This whole bike tour is about being a voice for the "extra mile" theme...doing just a bit more in everything we do in order to create more value in our lives. 

Well, I have to say that "extra mile" theme is alive and well in the state of Nebraska.

I have been running into examples everywhere: the Postmaster, Betty, in Haigler, Jerry helping a neighbor with a fence in Trenton, and Dave at the Massacre Canyon Visitor's Center are a few of the many I am finding EVERYWHERE I go in this neighbor-friendly state.

But there are two on which I would really like to focus. 

In Stratton, I pedaled in around 6:45 p.m. It's a small town with no restaurants. We heard about a store in town where the community rallied together to keep it going after the original had closed because of the owner's death. Well this community-run and -owned store was closed by fifteen minutes when we got there. However a lady, Valerie, nearby asked if we needed to buy a few things. She graciously, on her own time, went back in...opened the store for Julian and I (Julian is my Road Manager and invaluable support crew). She let us shop...and chatted with us as we went aisle to aisle. Her kindness didn't stop there, however. She invited us to stay in her Bed and Breakfast for the night, too, and served the best French toast with blueberry cream cheese in the morning. 

In Holdredge, we came in to the Plains Motel. I went in and started sharing a conversation with Jayme who was checking us in for the night. Well, this mother of four had the greatest smile and heart ever. She is one of those people you meet whose warmth shines immediately. We were just sharing time and I told her about "Extra Mile America"...and this amazingly beautiful soft face just smiled and small tears started to come down. She wouldn't even charge me for the room because she wanted to support the Extra Mile America mission so much. 

If you've never been to Nebraska, you're missing out on some great people. And if you ever do visit, make sure to visit Valerie at the Blue Colonial Inn...and my new friend, Jayme, at Holdredge's Plains Motel. They are the best. 

And it's people like this that make it easy to fall in love with this very gracious state.