Great Platte River Road

No hail last night, after all!  There were reports of large hail all around us, but we were lucky.  The front storage bin even stayed dry!

We had a good day with several interesting stops.  First was a rest area on I-80 at mile marker 158 where Oregon Trail wagon ruts were visible.  Good markers and informative plaques.

In North Platte, we visited Buffalo Bill Cody’s ranch, “Scout’s Rest”.  Cody had built the beautiful Italianate house and barn as a retirement home (hence the name), but instead died in debt at his sister’s home in Denver.

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

Our next stop, marked in the AAA book as a “gem”, was an unexpected treasure.  Built 10 years ago near Kearney, the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument spans all 4 lanes of I-80.  The arch itself contains an hour’s worth of audio and visual exhibits that trace transportation along this corridor, from pioneer and Mormon groups to Pony Express, Union Pacific Railroad, the Lincoln Highway and the beginning of the Interstate Highway System. 

We are camped tonight at the Double Nickel Campground in Waco, NE.  Good facilities, but it’s right off I-80, so we have some traffic noise.  Temperatures are cool tonight, so it will be good sleeping!