NEBRASKA trip
Aug. 13-16 2011
PART 4
In keeping with the roadly theme of this website, this is a view from US 20/83 crossing the Niobrara River south of Valentine, Neb. The bridge you see is a 1932 steel span called the Bryan Bridge. It used to carry US 20/83.
East on US 20 in Ainsworth, Neb. I'll never forget devouring dinner in Ainsworth and having to hear some guy's loud, whiny voice emanating from a nearby table the whole time.
This website celebrates wildlife as much as it does roads. Back at the Long Pine campsite, we found this tiny little frog. Look at the little stinker, hopping around and hiding in the grass around the Tim Tent! Ol' Kermit here is probably looking for roads.
If you're looking for roads, this is the right place! The well-camouflaged bridge here over the creek at Long Pine is probably Kyner Road.
Long Pine is in or near the Sand Hills region. This is the side of a hill at Long Pine. The dirt is literally sand.
Another view of the Tim Tent. This was the first thing any visitor to Long Pine saw!
This has to be US 20 in O'Neill, Neb.
This is in Norfolk, Neb., population 24,000 - boyhood home of Johnny Carson.
"It's Hooper, Big Bird!" Remember Mr. Hooper of Sesame Street? He was cool.
Back in Omaha, it's an eastbound view of US 6's West Dodge Expressway - the amazing highway built above Dodge Road.
Dodge at 90th in Omaha. I couldn't believe how hilly Omaha is, considering they call this the Great Plains.
Notice the ramped walkway going over the street here in Omaha.
Dodge Street still carries US 6 here near 38th. The tall building behind the Taco Bell sign is the Mutual of Omaha Building. Mutual of Omaha is best known for sponsoring the Wild Kingdom TV program, which stations always slapped on the air whenever they didn't feel like showing something that had been scheduled. The much taller building in the background is the First National Bank Tower, which was completed in 2002 and is the tallest building in Nebraska.
Heading into downtown Omaha. Omaha is the site of the renowned Henry Doorly Zoo, one of America's largest.
South 32nd Street in front of Gerald Ford's birthplace.
Gerald Ford seemed like a roadly President. Maybe it's just because gas wasn't $4 a gallon in the Ford era like it was under Bush. This is a photo of the spot where Ford was born.
Ford's birthplace features these plaques, one of which includes his famous quote, "Our long national nightmare is over." It would have been uproarious if President Obama had said that during his inauguration speech and then turned around and said to Bush, "Isn't that right, George?"
I-80 entering Iowa from Omaha.
A final view of Omaha - from the Iowa side of things!
A bit of a traffic snarl on I-29 south near Glenwood, Iowa. Remember, the floods had I-29 closed not too far past here, so I-29 was detoured onto the upcoming exit.
Some of the trip's roadly highlights are still to follow. The real fun began here in Bedford, Iowa. Bedford seemed somewhat forlorn. This is south on State Street. Notice State Street has a cobblestone stretch up ahead, although it's one of the town's main streets.