September 14, 2013 Ogallala, Nebraska

The Steel Stallion (our truck) wanted an oil change, so we spent a day in Ogallala, Nebraska, which was having their fall festival called Rendezvous Days.  Of course there was a big tent ($4 admission!  passed it by), and lots of fun stuff for the kids (passed it by), and several food vendors (funnel cakes!  we passed them by, too), and - the Car Show! (which we did NOT pass by).  After that, we drove up to Lake McConaughy and wandered around the southern shore a bit.  Then back to town and supper at the Crystal Palace Saloon in Front Street.  Ogallala is a small town on the South Platte River (we looked:  no water that we could see) surrounded by a bazillion acres of crops, mostly corn.  A veritable Corn Ocean.

While here, we watched the news about the extreme flooding in Colorado, and we heard that all that water would eventually make its way to the South Platte River.  Hmmm.  Time to go east!

Of course we visited the Car Show!
1954 Chevy.
Anybody remember how dashboards used to look back in the dark ages?
Lake McConaughy, just north of Ogallala.
Lighthouse may be ornamental, not sure....
Golf Club lodge overlooking the lake.
Lots of ranches around here, like this one near the lake.
First time we've ever seen THIS road sign!
A portion of Front Street ("tourist attraction") in Ogallala.
Inside, it's one long building divided into sections, but the outside is 100% Old West.
Unusual windmill in front of Front Street.
This boot hill is no longer a graveyard....

Great statue on top of boot hill.
And here's the words to go with the statue.
There are more John Deere dealerships out here than car dealerships.
Here is part of the view from our campground.
Electrical power station.....but No Outlet!
THE END.


September 13, 2013 Wyoming to Nebraska

As we continued our eastbound travels, we ran into a little wet weather.  We also drove over a really high mountain pass at 8800+ feet;  highest we've ever been.  Once over this pass, the rest of our trip is downhill!  This day with the messy weather was a long one and we were very happy to finally get out of the rain and to our campground in Ogallala, Nebraska.  Whew!

Goats! 
Kindly note the phrase "8835-foot Sherman Summit"....
Which we drove over, very slowly.
Interesting....
It really is growing out of a rock. 
Explains the weird rocks in the next pictures.
Sherman Mountain rock formation. 
Sherman Mountain rocks.
Heading east, we encountered some stormy weather.
(the same system that inundated Colorado's Front Range)
Of course, rain & wet roads = spray..... 
And then came the fog: 70+ long miles of it.  Just like this.
Caused the driver (me) to be a little bit tense.
A little foggy, but there it is!  Nebraska! 
Bubba managed to get a quick picture of a herd of llamas.... 
And finally, FINALLY, the clouds lifted & the rain stopped;
just as we arrived at Ogallala, Nebraska.

September 12, 2013 Skies, Clouds

This part of the USA really is Big Sky country....










September 12, 2013 Utah to Wyoming

Here is a sampling of what we saw as we drove from Salt Lake City, Utah west to Rawlins, Wyoming.  Having lived in the Flatlands all our lives, we are fascinated by these rock formations and mountains and high passes, so pardon me if I keep showing you the amazing things we see!

Coming across the Wasatch Range in Utah, we drove thru this.

Nice short paved trail (but STEEP) took us up to an overlook of Echo Canyon.
The rock formations are amazing....

Erosion does some interesting things....

This is what we saw a LOT of:  trains!
Antelopes grazing right beside the interstate....

Two more plentiful items:  wind turbines, and snow fences.

These eroded hills reminded us of the Badlands up north of here.
This is at the Visitor Center in the town of Green River,
with the Flaming Gorge way downstream from here.
At Green River Visitor Center.

Green River.  (this formation is nicknamed The Mushrooms)

Green River.
More amazing rock formations made by erosion.
This is where we camped that night, in Rawlins, Wyoming...
THE END!!