Ogallalo, Nebraska - Fort Morgan, Colorado

August 17 -  I leave Ogallalo, Nebraska continuing on route 30 west and then exiting onto route 138 west.  On route 30, I am driving adjacent to the rail line with frequent freight trains passing and endless fields of corn.  On route 138, I still have a rail line for most of the way but very few trains and the terrain changes as I move into Colorado.  

I stop at several towns enroute : Chappell, Lodgepole, Sedwick, Ovid, Jullesburg, Stirling, Hillrose and finish my day in Fort Morgan, Colorado.

As I drive west, I soon come upon a pullout with historic signs about the California Hill, the Pony Express and Great Western Trail. The terrain has suddenly changed to a steady uphill climb amidst rolling open range land.  The road continues climbing for about 10 miles, I see why the wagon trains heading west struggled through this area.

Diamond Springs was an original Pony Express Station

The uphill climb is much easier these days

Chappell, Nebraska

Chappell is a very nice town with a large welcome garden with several impressive murals.  The setting with the huge towering grain elevator complex in the distance is stunning.  It was founded in 1884 by the railroad and is on the Lincoln Highway.

I spent a lot of time on the Lincoln Highway

This is a huge farming area

Lodgepole, Nebraska

A small town founded in 1867 by the Union Pacific Railroad

There is a small railroad museum but closed at the time

Sedgwick, Colorado

On arrival, I wondered why there were so many dispensaries in this small town, I counted three of them in one block.  I then realized; I'm now in Colorado where it's legal. Sedgwick is right over the border from Nebraska.  

The old bank

Special prices

The Bar was a very nice looking establishment

Ovid, Colorado

I town founded in 1925 as a railroad siding and once home to a large sugar beet plant. 

Home to rodeo champions and WWII prisoners of war

The Baptist Church

Julesburg Airport / Drag Strip

I just happened upon this by reading a poster back in the town of Ovid.  The Julesburg drag strip was organized in 1959 by the Platte Valley Customs Club and takes place on a runway at the Julesburg airport.  They claim to be the oldest drag strip in the country but I'm not so sure about that, but for sure it's one of the longest continuously operating drag strips.  They had a huge collection of race cars in attendance, but not many spectators ?, everyone there must have been a competitor or a friend or family member ?        

Several super stock Mopar's lined up

I wonder if this is the original Bob Gliden car or a copy

Nap time between rounds ?

Julesburg, Colorado

A few miles down the road brings you to downtown Julesburg where I see them cleaning up from last nights big car show and festivities.  It appears to be related to the drag racing event going on over the weekend.   

On the way out of town, I stop at a convenance store, it seemed odd that no one else was there and the very attractive woman cashier looked very bored.  I asked why the store and downtown were so empty and she said it was due to the drag race event.  We then had a good conversation about my travels and how she was from New York, but loves it out west, about the corn crop being not for human consumption and that the largest customer was Budweiser Beer.  

This seem to be a historic theater

The gateway to Colorado

One of the most attractive light plants I've seen 

As usual, every town has at least one giant silo compound

Sterling, Colorado

Sterling was established in 1884 with a historic old Courthouse and a historic downtown area with some street art. 

It's bicycles to horses these days

A nice moment to the "Popcorn Man"

Classic old gas station 

Car alignment shop with nice window mural

Hillrose, Colorado

I drive down the Main Street which was mostly empty with a very small group of buildings.  The only action was at the  Place Bar and Grill.  The sign was great with the "advise and enlightenment" in small print.  The City Hall had nice western murals and on a side street there was a beautiful old church that appeared to be under restoration.

Fort Morgan, Colorado

It was established in 1864 as a military post to protect immigrants on the Overland Trail.  The town however was platted in in 1884 and became the county seat of Morgan County in 1889.

Fort Morgan is the largest city in the day, but it’s pretty boring, the old main street has been modernized over the years and has little character left.  

The shops are nice, but nothing to get excited about.  For sure, I’m missing things as I tend to rate towns only for old architecture, museums, cool murals, street art, interesting bars or saloons and decadent alleys and such with graffiti.

I cut this blog off which is displaying just "one day" on my road trip which gives a better reflection on how much I do in a day, or perhaps how crazy I am ?  

I ended up at Walmart for the night.  Colorado Springs is my goal for tomorrow.  

Council Bluffs, NB - Kearny, NB - Ogallalo, Nebraska

August 15 - The plan today is to have breakfast at Cracker Barrel first, but I notice a big tour bus outside and then many Amish people inside.  I’m seated right behind a family group which immediately catches my eye, a man and woman and seven children all about one year apart in age.  Also all are beautiful blond haired, attractive children.  I don’t want to stare so I start looking at my phone when I feel something on my toe, I look down and it’s the baby crawling on the floor, she then sits up and looks at me.  The mother looks over and smiles then comes to get her, but this repeats a couple more times, the restaurant staff is getting a little nervous about this, but mom is not concerned at all, I suppose this is normal at home. As I checked out the cashier said that they have had other groups here and they come to visit the Zoo.  

The plan today is to take I-80 for a while and then get on secondary route 6 which runs parallel to I-80 through many small towns.  This worked out very well, I made several stops that were interesting, some not so much, but all okay.  

