Western Road TripDays 1-2
Right away I see that I have to correct an error. It hasn’t been 49 years since I saw Mark in 1963…it’s been a mere 42 years. To my credit I discovered the mistake myself. Still sharp as a tack!!
Day One…oh wait…I wanted to share an observation. America is big…and vacant! Don’t worry that we might be running out of space to house people…even immigrants (I don’t mind discussing controversial topics while traveling; it makes the miles go by more quickly). By my not-so-scientific reckoning, less than 1% of the western states is taken up by the human population. Mostly it’s the wide open spaces. Big and beautiful, everywhere in the west.
Okay then…Day One: It was hard to drive away from my dear wife. Despite my long and enthusiastic contemplation of this trip, I wanted to postpone it when the time came. It’s hard to be a wandering neer-do-well when I have a partner who enables such a nice life. Traveling alone would be a lot easier if she’d be a little less pleasant, loving and supportive. I’ll have to talk with her about that.
Despite that hardship, I pulled out of the homestead driveway around, I think, 10 AM. So much for the early start…but no matter. I had planned for a 2 day drive to my first appointment…dinner with Mark in Scottsbluff Arizona, about 1000 miles due west of Naperville. I didn’t want to over-plan for my time. This is a trip to savor the sights and to get off the beaten path to see what needs to be seen and to experience things to remember.
With that concept in mind…I stopped in Dixon, IL at about 11 AM to see:
Yahoo!!…I was officially A Tourist! I felt pretty good about doing that. It proved that I was on vacation and that I was interested in doing what I said I was going to do: stop and smell the roses. Just think: Ronald Reagan’s Boyhood home! And here I was…seeing it…in person.
Fortunately, I was off the highway for no more than 10 minutes as I left the car running in order to take those photos. Otherwise…frankly, I’m not really into that sort of tourism….it would have to be chalked up as a waste of my traveling time. (Although I am a big fan of Ronald Reagan…don’t misunderstand me here…). I will not be boring you further with similar visits to such ordinary tourist attractions.
The rest of the day was…flat scenery (see prologue). I also started to listen to my book-on-CD; Founding Brothers. I’ve become interested in early American history ever since my niece, Melissa and her husband Shahr, gave me a book-on-CD about John Adams. This book, Founding Brothers, examines 6 different events in the early years of the American government…6 events that made a difference. It started, somewhat out of chronological sequence, with the Hamilton-Burr duel. Fascinating stuff!
As I neared Omaha, which is just over the Iowa/Nebraska border…I happened to notice the Horseshoe Casino off to my right. Inasmuch as it was only about 5 PM, and I was more than halfway to Scottsbluff, I found myself pulling off the highway, then I found myself walking into the casino whereupon…glory be, I found my self sitting at the poker table playing low stakes poker with the local gentry. I made 7 good friends that day, and 2 enemies…one an older lady who I killed! She seemed provoked with me as I took every hand I played against her. I left around 9 PM, $200 richer.
I stayed at the:
Day 2:…A leisurely start, I think I hit the road around 9AM after a breakfast of oatmeal, an orange and coffee. I’ve lost about 20 pounds this year…and wouldn’t mind losing some more on this trip. I certainly want to avoid gaining any back…so I intend to eat in a bird-like fashion. Or maybe a squirrel, since I keep a bag of salt-less almonds on the seat next to me.
The scenery was flat, with hedges of bushy evergreens, 500 foot long irrigation devices (called center-pivot irrigation systems) everywhere sat silently idle, 300 shades of green – even the highway signs were green; 75 mph speed limits allowed me to set the cruise control at 84. I wish I knew what those huge trucks were carrying, coming from the West. They looked like rocketship sized propeller blades, perhaps for the giant windmills that are built in the West.
A couple of hours into the day, I decided to get off the interstate and take the back way to my destination for the day. At a town called Kearney I took Rt. 44 north until it connected with Rt. 2 West. It was a good move. I was on a smooth two lane road that ran alongside an active railroad track. It was like wild west movies, running next to long trains. I considered leaping out of Rosco and onto the train with the intent of robbing them. I don’t know what was in those 100 or more boxcars, but I’ll bet it was something valuable.
I resisted the temptation.
This route took me along the southern part of the Badlands…which I visited last year on a road trip to Sturgis for the motorcycle rally. Really interesting terrain – very bumpy, with thousands of mounds as far as the eye can see. Not pretty, but interesting. I tried to take a few photos, but it didn’t really show up well.
It was rainy most of the afternoon…and turning chilly.
Turning South at the town of Alliance, I quickly left this hard terrain for a most pleasant sight of the valley that Scottsbluff is settled in (…in Scott’s Bluff county – two words). And there is no question as to how the town got it’s name: it’s named after the bluff: Scott’s Bluff…which was named after a fur trader named, guess what, Scott (Hiram Scott to be precise), whose claim to fame is that he died near the bluff. It’s located along the Oregon Trail…and was considered to be a major milestone for the settlers as they trekked westward.
