Thursday, June 18 Our goal today: 276 miles to our first two-night stop-over and certified sightseeing sites that are part of the National Parks system -- Courthouse and Jail Rocks and Scott’s Bluff! Nebraska is flat again as we parallel the famous North Platte River that led the pioneers on their westward trek. But the vegetation/landscape is different, and there is more cattle grazing as well as the crops. Indeed, we’re not in Ohio anymore, Tom! At 10:00 we were forced off of I-80 by waving flagmen, and a slow convoy of trucks, RV’s, and cars completed a 360-degree circle to reroute onto US Route 30 . . . which continued west. Surprisingly, the west-bound lane of Route 30 was closed off for repaving, and we traveled in the east-bound lane. I don’t know what east-bound 30 traffic did! After 8 miles (and 40 minutes!) we were channeled back onto I-80! I guess we’ll never know what the redirect was about, but it seemed to not have been planned in advance. When we turned off of I-80 for Nebraska Route 26, as did the Platte River, the scenery took a sweeping transformation; the patchwork green of the fields became equally tan and sage green with increasing scrub trees joining the forestry along the river and streams. Another noticeable change was the weather – about 20 degrees cooler than yesterday! It was nice to be off the interstate and traveling deeper in the countryside. With the help of another time change, we reached our destination before 1:00. In western Nebraska, where landscape is starting to look like semi-desert, a little green roadside campground can make for a great stopover. One strip of old-style motel rooms and one strip of RV pads – complete with full hook-ups. The little town of Bridgeport is proud to host the first prominent landmarks on the transcontinental journey west that pioneers on the Mormon, California, and Oregon overland trails passed. Although they have gone by many names, by 1840 most people referred to them as Courthouse Rock and Jail Rock. Truly out in the middle of nowhere they can be seen from miles away. They are a part of the National Park system, but that accounts only for a sign on Nebraska Highway 88, and a dirt road leading up to them. There are a few benches and a dirt trail that walks up near the base of the rocks. No visitor center! No guided ranger tour! No giftshop! Just these two magnificent rock structures springing up out of the surrounding landscape. The temperature was so perfect that we cooked outside (steak, roasted potatoes, corn/cob) and sat out with a bottle of our favorite wine until time for showers and books and movies . . . . My parting shot is a picture of Tom -- after the wine bottle was empty!
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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 |