Am I There Yet? A vintage girl’s journey across America – Day 4

I woke up excited knowing I would be entering Nebraska today.  Up til now I’ve been traveling through states I’ve already visited.  My real wild west adventure begins when I cross the border into Nebraska.

At 12:15 I was in Iowa.  Iowa? And 25 minutes later I crossed into Nebraska.  I guess I just clipped the corner of Iowa.  The land undulates;  not hills and valleys but  waves and the crops are healthy and green and beautiful.  Planted in checkerboard patterns, the fields are tidy and neat.  I have no idea what kinds of trees I’m seeing.  There are  varieties of firs I’ve never seen before – some are fluffy and lacy and some spikey and dangerous looking.   I never imagined so many shades of green.  From lime to almost black.    I drove through miles and miles of wide open country, blue skies and green fields and woods.  We live in an amazing country and I feel so blessed to have this opportunity to see it.

My first stop was at the Lewis and Clark Center in Nebraska City.  I’ve always been amazed at the bravery of the men and women who trail blazed the west and when I was a kid daydreamed of running away to be a pioneer.  I know now it wasn’t nearly as glamorous “Wagon Train” made it appear.

I had lunch at a cute little restaurant in Nebraska City and took a doggy bag with me for dinner. My eye was itching and sore. Back in the car I decided to just head toward Fort Kearney and stop at a motel mid-afternoon to reorganize, blog, relax and take a long, hot shower.  What I didn’t realize is that in Nebraska there are long stretches of highway with no exits and the exits that exist do not have the convenient gas stations, restaurants, etc. that I take for granted.  So I’m very cautious about keeping my gas tank filled and peeing whenever and wherever I can, even if I don’t have to “go”.  I drove and drove and drove and finally located a motel in York, Nebraska and had a very comfortable night. I took some aspirin for my itchy, sore eye and swore I would not allow any physical ailments to slow me down.  I’m anticipating great things tomorrow.