Midwest Variants for Eastern Express

[lkowalski]

We are riding the Eastern Express and detoured thru the Sandhills region of Nebraska and into Omaha. Planning to rejoin the Eastern Express in Atchison KS via the Lewis and Clark Route. We found cycling in Nebraska to be very challenging. The roads are not cycling friendly and we encountered multiple road closures, bridges out, and closed businesses that are not accurately reflected on Google.

[John Nettles]

I am confused.  If you are/were riding the EE, which basically goes along the SW border of Nebraska with Kansas, and you detoured to Omaha (pretty big detour), was the poor riding conditions you mentioned on the EE or the detoured portion? 

I have found riding in Nebraska challenging too but primarily due to lack of services due to to the sparse population thus limited services.  Otherwise, I did not see the other conditions you had but of course conditions change.

Hope the rest of your tour improves and you enjoy it!  Tailwinds, John

[lkowalski]

The difficult conditions were off the main EE on our detoured portion. We followed a route thru the Sandhills recommended by another member of this forum to Columbus NE and then made our way from there to Omaha. I must say that the people in Nebraska were great and incredibly nice. Otherwise, I wouldn’t much recommend riding there.
We chose to go this way because I had heard the Kansas portion of the EE was on a busy state Hwy and some folks didn’t enjoy that either.

[John Nettles]

I am surprised that the main EE had permanent bridges out (or were they being replaced) as it is on a US highway in Nebraska.  Out of curiosity, where did you leave the EE?  Tailwinds, John

[lkowalski]

We veered Northeast at Sterling CO towards Julesburg and then into Nebraska towards Ogallala.

[John Nettles]

Oh Ok.  So it was not the EE you were disappointed in but your own route.  I was confused because I had driven most of the EE before and found it fine.  Somewhat boring but fine overall. I just couldn't understand why/where you found the EE so bad.

Don't know if you know but there is a rail trail from Omaha back west to Lincoln then south to Kansas that is pretty nice. 

Again, wishing you a wonderful tour!  John