2015 Western Roadtrip Day 5

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Day 5:



Left the CG in Ogallala, NE just before 9 AM. Made a quick stop at Walmart for ice, some meds, and a replacement daylight running light for the


Trailblazer. Headed west on US 26. Stopped first at Chimney Rock National Monument which has a very nice visitors center. Second stop was Scotts


Bluff NE - - another nice visitors center. The bluff is quite spectacular when viewed from the visitors center. Both of these NE really emphasize what


an ordeal the pioneers went through to open the west. They also clearly pointed out the impact on the native American Indians. Last visit was to Agate


Fossil Bed NE about half way between Mitchell, NE and Harrison, NE (population 251). What a neat place Agate is! Really nice displays of some of the


fossils (whole skeletons) Turns out that they discovered a bunch of previously unknown species at this site. They had a picture of Olaf Peterson who was

the first person to really understand the value of this site. He is the spitting image of my Grandfather Hixson!! Especially with his sunburned face with


white forehead.



We are hoping to get two spaces at the Famcamp at Ellsworth AFB to use as a base while touring the Badlands, Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore, and


maybe Wind & Jewel Caves (don’t think we’ll get Gena to go into any of the caves). Won’t find out if we can get in there until tomorrow morning.

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Photos

Scotts Bluff NM
This is just a part of the Bluff (the best part!)

Agate Fossil Beds NM
These are University Hill (left) and Carnegie Hill where the fossil deposits are located. They are about a mile SW of the Visitors Center.