Northward Ho; Day 2; June 11, 2011

We departed Concordia, KS at 8:00 am.  It was 59 and foggy.  Our route for today was: 81 north into Nebraska, 136 west, 14 north, 6 west, 34/281 north to Grand Island, and 2 west to Alliance, NE; a grand total of 425 miles.

Our first stop was for gas in Nelson, NE.  Marge decided she needed more clothes for warmth.  She needed help putting on her sweat pants over her blue jeans so Carl “helped” her by holding her upright.  He then rewarded himself by copping a feel and giving her a little butt hump.Carl "helping" Marge put on her sweat pants; Nelson, NEWhat a sick man!?!?!?  Chris eventually had to help out . . . . . . . . . .  with getting the sweat pants on, not the other stuff.

Hwy 2 between Grand Island and Alliance is dubbed the Sand Hill Journey and is designated as a Nebraska scenic byway.  Portions of it lived up to that billing.  The highway pretty much paralleled a very busy BNSF rail line.  All eastbound trains were pulling full coal cars while all westbound trains were pulling empty coal cars.  The train traffic reminded Chris of her Dad, a long time railroad man.

We stopped for gas in Ravenna and then for lunch in Broken Bow.  Marge had been wanting to try a Runza restaurant so that is where we dined.  The food was good but a short way down Hwy 2 Marge found that Runza gave her the Runzas.  She had to stop for a quick download at Norm’s Sinclair in Dunning.Runza download site; Norm's Sinclair; Dunning, NE

After a brief stop for photos at the entrance to the Nebraska National Forest (doesn’t appear very impressive from the Hwy) we continued west to a gas station and convenience store called That Stop at the corner of Hwy 2 and Hwy 61.That Stop; @ the junction of Hwys 2 and 61 just east of Hyannis, NEWe had a good break and took some photos of the surrounding country.

We stopped for the day at Days Inn (not recommended) in Alliance, NE.  It was a great day of riding.  The cool fog eventually gave way to mostly sunny skies and our high temperature was 78.  After we landed and got our motorcycles covered a storm blew in with some pretty heavy rain.  We were glad we were off the road.

Tomorrow we should make it to the Black Hills area.

For all photos from today click on the following link: https://picasaweb.google.com/goldwinger.shawnee/NorthwardHoDay2061111?feat=directlink

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