I arrived at my hotel, Holiday Inn Select, was greeted by a lovely and very helpful desk clerk, the room was very comfortable, on the first floor, I negotiated the rate, and settled in for a 15 minute catnap before going to meet Mark.
I guess I was tired, as it was difficult to shake the drowsiness.
By the way…on this trip I stayed almost exclusively at Holiday Inns, Courtyards or Best Westerns (with the occasional Comfort Inn-type motel). Holiday Inn Selects have improved a lot in recent years. Someone is paying attention at that company. The chain had fallen into disrepair, in my opinion, over the years. Well, they’re baaack. My favorite stay on this trip was the Courtyard in Vegas; and my easiest choice is any Best Western if the other two aren’t available; I know from personal experience in the hotel business that BW’s standards are very high…and participating motels either comply, or they’re out!
Here’s another insight: all rates are negotiable. It’s best to sign up for their frequent-stayers programs…but even without that you’ll want to ask the following when you check in (even if you have a reservation): Hi, I’m checking in; I just wanted to make sure that I have your very best business rate? Then…no matter what they say, you’ll want to ask Do I have the lowest rate you give anyone? Can I get a better rate with AARP or AAA or…anything? (You’ll never have to prove that you are a member of any of those things…the clerk will get a little nervous and say, often apologetically, that the best they can do is such-and-so…always at least 20% less than the original quote. Say OK, right away. Try it.
Returning to the diary…I was to meet Mark and his wife Susan at their house at exactly 6 PM. I was promised that a scotch would be awaiting my arrival…so I sat in Rosco, around the corner of their house until 5:58. Thinking it would be a cool entrance, I put the car top down…quickly finding that it was about 38 degrees (on June 7th) and drizzly. No matter, I showed up on time and was quickly escorted in to their fine home…and the scotch was poured.
Mark and I were close buddies in high school. A coincidence threw us together…although we really couldn’t remember our original meeting. My grandmother lived in a house next to a house owned by his parents. He stayed in that house during the week, so he could go to Princeton high School. On weekends he returned to his parents’ home in a rural town nearby.
We mostly hung out in high school, and planned and dreamed our future as wealthy playboys who would spend most of our time sailing our yacht…smoking and drinking. We never did make the specific plan for the wealthy part…
Mark has a fascinating history, since high school that ultimately brought him to Western Nebraska…where he is a County Commissioner (in the middle of this picture):
Dang…the way we were in high school, I was afraid he’d burned up in the atmosphere before he turned 30. He was the James Dean of PHS. As it turned out, he did have a few irresponsible moments out there…then he met and married the lovely Susan…30 years ago. He’s a successful businessman, politico and real estate investor, husband and father of two…and still a very cool guy.
I had a lovely time chatting with Mark and Susan at their home…then one-on –one with Mark over a fine Nebraska steak. A good evening!
Mark pleasantly surprised me by showing up at breakfast, at the HI, the next morning where we continued the reunion for an hour or so. Here we are, just before I left for more adventure:
Stay tuned for more…
Dance as though no one was watching
Fortunately, I was off the highway for no more than 10 minutes as I left the car running in order to take those photos. Otherwise…frankly, I’m not really into that sort of tourism….it would have to be chalked up as a waste of my traveling time. (Although I am a big fan of Ronald Reagan…don’t misunderstand me here…). I will not be boring you further with similar visits to such ordinary tourist attractions.
The rest of the day was…flat scenery (see prologue). I also started to listen to my book-on-CD; Founding Brothers. I’ve become interested in early American history ever since my niece, Melissa and her husband Shahr, gave me a book-on-CD about John Adams. This book, Founding Brothers, examines 6 different events in the early years of the American government…6 events that made a difference. It started, somewhat out of chronological sequence, with the Hamilton-Burr duel. Fascinating stuff!
As I neared Omaha, which is just over the Iowa/Nebraska border…I happened to notice the Horseshoe Casino off to my right. Inasmuch as it was only about 5 PM, and I was more than halfway to Scottsbluff, I found myself pulling off the highway, then I found myself walking into the casino whereupon…glory be, I found my self sitting at the poker table playing low stakes poker with the local gentry. I made 7 good friends that day, and 2 enemies…one an older lady who I killed! She seemed provoked with me as I took every hand I played against her. I left around 9 PM, $200 richer.
