Lincoln NE, to Bonesteel SD via Cowboy Rail Trail

[denbec]

I'm doing a cross country ride starting April 25th and my proposed route is posted here (Mostly ACA Routes)

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=113308409966478718980.0004642c44ff67cc85ae5&ll=45.344424,-111.047058&spn=1.393762,2.304382&z=9

I'm visiting a sister in Lincoln NE and then heading to Pierre, SD.  Rather than backtrack to the ACA route, I was thinking of heading North from Lincoln on Hwy 79 until I get to the Cowboy Rail Trail, then following that trail until I can connect with the L&C route at Bonesteel, SD.  Has anyone ridden on the Cowboy trail?  It starts at Norfolk, NE.  Anyone have opninions for or against this proposed route between Lincoln, NE and Bonesteel, SD?

Thanks in advance!

Dennis

[denbec]

I rode this on my trip (which I am still on) and it was a great route.  The road from Lincoln is actually Hwy 15 but be sure to take the road to Rising City over to 81 as it has a nice sholder where the road past David City to 81 has no shoulder and lots of trucks.  81 has a great shoulder and a very nice road all the way up to Norfolk where you can pick up the Cowboy trail.  The trail is very nice but there is also a very nice road running right next to it with wide shoulders and rumble strip between traffic and you.  I rode on both.  I took this route until I was able to go north to Burke, SD which is also a nice road.  The road to Winner has small shoulder and rumble strip (not the really bad type) but traffic is low.  There are no services between Winner, SD and Presho SD but after that you can ride on the Interstate or the road that runs right next to it all the way to the Badlands.