The wind started to blow last night and we kept hearing a thumping sound outside the RV so at 10:30 pm Tobey went out to see what was going on. One of our mud flaps had lost a screw and it was thumping against the RV. He took a tennis shoe out and wedged it against the flap to keep it quiet until morning when he could fix it. Because we were having breakfast with Phil’s friend, we were getting up at 6:30 so it was a short night. This happened to us when Tobey was doing his cross-country ride a couple years ago, so we fortunately had a couple extra screws and Tobey was able to fix it! 
The guys rode from the RVs to Helen’s Pancake and Steak House where we had breakfast. It was fun meeting Doke, Phil’s friend, but our waitress must have taken a crabby pill. It’s a good thing the food was good – and Doke treated, so that was nice, too!
The guys were off and pedaling by 8:30 and Marcia and I headed down the road three miles to the Museum of the Fur Trade. They boast being the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to the fur trade era. It is located on the site of a trading post that was operated by the American Fur Company from 1837 to 1876. It was originally called the Bordeaux Trading Post. The station was once attacked by Crow warriors and set on fire. Some friendly Sioux Indians came to the rescue and drove off the attacking Crow. This was the original trading post. 
The building below was a storage building.
Inside the museum were great displays of furs and Indian artifacts, as well as a short video about the fur trade and the area. 
We enjoyed the museum but soon headed out to meet the guys for their first break. They attempted riding on the Cowboy Trail but it isn’t is good condition close to Hay Springs and they got back onto the highway until this afternoon!
The Bridges to Buttes is a section of Highway 20 which is part of the Nebraska Byways highways. It has a wide shoulder and was much easier to ride on than the Cowboy Trail.
Marcia and I took a short detour into Hay Springs because there were two Heritage Centers listed in the western Nebraska travel guide. One was a storefront on the Main Street which was closed. The second was in the 1884 Methodist Church pictured below, but it was closed too.
From Hay Springs they guys wanted us to go 15 miles where we would stop for lunch. We waited at a wide pull off on the highway for them to arrive. This herd of cattle was going through an underpass on the road and they were not impressed with my cow impressions!
The guys arrived and we decided to continue another four miles into Rushville where we had lunch and a rest stop at the city park. After an hour rest break, the fellows were on their bikes and we stopped to check out the Sheridan County Historical Society. Guess what? It was closed, also! We walked around the buildings and peeked in the windows. So many of the things close on Labor Day for the season!
Just outside of Rushville, they were back on the Cowboy Trail and heading on their way to Gordon!
There were benches along the trail and you can see they are set on sections of rails.
From Rushville eastward, the trail got better, although they said there were sections that was still pretty loose gravel.
There were markers along the way showing the mileage.
Near Clinton there was also a bridge dedicated to a young man in the area who passed away. 
And before we knew it, we were in Gordon parked next to the city park, waiting for their arrival. The trail went by the silos coming into town. 
We checked in with the city clerk to make sure we were parked in the right place. She let us know they would be setting up for the Willow Tree Festival so there could be activity starting as early as 6:30 tomorrow morning! We won’t be here Saturday, but it sounds like it is a big event. It is named for a real willow tree that still lives on the banks of Antelope Creek near the Sheridan County Fair Grounds in Gordon. The Lone Willow was for many years a meeting place for all of the early residents of the area, including cowboys, settlers, fur traders, and Native Americans. They have a stage set up for live entertainment and activities. 
We all took a short bike ride around town before dinner, then played a game of Skip-Bo, which Marcia won.
Today’s ride was 48.7 miles and temperatures were up in the 90s. Tomorrow is supposed to be hotter, so they are hoping to get started by 7:30 am, so goodnight!
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