Friday, June 7 We had a quick launch this morning as we were already hooked up. We didn’t even make coffee and stopped at McDonalds for a driving breakfast. Today is going to be a 400-mile dash across Iowa on i-80 to Mormon Island State Recreation in Nebraska. We are completing a journey that we started in August 2012! Before Tom headed back to school that year (I was already retired) I wanted to follow some of the Mormon trail, beginning where the Saints were evicted from Nauvoo, Illinois and had to winter over across the Mississippi River in “Winter Quarters”, Iowa. The trail is one of the historical migration trails maintained by the Department of Natural Resources, with routes and stopping points mapped out. We got as far as Omaha, Nebraska and vowed that we would come back and finish the journey to the Mormon Zion – Salt Lake City. Diving I-80 we finally reached a point where crops had been planted! Due to flooding and relentlessly standing water most fields in Ohio, Illinois and eastern Iowa had not been plowed. As the topography gave way to rolling hills the fields had been recently sown and crops were in the beginning stages. Another observation as this is our first long trip with the Rubymine – the 250 Diesel/Duramax truck. Today we have driven 7 hours, and are just under ½ tank of gas! Yes, this is because the tank is so big, but it is also because of 15 mph we are averaging while towing. Never a regret for buying the diesel! Arriving at Grand Island, Nebraska, we were set up at Mormon Island State Recreation Area by 2:30. Right off of I-80 it is on the Platt River corridor and includes 3 small lakes that were made when the interstate was excavated. The Lincoln Highway, Route 30 that goes through our hometown, goes right through Grand Island! If you want to actually set foot on Mormon Island, you must paddle! We walked the dogs while the trailer cooled off (it was 90 degrees outside) and then headed out to explore downtown without them. Nearby was a very large pioneer museum, but not enough time in the day to get our money’s worth! We had thought Grand Island would have a great downtown district – NOT! It does have a somewhat historic Union Pacific Railroad district, but it was all under construction and renovation. As we travel we are listening to a new audio book about the transcontinental railroad, and we had hoped to view this portion of the historic rails. We also read about and located Fred’s Flying Circus! It is an auto body shop opening in 1955 with a whole “garden of flying cartoon cars.” NO KIDDING! We found it, and took some pictures of the cars and then walked into the body shop. The original owner’s wife was more than happy to take us through the busy work-bays and around to the outside “garden” to give us a guided tour. At one point these cars were her husband’s (and her) pride and joy . . . today they are just a PITA to the mechanics that are trying to work on all the cars! Nontheless, Fred's wife is keeping his dream alive! It cooled off nicely at the campground as we pursed the usual outdoor cooking and leisure activities until bedtime.
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October 2021
We don’t go camping any more . . . we go ‘streamin’ ! The “SIlvermine and His” is our 2018 25' Airstream Serenity with Salsa interior and front twin beds., and ‘streamin’ is the name we use to describe our adventures. Stream along as we document everything from weekend trips to longer summer excursions and full-blown vacations. You know what they say: if you’re not in an Airstream – you’re just camping!
Tom & Ella Brown |