We left Omaha heading directly South along a Motorway Rosette marked Scenic route. First few miles were pretty but in a Monmouthshire sort of way, nothing spectacular to a Brit’. The lower parts were not that marvellous and we almost wondered why we had driven completely off 
route. Then we acknowledged that we wanted to stay away from simply driving the I80 Interstate and wanted to break off route. We crossed the Missouri River into Nebraska leaving Iowa behind and continued through very open flat country planted with the ubiquitous Sweet corn which seems to cover most of this continent from what we have seen so far.
Through the centre (as it is Sunday) of the town of Lincoln, capital city of the state of Nebraska, a small and very attractive city and the headed West for a while back on the Interstate I80 to Grand
Island where we split off onto US2 claimed to be one of the USA’s most scenic routes.
Finally a change begins, the ground is less consistently cultivated, the of churches and bible posters cease. The temperature outside is 101 degrees F and we travel into what is the Long Grass Prairie of old times though most of it has been planted with more sweet corn.
Despite summer temperatures, the fields are green due to an extensive aquifer underneath much of several of the Western states. These are “Western” states even though we are in the middle of the map. Wind pumps can be seen which were the key to raising large herds of cattle.
Half way across Nebraska start the Sand Hills. These rolling hills carry the short grass prairie;
due to the sand they are not suited to crops but perfect for the grasses on which cattle feed. All the brochures create an image of the open prairie with water holes surrounded by cattle. Fact: we did see this and have a photo – but – it was a rarity and we couldn’t have got many more. Though we do have the western Sand Hills to traverse tomorrow.
We expected from the maps that this was a wild deserted area – wrong again. Highway 2 is indeed off the beaten track as far as the trans-continent charging traffic on the I80 goes but is a high quality road with trucks and cars though once in a while you can’t see another in either direction. We thought we would have to ensure a full tank of “gas” but there are lots of small towns and fuel is no problem.
At one point we break off highway 2 and go further north just to see; we run a little higher and get better views across the countryside. Here we see our first cattle and wild turkeys. Stopped to take a photo, Lynne warns me now to step back into a hole. How I hadn’t noticed a large storm drain I don’t know but not only would I have broken my leg but I would have been bitten for sure as on inspection a rattle snake was snoozing in the shade at the bottom.
Returning to US2, we run for miles alongside the railway track which in incredibly heavily used. Massive coal trains with 3 locos hauling come with horns screaming and rumble past. We clocked the length of one that was halted which was typical of what we were seeing at 1.25 miles long. We were actually worryingly fascinated by these monsters and even sank to video.
Tonight we stopped at a sensible time at a nice lodge which is truly out in the sticks at Thedford. Had an enjoyable meal next door and our first beer since leaving the UK (1 bottle each). The trains look as if they will rumble past all night and we have been sitting in the swing chair out front watching fork lightning streaking down from the clouds in the distance.
All in all, a good day.
route. Then we acknowledged that we wanted to stay away from simply driving the I80 Interstate and wanted to break off route. We crossed the Missouri River into Nebraska leaving Iowa behind and continued through very open flat country planted with the ubiquitous Sweet corn which seems to cover most of this continent from what we have seen so far.Through the centre (as it is Sunday) of the town of Lincoln, capital city of the state of Nebraska, a small and very attractive city and the headed West for a while back on the Interstate I80 to Grand
Island where we split off onto US2 claimed to be one of the USA’s most scenic routes.Finally a change begins, the ground is less consistently cultivated, the of churches and bible posters cease. The temperature outside is 101 degrees F and we travel into what is the Long Grass Prairie of old times though most of it has been planted with more sweet corn.
Despite summer temperatures, the fields are green due to an extensive aquifer underneath much of several of the Western states. These are “Western” states even though we are in the middle of the map. Wind pumps can be seen which were the key to raising large herds of cattle.
Half way across Nebraska start the Sand Hills. These rolling hills carry the short grass prairie;
due to the sand they are not suited to crops but perfect for the grasses on which cattle feed. All the brochures create an image of the open prairie with water holes surrounded by cattle. Fact: we did see this and have a photo – but – it was a rarity and we couldn’t have got many more. Though we do have the western Sand Hills to traverse tomorrow.We expected from the maps that this was a wild deserted area – wrong again. Highway 2 is indeed off the beaten track as far as the trans-continent charging traffic on the I80 goes but is a high quality road with trucks and cars though once in a while you can’t see another in either direction. We thought we would have to ensure a full tank of “gas” but there are lots of small towns and fuel is no problem.
At one point we break off highway 2 and go further north just to see; we run a little higher and get better views across the countryside. Here we see our first cattle and wild turkeys. Stopped to take a photo, Lynne warns me now to step back into a hole. How I hadn’t noticed a large storm drain I don’t know but not only would I have broken my leg but I would have been bitten for sure as on inspection a rattle snake was snoozing in the shade at the bottom.Returning to US2, we run for miles alongside the railway track which in incredibly heavily used. Massive coal trains with 3 locos hauling come with horns screaming and rumble past. We clocked the length of one that was halted which was typical of what we were seeing at 1.25 miles long. We were actually worryingly fascinated by these monsters and even sank to video.
Tonight we stopped at a sensible time at a nice lodge which is truly out in the sticks at Thedford. Had an enjoyable meal next door and our first beer since leaving the UK (1 bottle each). The trains look as if they will rumble past all night and we have been sitting in the swing chair out front watching fork lightning streaking down from the clouds in the distance.All in all, a good day.
View from outside lodging.
Passed the 2000 mile mark this afternoon ; Average now running at 20 mpg.
Statistics: Miles today: 358 miles; Miles so far: 2,097; Fuel added so far: 101 gals; States: Nebraska; Time Zone: Central (UK-6)
2 comments:
I can't begin to say how funny the concept of a wild turkey is to me :)
Considering you assured me that you'd both take care, what with rattle snakes and holes you don't seem to be concentrating! No more of that or I'll send someone to collect you.
sf x
Did you see Kevin Costner's "Field of Dreams" when you were in Iowa?All the dead baseball players come out of the corn fields to play and you can sit down and watch I believe!! It must be there because I've seen it on the telivision.
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