Wagon Trail Sites and from Wyoming to Idaho

My childhood fascination with the pioneers and their wagon journeys has never left me.  Helping to teach that period of American history only reinforced it.  So this trip has included several historic stopping places on the Oregon Trail.

Scotts Bluff was the first rock obstacle of the trail.  A bottleneck formed when single file wagons had to cross ravines between 2 sections of the formation.  You can walk the depressed area with 6 foot banks on each side that the wagon traffic left.

This gateway to the mountains that wagons and walkers would cross before Oregon was very impressive.  Not unlike the view from the top.  You can hike or drive up.

Before reaching Scotts Bluff many wagon trains camped at Chimney Rock.  It now has an excellent Visitor Center and a cemetery nearby.  Click on the picture to read the gravestone.

Our next destination was a favorite lake in Wyoming at Curt Gowdy State Park near Cheyenne.  We never thought what it might be like in April.  After setting up camp and stabilizing the trailer, we saw that the other camper had just left the empty park.  The wind began to howl as we noticed approaching dark clouds.  Sure enough the radio was predicting rain, snow, and high winds.  So we broke down camp and headed to lower ground.  Maybe we can enjoy this view another time.

After a white out snow storm and scary, high winds all night in Rawlins, WY,  we found one of the most scenic drives in the US for our next adventure.  Rt. 30 connects I-80 and I-15 west and north into Idaho at the little town of McCammon. A  large portion of the route is the old Oregon Trail as it follows 2 meandering rivers in gorgeous valleys rimmed by high mountains.  For both of us the scenery was 'top of the list' fantastic.  I could have turned around the next day and repeated the route. A night in a tiny park in McCammon was a nice ending to the day, however.

North Platte River Area in Nebraska

When we made a return visit to the Nebraska Prairie Museum,  I headed straight for the Quilt Collection.  Look at this Civil War Era quilt!  It was buried near Staunton, VA when the Union troops came through and survived to travel with the family to settle in Nebraska.

This quilt is a true example of using the fabric you have to complete a pattern.  Notice the single pieces in a square.  It was one of the older quilts made in the area.

The museum also featured prairie home rooms from the 1850's - 1900's.  This collection of kitchen ware fascinated me.

The Museum visit was a day long event for us.  There is so much to see.  A German Prisoner of War Camp was nearby and the exhibit included the incredible artwork of a US Army interpreter.  His paintings included farm and community settings where the prisoners worked.  Totally awesome!!

The fields, ponds and Platte River banks are roosting areas in early spring for migrating Sandhill Cranes.  We arrived at Fort Kearny, one of the favored viewing areas, on the day after 15,000 Cranes headed north.  Bummer!!  It was fun watching beavers in this pond at our campsite as the sun set, however.

We spent Easter weekend at this very quiet park on the banks of the North Platte River.  Terry had just remarked that he expected Indians to approach through the grasses, but the cowboys came instead.  A horseback rides outfitter was located nearby we later learned.  Most of the weekend there were only 2 other camping units in the park.  Sunrise was lovely too!

We did see a flock of 50 or more Sandhill Cranes fly over headed north and a few feeding in the fields.  The camp ground is located on a ranch that belonged to Buffalo Bill in the town of North Platte.  His first 'Wild West Show' was actually performed as a July 4 event for the area.  I walked over to see his ornate home and huge barn.  He had over 100 horses for his show.

We followed the Platte River and the Oregon Trail to the NE Panhandle on Tuesday after Easter.  I'll do another blog on that area soon.

We are now in Idaho Falls, ID just about 100 miles from Yellowstone.  We had just finished a walk along the Snake River when it started to snow.  It is bright and sunny now as we plan our arrival at Yellowstone tomorrow afternoon before the next round of snow there.

Nebraska Towns and Homesteads

After 5 years of traveling West on I-40 we were happy for a change of scenery across Kentucky horse country,  Indiana farms with great old barns and Missouri River cities (Kansas City was a new one for me!) and on to Nebraska where we left the interstate traffic behind.  Our first stop was a lovely town park in Falls City. The park adjoined an immaculate new neighborhood and there was a little lake with a walking trail around it.  Last summer our friends, Missie and Ken, told us they stay in town parks on the way to Montana.  Now we know why!  There will be more on this trip-- the price is right too!

We both wanted to explore more of Nebraska and had a few stops in mind mostly for Sandhill  Cranes and the Oregon Trail.  The fun of a trip with a distant deadline, however, is planning as you go.  Highway 136 seemed to call us as we looked at the map and I saw the Willa Cather State Historic Park at one end.  She is one of my all time favorite authors---so off we went.  We hadn't been 30 miles when we started seeing National Park signs.  So it was back to the map and only 5 miles away was the Homestead of America National Monument.  Never heard of that one!!  but there it was rising out of the prairie!

We braved the wind for a very informative museum tour and talk by the ranger.  We had not realized that the Homestead Act of 1862 was in effect until 1976 in the western states and until 1986 in Alaska.  The National Monument is on the land of the first homestead.  A log cabin from the area was moved there.  It's a beaut!!!

There were other buildings to visit and lots of great prairie hikes--just too cold and windy for us!  We learned from the Ranger that our Rt. 136 is the Heritage Highway and home to lots more places to see.

 Willa Cather, who was born in Winchester, VA, moved to the famous town of Red Cloud, NE at age 10.  The town was a crossroads and a cultural mix that greatly influenced her and her writing.  A new museum and bookstore has just opened there in a restored store front with Opera House above.  The building alone was worth the visit even if I hadn't purchased 2 books and soaked up all the quotes, words and stories shared there.

We are now in a Holdrege town campsite to visit a Prairie Museum tomorrow.  The town has a restored Amtrak Station and a very substantial Courthouse.

It is nice to be settled in one spot for a few days before we head for North Platte and the Buffalo Bill Ranch and downtown Quilt Shop with over 4000 bolts of quality quilt fabric!!!!  I like Nebraska!!!

Almost--Ready to Go!!!

At sunrise or before on Tuesday, April 4 we will start our journey west to another season as campground hosts at Madison Campground in Yellowstone National Park.  We will miss our family and friends here after being at the cabin for most of 14 months.  We had not planned to return to YNP,    but we got a call from the staff that they needed returning hosts to fill some vacancies.  Of course, we could not turn down another 4 months in such an amazing place!!  The two other host couples worked with us in the summer of 2015,  so we are delighted to return and work with friends.

Our work season will be from May 1 to Sept. 15,  so we have plenty of time to get to West Yellowstone, Montana our nearest entrance gate.  We are excited about spending some time in Nebraska exploring more of the Oregon Trail, Pony Express Trail and the Sandhill Crane Nature Center on the way.  Hopefully we won't have to dodge spring snow, but we have enough time to sit the weather out.

So stay tuned if you wish to hear more about our adventures.  I want to share more about people this season and not just places.  Please email me if you want me to remove your name from my list.

Can't wait to be " on the road" again!