NEBRASKA

So is Nebraska really flat? Well, not really, but there is a whole bunch of corn. Most of it is grown for cattle feed and ethanol. There are other things to see, so that’s what we’ve tried to do. Here are a couple of pictures of un-flat Nebraska.

We started of trip across Nebraska in Scotts Bluff after crossing the flat plains of Eastern Colorado. The landmark, Scotts Bluff, named after Hiram Scott, is the Sentinel on the Plains. Early settles spent months crossing the plains from the east. After seeing nothing be the vast expanse of the plains, the formations of Chimney Rock, Castle Rock and Scotts Bluff were welcome sights. It signaled the end of one part of their and the start of another, the Rocky Mountains.

Not too far away from Scotts Bluff near Alliance, Nebraska is another must see monument, although this one is man made. You just can’t be in these here parts without a stop a Carhenge. Carhenge is a replica of Stonehenge in England, only made out of cars. Carhenge replicates the dimensions of Stonehenge by using primarily 1950’s and 1960’s model cars. I think I did see and 1972 Vega in the mix along with Cadillac, Fords, Chevy’s and an old Willys pick-up. They are planted trunk down and rise 15 to seventeen feet. The cars are approximately 7 feet wide, the same size as the standing stones of Stonehenge.

IT'S A '72 VEGA

 

As we head east from Scottsbluff, we opt to stay off the interstate and pick a route less traveled. We take Hwy 2, or the Sand Hills Scenic Byway for our journey across Nebraska. The sand hills, sand dunes really, encompass 19,000 square miles. It’s Nebraska’s last frontier, a wind blown ocean of undulating dunes, native grass and vivid blue lakes. For those of you who remember Charles Kuralt, he said there was nothing out there on Hwy 2, and that’s what made it one of his most favorite roads. He was correct, there’s a lot of nothing out there, but there’s so much to see. You pass through small towns like, Seneca, Anselmo, Broken Bow and Cairo, all of which time has seemed to pass by, before ending the journey in the City of Grand Island.

We are always looking for nice places to stay, state parks or RV parks that are spacious with full hook-ups. First in Golden, Colorado and now near Omaha, the last four places we have stayed have been in city parks. It seems that many cities in the mid-west have parks with RV spaces with hook-ups. Our experience so far has been very favorable. In Golden, we had a large space right on Clear Creek with full hook-ups and WIFI. In Gering, right next to Scottsbluff, we were again in a city park with full-ups and WIFI. They even had some spaces with cable TV. We found a really nice county park in Grand Island, and we’re currently at Walnut Creek Recreation area in the city of Papillion, just outside of Omaha. These parks are so much nicer than most commercial RV parks, because they are in parks, with lots of grass and trees. The price also makes them inviting. At Walnut Creek, we have a large space with cement pad and electrical for $14 a night. The spaces are far apart with lots of grass in a quiet park with a lake and lots of walking/bike paths.

 GERING, NEBRASKA

PAPILLION, NEBRASKA