Western Nebraska

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

The Lone Eagle campground on Lake McConaughy in western Nebraska was a good stop. We could hear the rumble of the coal trains, but not enough to bother us. It was dark and quiet and led to a good night of sleep. There were a few drawbacks – like no water – but the biggie was the goatheads! We had to step on them barefoot on the rugs before we realized we had tracked them into the cavemobiles. So we plucked them out and made sure we stayed on the pavement while getting ready to break camp.   The ranger didn’t come by during the night to collect the CG fee or throw us out, so on the way out we stopped at the dump station and then slipped our fee envelopes in the “Iron Ranger” and departed the Lone Eagle Campground and Public Road No. 6.

It was a couple of hours drive north on route 92 to the Chimney Rock National Historic Site where we made a stop at the VC and collected 5 or 6 stamps and watched their video on the Oregon and Mormon Trails. Chimney Rock was a big landmark in the Oregon and Mormon Trail system. 

Then we went on up 92 to the Scott’s Bluff National Monument VC, where we got another 4 or 5 stamps.  We watched their video and spent some time in their exhibits. While we were there Wilma and Betty whipped up some sandwiches for lunch.  After lunch we walked to a few of their outdoor exhibits and took a few steps up the Oregon Trail. That crossing must have been some ordeal. It’s hard to imagine crossing the country at 15 miles per day, on a good day, in the rain, mud, heat, dust, wind and snow.  One sign told us that it took them two months to get to Salt Lake City from here.

From Scotts Bluff, NE we drove north on route 29 to the Agate Fossil Beds National Monument on the Niobrara River in northwest Nebraska. The fossil beds were found on a ranch owned by James H. Cook who had met Chief Red Cloud of the Oglala Sioux in 1874. Cook had a collection of Indian articles that were given to his family by his Indian friends. He donated the collection to the park service. The collection is housed in the Agate Fossil Beds VC. Harold Cook, James’ son donated his library and the land which became a National Monument in 1965. This was an interesting stop. Of course the required stamps were duly collected. The digs found a large bone bed and the VC has replicas of the skeletons of some of the larger animals found on the ranch. Looks like they were similar to rhinos, and there was a large bear/dog type animal.  The major digs in the area ended in the 1930’s.

By the time we finished out there we didn’t have time to go on to Ft. Laramie before they closed, so opted to check out the camping at the Scotts Bluff County Fairgrounds in Mitchell, NE. We got here about 5 minutes before the office was closing, and were told we could stay at any of their spots. We are settled into adjacent spots for the night. There are no other campers here. And, as is true of many of the places we camp, the railroad runs right next to the CG. This time we are not only close to the tracks, but obviously a major intersection judging from the amount of whistle blowing the trains do as they come through. It is loud, but I doubt if it will keep us awake! 

Have a lovely night. Toot toot!