Fire Earth Water Air

The ancient Greeks may have been on to something when they established to four element theory. This theory was in common use I believe until the 19th century. It was that everything consisted (in varying amounts) of fire, earth, water, and air. They might have been on to something. These four elements have been a big part in making this experience what it is.
Fire: the sun is fire, essentially. If you don’t believe me spend 10 hours a day everyday under it and then we’ll talk. The sun will leech every drop of water from you if it so desires, it will cook you like a stuck pig and make you sweat like one too. The sun is fire. But fire also seems to enjoy the company of our gypsy-like group. There have been 5 separate occasions where we arrive in a small town for the night. And sometime before supper the sirens are sounding. They have all been brush fires, but still very strange. Steph, a rider with us actually helped save a line of trees from certain doom when she noticed that the base of one was on fire.
Earth: the earth is an obvious one. It can be flat, it can be hilly, and then it can be downright torturous. From the flatlands and rolling hills of Nebraska, and eastern Colorado to the mountains in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and central Colorado the earth has presented some challenges.
Water: the most essential element in our fight against the other three. Water rejuvenates us, replenishes us, cools us, and helps keep us going. Cold water is a delicacy; it is incredible how quickly the sun can heat up a bottle of water to an unlikeable degree. But we drink our pee warm water to stay alive. But water can also hinder us, but only when it joins forces with air, this is called humidity.
Air: it also essential in itself as we need it to breathe. But when this air starts moving it can create a long day. We were told before we left that wind blows west to east; that is wrong. Wind can, and wind may. But the wind doesn’t always blow west to east. On three of five days last week the wind blew east to west, which is ok if you are either biking west or biking for only 10-20km. We, however, are biking east over 150+km a day. Those days were long, drawn-out and tough. We did however have one day in where the wind blew east. I biked with my friend Sarah Terpstra and made record time averaging about 31km/hr over 156km.
This past week we entered Nebraska and biked our way through the towns of McCook, Minden, York, and we spent the weekend in Fremont. Now Nebraska has some very nice people. I stress some. Not because the people are unfriendly, cause they have been very good to us, but because there aren’t really any people here. Fremont, NE is home to about 25,000 people and is Nebraska’s 5th largest city. The other 4 largest are found in the same area, Eastern Nebraska. This should give you a glimpse into what the western side looks like: corn and soybeans. Nebraska is basically flat in the central areas, with rolling hills towards Colorado (in the west) and Omaha (in the east). These were very disappointing as we were told the plains would be flat. But there is nothing we can do except bite the bit and pedal up the hills. But on Saturday the long, dreadful ride was worth it; as I got to spend the weekend with my parents who came without me knowing. A very nice surprise.
The rides have been mostly dull and seemingly endless with infinite road stretching out it’s long legs across the horizon parting seas of corn and soybean fields. We entered Iowa today and are now technically in Sergeant’s Bluff a city a few miles south of Sioux City, Iowa. Tomorrow we have a short ride of 98km to Sioux Center where we will get to stay in dorms at Dordt College. After that we have two 182km days followed by a 162km day. Also known as centuries (100 or more miles).
I will write back after the 3 long days ahead when we will be in Madison, Wisconsin. That is if I survive the three back to back to back century rides.
Peace&GodBless
Matt