet. Today was more of the same: cattle, wheat, semi-trucks and too many cars. I passed through Yuma, Colorado today and had a newspaper interview with Tony Rayl of the Yuma Pioneer. It should come out tomorrow and will be on our Media Page in a few days. Many thanks to Tony.

Yesterday something happened to me that I forgot to mention. A pick-up truck went by me just outside of Akron and it stopped and the driver yelled at me. Turns out I met him at the base of Owl Mountain about fifteen or sixteen days ago while I was walking one of the gravel road short cuts on my way to Gould. He offered me a ride and left after I told him what I was doing. He and his wife passed me again yesterday. Their names are Bill & Sylvia D. of Greeley and I want to thank them for their interest. It’s always nice to run into someone for a second time. 😀

We will be in Wray, CO tomorrow and will take Thursday off. The days have been warm and tomorrow will be six walking days in a row. I’ll resume on Friday and enter Nebraska that day.

Miles Covered: 20
Total Miles: 1,475.75
Money Found: $0.87
Total Found: $51.99

Somebody emailed me and wondered if it was me in the picture by the gate. Yes that’s me and my orange cowboy hat. Sometime this week I entered a zone I haven’t been in since 1969 or 1970. I weighed myself a few minutes ago and tipped the scales for the first time in decades at under 200 pounds…well under. So far I have lost 39 pounds and I’m pretty sure I’ll lose some more. I am hoping to hit 175. None of my clothes fit, and I have to cinch up my walking shorts till it about chokes me at the waist or they fall down. Valda has started buying me some smaller clothes but I’m sure none of my good clothes that I left in the other RV will fit. Ain’t it great?

It was a pretty easy day today. I walked 11 miles this morning, 6 this afternoon and finished up with 3 more this evening. For the most part, they were all twenty-minute miles or maybe twenty-one. The terrain is still pretty much like its been and the weather is mostly hot, but today was overcast with a wind, so it was much more tolerable. No bugs either. The cattle pastures have turned to wheat fields and some corn fields. We saw several people on combines driving on the county roads to some wheat field, but I didn’t actually see any in the fields. The wheat looks like it’s ready to be harvested.

We are at a roadside park in Otis, CO and tomorrow we head to Yuma and beyond. Should be in Nebraska on Thursday, then it’s 212 miles to Hastings, NE where we will hook up with friends and daughter Syndi and family. Can’t wait to see them! 😀 I’ll also have my mid-year check up at the VA in Grand Island. They are planning on doing some sort of media coverage with me to help inspire other people who are fighting diabetes or cancer.

Thanks to those who matched my ‘money found’ up to $50.00. Your contribution to Gateway For Cancer Research is very much appreciated. I hope you had fun following the amount as it grew and approached your cap. Please continue to follow it as I head toward $100.00. Many thanks!

The pictures above were taken at the Buckhorn Mtn. Camp near Ft. Collins. That’s a tractor that Valda’s grandpa used to own (Valda learned to drive on this tractor – can you see all the dents)?

Miles Covered: 20
Total Miles: 1,455.75
Money Found: $0.62
Total Found: $51.12