BACK ON THE ROAD

Two weeks, it’s was two weeks of waiting for our new slide out motor.  During that time we saw plenty of Riverton.  Don’t think we’ll ever be coming back.  We did manage to get out and about exploring this part of Wyoming.  We took a couple of hikes, soaked in the hot springs in Thermopolis, visited a ghost town.  I even managed to get in a couple of bike rides.  We also met up with my sister Jude, who was passing through Wyoming 100 miles south of us.  This Rendezvous took place in Farson, Wyoming, home of the Big Cone ice cream at the mercantile.  Big is an understatement, as what they consider a one scoop is really on the order of 3 to 4 scoops.  So of course we had to partake as Jude’s birthday was a few days away and we had to celebrate.

NOW THAT’S AN ICE CREAM

JUDE

We hiked along the Popo Agie River near Lander, following the river up stream to a series of water falls in a pretty rugged canyon.  A one point the river disappears into a cliff face and resurfaces several hundred yards down stream.  We paid a visit to the ghost town of South Pass City,  now a state park.  Many of the buildings had been restored so I suppose the season it’s a ghost town is because no one lives there.  Still an interesting place.  Our drive there included driving over sharp rocks which quickly morphed into a flat tire.  With a slice across the tread, the tire was un-repairable, so off to the tire store for a new set.  Just a little sooner than expected, as we had planed on avoiding California taxes and buying new tires on this trip anyway.  We spent a whole lot of time looking at each other and wondering if we should buy a home in Riverton, should we register to vote or join the country club.  We did manage to get the resident rate at the state park, saving us $4.

SOUTH PASS CITY

THERE’S THAT SNAKE AGAIN

SPENDING MONEY IN RIVERTON

But last Wednesday we were informed that the part had arrived, but they had no one to install it till Friday.  We we waited a little longer till first thing Friday morning Glen from Adams RV arrived and replaced the motor.  We crossed our fingers, pushed the button, and in came the slide.  Once the slide was in, we beat feet outta there.

We didn’t spent too much time dallying around.  First an overnight stop in Gering, Nebraska in a really nice city park with view of Scottsbluff of Oregon Trail fame.  We had been there before so we opted not to climb the bluff again.  The next morning we continued east, with a stop at Carhenge.  As the name implies, it’s Stonehenge with cars replacing the stones.  They are actually placed in the same positions as the stones in Stonehenge, but way more interesting.  I mean, who wants to look at a bunch of rocks when you can be looking at a 55 Caddie, or a 72 Vega.  Quite the monument to the stars in the middle of the Nebraska prairie.  Check out their website for more useful information. 

CARHENGE

We spent two nights near Valentine, in the north central part of the state.  Here there is the beautiful Niobrara River, whose course meanders through a plush valley for over 70 miles.  We had intended on floating down the river, but the weather changed, so we opted to move on.  I think we will someday return.

SMITH CREEK FALLS

As we continued east, the scenery through the Sandhills was spectacular in it’s own sedate way.  Low rolling hills covered in prairie grasses, still green this late in the year.  We stopped for a night in Columbus to take a look at a memorial we had seen several years earlier while driving past.  At the time I wanted to stop, but due to traffic and towing the trailer at the time, passed on by.  But now we returned and discovered that it was a memorial to Andrew Jackson Higgins, the man who designed and built the landing craft use extensively in WW 2.  

HIGGINS MEMORIAL

We are now in Papillion, Nebraska, just outside of Omaha, where we will stay for 4 or 5 days to re-supply, do laundry, and relax for a while.  I will get some much need bike rides in as this place has miles and miles of paved bath trails.  We’ve been here at Walnut Creek in a city campground many times before.  If fact upon our arrival today, the camp host recognized us.

AFTER THE STORM, PAPILLION