Friday, August 8, 2025 More White Knuckling

 

Friday, August 8, 2025 More White Knuckling

My humans did not let me go outside today.  What’s with that?  I did get to look out the windows at least.

The night was noisy, but we still managed some decent sleep.  I was bumming about a morning walk, until I noticed a bike trail that runs along the highway, protected by railing.  So off we went.  We started uphill.  The river is rocky, with white rapids bouncing around.  There is a little train station and large party tents set up.  This area (Georgetown) was heavy into gold and silver mining in the1800s.  The trains were integral in the day.  As things changed, the train went into disrepair.  But, some group stepped in to update the train and use it for touristing.  It looks all crisp and clean down there.  I loved hearing the train’s whistle as it passed by.   This bike trail probably goes all the way back up to Vail.  When we got back, I continued down the trail for a bit.  It really is pretty here, but CROWDED!

Back at Artie, we readied for departure.  It was early, and we were not ready for breakfast so we got a good start.  From here, more road construction.  White knuckle road construction.  Sharing narrow lanes with semis… It is slow, it is nerve wracking.  We start seeing signs:  Truckers, don’t be fooled, you still have 4 miles to go.  Truckers, you aren’t done yet.  Another mile and a half.  The only sign that was missing was one that said ‘Truckers, you can now change your underwear…!’.  We were so glad we did not make this drive yesterday.  We would have been suicidal!  We WON’T be going home this way…

Once that was over, we calmly got onto I76, heading northeast towards Nebraska.  It is a wide open 2 lane highway, with very light traffic.  We have officially left the west behind, as the great plains become our escort.  We still have some rolling hills, green with grasses, green with corn, green with cattle. 

After a breakfast stop, we did a little walk.  Spouse noticed something on our roof that was at an odd angle.  A clothes hanger and a wire cutter later, the temporary fix was made and we were on our way.  On a nice… wide… easy highway.  As we crossed into Nebraska, like a light switch, the rolling hills went flat.  There was still corn and stuff, but it was flat.  And we lost another hour.

We decided to stay in Ogallala.  We found an RV park at Lake Mcconaughy, but talking to the proprietor was as painful as driving I70.  It would have made a great comedy sketch if it wasn’t so painful!  We would have loved to stay at the state parks around here, but the inns were full, so we were lucky to get what we got.  Instead of being on the lake, it is on the other side of the highway, but we will walk to the lake tomorrow.  The RV park was half the price of the KOA that was in town nowhere near the lake.  But as RV parks go… zero character.  Nice large spaces so we don’t have to disconnect.  It has water, electricity and sewer.  But not a tree, not one bit of character.  Painfully boring!  But, very quiet…