I stayed at the:
Day 2:…A leisurely start, I think I hit the road around 9AM after a breakfast of oatmeal, an orange and coffee. I’ve lost about 20 pounds this year…and wouldn’t mind losing some more on this trip. I certainly want to avoid gaining any back…so I intend to eat in a bird-like fashion. Or maybe a squirrel, since I keep a bag of salt-less almonds on the seat next to me.The scenery was flat, with hedges of bushy evergreens, 500 foot long irrigation devices (called center-pivot irrigation systems) everywhere sat silently idle, 300 shades of green – even the highway signs were green; 75 mph speed limits allowed me to set the cruise control at 84. I wish I knew what those huge trucks were carrying, coming from the West. They looked like rocketship sized propeller blades, perhaps for the giant windmills that are built in the West.
A couple of hours into the day, I decided to get off the interstate and take the back way to my destination for the day. At a town called Kearney I took Rt. 44 north until it connected with Rt. 2 West. It was a good move. I was on a smooth two lane road that ran alongside an active railroad track. It was like wild west movies, running next to long trains. I considered leaping out of Rosco and onto the train with the intent of robbing them. I don’t know what was in those 100 or more boxcars, but I’ll bet it was something valuable.
I resisted the temptation.
This route took me along the southern part of the Badlands…which I visited last year on a road trip to Sturgis for the motorcycle rally. Really interesting terrain – very bumpy, with thousands of mounds as far as the eye can see. Not pretty, but interesting. I tried to take a few photos, but it didn’t really show up well.
It was rainy most of the afternoon…and turning chilly.
Turning South at the town of Alliance, I quickly left this hard terrain for a most pleasant sight of the valley that Scottsbluff is settled in (…in Scott’s Bluff county – two words). And there is no question as to how the town got it’s name: it’s named after the bluff: Scott’s Bluff…which was named after a fur trader named, guess what, Scott (Hiram Scott to be precise), whose claim to fame is that he died near the bluff. It’s located along the Oregon Trail…and was considered to be a major milestone for the settlers as they trekked westward.
I arrived at my hotel, Holiday Inn Select, was greeted by a lovely and very helpful desk clerk, the room was very comfortable, on the first floor, I negotiated the rate, and settled in for a 15 minute catnap before going to meet Mark.I guess I was tired, as it was difficult to shake the drowsiness.
By the way…on this trip I stayed almost exclusively at Holiday Inns, Courtyards or Best Westerns (with the occasional Comfort Inn-type motel). Holiday Inn Selects have improved a lot in recent years. Someone is paying attention at that company. The chain had fallen into disrepair, in my opinion, over the years. Well, they’re baaack. My favorite stay on this trip was the Courtyard in Vegas; and my easiest choice is any Best Western if the other two aren’t available; I know from personal experience in the hotel business that BW’s standards are very high…and participating motels either comply, or they’re out!
Here’s another insight: all rates are negotiable. It’s best to sign up for their frequent-stayers programs…but even without that you’ll want to ask the following when you check in (even if you have a reservation): Hi, I’m checking in; I just wanted to make sure that I have your very best business rate? Then…no matter what they say, you’ll want to ask Do I have the lowest rate you give anyone? Can I get a better rate with AARP or AAA or…anything? (You’ll never have to prove that you are a member of any of those things…the clerk will get a little nervous and say, often apologetically, that the best they can do is such-and-so…always at least 20% less than the original quote. Say OK, right away. Try it.
Returning to the diary…I was to meet Mark and his wife Susan at their house at exactly 6 PM. I was promised that a scotch would be awaiting my arrival…so I sat in Rosco, around the corner of their house until 5:58. Thinking it would be a cool entrance, I put the car top down…quickly finding that it was about 38 degrees (on June 7th) and drizzly. No matter, I showed up on time and was quickly escorted in to their fine home…and the scotch was poured.
Mark and I were close buddies in high school. A coincidence threw us together…although we really couldn’t remember our original meeting. My grandmother lived in a house next to a house owned by his parents. He stayed in that house during the week, so he could go to Princeton high School. On weekends he returned to his parents’ home in a rural town nearby.
We mostly hung out in high school, and planned and dreamed our future as wealthy playboys who would spend most of our time sailing our yacht…smoking and drinking. We never did make the specific plan for the wealthy part…
Mark has a fascinating history, since high school that ultimately brought him to Western Nebraska…where he is a County Commissioner (in the middle of this picture):
Dang…the way we were in high school, I was afraid he’d burned up in the atmosphere before he turned 30. He was the James Dean of PHS. As it turned out, he did have a few irresponsible moments out there…then he met and married the lovely Susan…30 years ago. He’s a successful businessman, politico and real estate investor, husband and father of two…and still a very cool guy.
I had a lovely time chatting with Mark and Susan at their home…then one-on –one with Mark over a fine Nebraska steak. A good evening!
Mark pleasantly surprised me by showing up at breakfast, at the HI, the next morning where we continued the reunion for an hour or so. Here we are, just before I left for more adventure:
Stay tuned for more…Dance as though no one was watching
3 comments:
Oops...should have posted the prologue first. I'll add it.
More travelogue stories and pics please!!!
Want more on this blog!!
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