Thedford - Cheyenne Journey Day 7

Both tired all day today, we think we ate too much before bed last night though we really enjoyed Stubbs. The mile long trains ran all night, sounding their mournful screeching horns.
The Roadside Inn lodge was really nice though breakfast coffee was weak and only chemical whitener. Having only used the brands to now, we were rather pleased with ourselves breaking away from dependence. It was also cheap ;o)
Sad though it seems, we watched the trains again before leaving and ambled 50 yds down a ranch track across the road looking over a bridge to a fast flowing stream. All very pleasant surrounded by easy countryside.
We headed off along the road toward Alliance to the North which apparently has the largest coal and freight railway hub in US
Sand Hills continued, becoming more wild than yesterday drifting away into the distance. There is an increase in the number of cattle which congregate around the metal tanks fed by the frequent small wind pumps.
Just before Alliance, we divert North for 4 miles to the oddity which is Carhenge. Apparently modelled on the real Stonehenge, this one consists of old cars pinned in the ground and capped with others. Two sons created this in memory of their father who worked this ground. After considerable opposition locally, it became a tourist must see and is now approved of. Each summer solstice, people gather here to remember the father.
Turning South at Alliance, we very quickly left the Sand Hills behind and drop to the wide open plain. This is where the prairie and plane Indians’ territories met in the past. We pass a farm maintaining a buffalo heard – meat and novelty.
As we progress West along the plain, Chimney Rock rises in front of us. This is a scene we have both seen in old west films. It seems that in the 19th century, when wagon trains saw it as a marker from many miles away, the rock sitting atop a large mound did look like a square chimney reaching into the sky. Lightning strikes and erosion have caused it to deteriorate but it is still a sight to behold.
On again and to Scottsbluff. Here there is a National Monument comprised of an area with high bluffs (huge areas of rock sitting way above the surrounding plain. As we expect to visit a lot of National Parks and Monuments, we purchase the $80 annual pass here even though entry is only $5.
A steep winding road takes you to the top and the views from the top of the plains all around are stunning. A couple of 15 minute walks explore most of the top and there is much history looking down on the Oregon Trail where settlers passed through. Lynne enjoys the history, I am more into the geology but am kept enjoyably informed by her readings.
Finally we head off to Cheyenne to look for accommodation. This is short of original target for tonight but it is late and it seems to fit with tomorrows plans for arrival in the Rockies. Holiday Inn Express is full but they suggest La Quinta. La Q is within sight but we still manage a wrong turn and get onto the motorway by mistake. 20 minutes later we return and get a very pleasant room at a good price.
We made an effort to slow down in some areas today and start stopping. We are driving 10-8 everyday and it leaves no time to relax. That said, the roads don’t help because everyone is on Cruise and there are very few stopping places. Progress is good as since Indiana, more 70 mph sections of road and in Nebraska, we have even seen 75.
According to TV, there are storms all over but we continue to miss them. We have seen temperatures on road side signs as high as 106 deg F (41 deg C).

Statistics: Miles today: 323 miles; Miles so far: 2,420; Fuel added so far: 113 gals; States: Nebraska, Wyoming; Time Zones: Central (UK-6) to Mountain (UK -7)