BRAN Report: Day Seven

A Sunrise in Oakland, Nebraska on Day Seven of BRAN 44

The last day of BRAN! What was supposed to be a quick, short run into Arlington, Nebraska of 34.7 miles turned into chaos. Weather reared its ugly head and what I thought would happen was the furthest thing from what actually happened. 

Per BRAN's urgings the evening before I was up before 5:00am and scuffling off to the porta-jon and to grab a cup of java to jump start my systems. On my way to fill water bottles I saw BRAN staff hurriedly moving through the camp and word spread quickly that thunderstorms were moving in from the Southwest which would have severe possibilities and at the least, lots of lightning. We were told to pack up as quick as possible and head inside Oakland High School.  

Fortunately Oakland citizens had planned an onsite breakfast so we did not have to go far for some biscuits and gravy. I sat munching my morning's fare wondering where this would end up. There was still hope we'd get to ride, but it would be later in the morning. Michael and Jayme informed me gravel was off the menu and IF we got to ride it would be pavement. 

With my baggage in the truck, I took my bicycle inside the high school, as did many others, and waited to see what might happen. Time slipped on and my gut was telling me this ride was probably over. 

Instead of a bicycle, I rode a high school bus to Arlington, Nebraska

 Inside the school word spread of some riders who dared to take off and try to beat the storms. They were pinned down in a small village between Oakland and Arlington and reporting heavy rain and lightning. Rain was falling in Arlington as well. Jayme then showed me a smoking field where a lightning strike from cloud to ground occurred which had been sent in by a rider minutes beforehand. I was convinced riding was out of the question. 

But what would BRAN do? I was standing near Jacquie Phelan and Michael when a BRAN staffer made an announcement that school busses would ferry us to Arlington while Pork Belly Adventures would transport our gear and bikes there as well. Jacquie looked around at us all and said, "Well, I guess this is farewell then Toodle-loo!". 

On the way to Arlington

 I walked out immediately, saw a buss pulling in, and when it stopped I hopped onboard. About 20 minutes later we were bouncing down a paved highway toward the end of BRAN. 

Once again I was alone. My thoughts were a mess. I cried. I felt sad. I wanted to get in my 4Runner and go home. This wasn't how this ride was supposed to end. Then I straightened up and a woman across the aisle from me offered to share the gravel rider's images we participated in at Oakland the evening before. BRAN invited all who took part of any of the gravel routes to be a part of a group photo. The woman was kind to share this with me, as I had no idea where the images resided at the time. 

The 2026 "Gravel Class" of BRAN 44

 Eventually we rolled into the Washington County Fairgrounds and I saw what a mess the dirt roads had become. It was a place swimming in sticky, gooey mud. I saw where Pork Belly had dumped out the baggage so I went and fetched my bags and slogged them over a couple hundred yards of wet, sticky mud to my 4Runner. By the time I reached my vehicle my feet looked like mud clown shoes. 

I tried to dress in street clothes and eventually decided I needed to just throw open the side doors, step in between them, and undress and dress like we used to do at XC races in the 1990's. Frankly, I didn't care who looked. I just wanted out of my kit and into the clothes I would be driving home in. 

 I had some cookies in the truck, so I "toasted" Michael, The Cookie King Of BRAN, and ate them. 

 

Eventually the bikes arrived and...... That was the end. 

Pork Belly arrived with the bikes a little before noon. By 12:30pm I was off to drive about 5 hours home. BRAN was over, just like that. 

It was not how anyone envisioned it to end, and it was a bit of a bummer. But I was ready to get home to my family, to rest up, and savor the week I just experienced. Of course, I was, and still am very grateful for the experience. A once-in-a-lifetime trip. I won't forget it. 

With the seventh day covered I will now do an epilogue for the event tomorrow.. The following day I will post my gear review of what worked, and what did not work. Then the BRAN coverage will come to a close with the possible exception of a podcast episode.  

Thanks for checking this recap out. I appreciate you readers more than you know.