Seward, Nebraska

Seward was platted in 1868 and the railroad arrived in 1873.

Seward is known as "Americas 4th of July City" for its large celebration.  It has a vibrant town square, the world's biggest time capsule and home of Concordia University.

The Rivoli Theater

Check Anvil on peak of building

The auto shape on building top is great

Intersting mural

The Courthouse

Utica, Nebraska

Utica was established when the Burlington and Missouri Railroad was extended and named after Utica, NY.  It was promoted as the "Garden spot of the nation" to attract settlers.

Hampton, Nebraska

Hampton was founded by Joshua Cox in 1879 with the arrival of the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad.  In 1891, Cox and his brother James Cox became the first stockmen to ship cattle from the US to Liverpool, England.

Huge grain elevator and tanks

Aurora, Nebraska

Aurora was established in 1877, is a progressive community and is now the County Seat of Hamilton County.

Nice sign

The Hamilton County Court House

Dream designs

I then go to the amazing Plainsman Museum:

Deepwell Ranch painting

Old view of neighboring town Hampton

Hampton Milling bag

Old Drum from Stockman, Nebraska

This was all Pawnee tribe country 

The early European traders felt with the Indians for fur  

Coronado came through this area

Pawnee village scene

Aurora Mills flour

Underwood Typewriter

Steam Tractor

Old belt drive grain Threshing machine

Old Windmill

Old Maxwell Car

Love the original sign

Wood River, Nebraska

Wood River townsite was laid out in 1868, but when the railroad came in 1874, the townsite was relocated to it. 

Beautiful scene

Shelton, Nebraska

Shelton was settled by a Mormon by the name of Joseph Johnson in 1858.  He had a store and printing office which put out "The Huntsmen's Echo", the first newspaper west of Omaha. It was a stage stop prior to the railroad coming in 1866.

The best Bromo-Seltzer ?

Gibbon, Nebraska

Gibbon was established in 1871 by Civil War veturns and named after major general John Gibbons.  It has an attractive downtown.  

Old washer adds a nice touch

The Pop Inn has corn and more

Rise and Grind coffee shop

Kearney, Nebraska

I stop for the day in Kearney spelled similar to the city in New Jersey, I’m wondering if there is a connection and yes there is, although they are two different family members.

   

Kearney has a very nice downtown, many nice looking shops, restaurants, various businesses, bars and entertainment.  I stopped in one place for a while where live music was playing outside.  This is s a college town, University of Nebraska,  and seems to be a little more upscale than most in this area.

The World Theater

Exotic looking lounge

Interesting old coup with feathered out paint

A very clean mid 1930's Chevrolet 

The old Fort Theater has been turned into a dentistry ?

August 16 -  I leave Kearney in the morning traveling on route 30 west making stops at several interesting towns along the way to my destination in Ogallalo, Nebraska.  I will be on route 30 most of the day, it's  a secondary road running parallel to the railroad line.

Lexington, Nebraska

It was an odd downtown area hearing all kinds of languages being spoken and mostly ethnic stores.  As I rounded a corner I almost ran into two beautiful young white girls, very friendly, we had a conversation, they were Nebraska girls in town for a wedding, I regret not taking a photo, they looked so out of place.  

This town is known for having much diversity, may be something to do with the meat packing plant in town.

Court House

Lots of ethnic sores in the downtown

The downtown is no gem

Cozad, Nebraska

Founded along the Union Pacific Railroad by John Jackson Cozad.  The town is noted for art and history, especially their 100th Meridian Museum.

Considered taking a shower in the corn field

Gothenburg, Nebraska

Founded in 1882 by Swedish immigrant Olaf Bergstrom 

Daylight Donuts are something to crow about !

Sutherland, Nebraska

Sutherland is known for its historical significance along the Oregon and Mormon Trails.  It was platted in 1891 and named for Robert Sutherland, a Union Pacific Railroad official. It is also known for the site where the Oregon Trail climbs up and over the bluffs.

Classic old gas station

Rarin' To Go Gas

Lincoln Highway

Beautiful outside paint and artistry on the Longhorn Bar 

I suspect there have been wild times here

Very true !

I'm wondering if this these were local road sign

Ogallalo, Nebraska

I was a little worried about Ogallalo, thought it might be poor and trashy, I was dead wrong, it’s a very nice clean well to do looking town with a nice residential area.  You take the railroad overpass acrid the train tracks and you find a major shopping center area with restaurants, fast food, several motels, truck stops, a a large Walmart. 

I stopped at the post office and found another WPA era mural inside and the tourist center with a nice historic Lincoln Highway marker and old gas pumps.  There are many murals and historic signs around town about the  Transcontinental Railroad, the Mormon Trail, the Pony Express and the Texas cattle drives.  The towns name comes from the Oglala Sioux tribe.    

Ogallalo is famous as the "Nebraska Cowboy Capita" for its history as a major shipping point on the Texas Trail during the 19th century.   

I had a good meal here

Visitors Center

Post Office

I see and drive up this on my next day

These tracks remain a very busy freight line

Saw this old car on the side of a grain elevator

I'll be leaving in the morning headed into Colorado, my destination unknown.