Nebraska is Flat

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I wasn't sure where I was going to stop when I started this day, but I decided on staying in Nebraska for a couple of reasons. First was the fatigue and work factor: yesterday was the least driving I had done on this trip, but being in the sun and in a College Football atmosphere for several hours takes its toll, not to mention the excitement of the game itself. The other factor is money. Hotels in Colorado (my next stop) are expensive! Denver, you would imagine; but 1.5 hours outside Denver and still twice what I'm paying here in North Platte, Nebraska. There's a magical line at the border called taxes and cost of living, I guess. I'll pass on paying for those things.

My hotel in Kansas was certainly not the Ritz, but it wasn't bad. I would stay there again - the Marysville Surf Motel in Marysville, KS. Why it's called "surf," I have no idea, since Kansas has no surf. I was surprised to find the back roads had 65 mph signs, but I was certainly glad to take it. I guess the roads are all flat and straight, for the most part, so there's not as much danger at higher speeds. I got to do 75 for the first time on the Kansas Turnpike yesterday, and a lot of today was also 75 mph. We just don't have those in the East. I'm really hoping to see some 80 mph limits in Wyoming!

My first stop today was Lincoln - specifically, the Nebraska State Capitol. It is an art deco building, and my readers will remember how much I love that architectural style. It was massive, and I could see it from several miles away. I guess that's not as big a deal when the landscape is flat and there really aren't any other skyscrapers to speak of. Alas. It was closed, so I could only see the exterior. But it made me smile.

Next up was Memorial Stadium on the University of Nebraska campus. I was trying not to look suspicious in my UGA gear and trying to find a way in, but a guy spotted me and told me there was actually a gate - #23A, to be exact - that was open for people to go inside and take a look. "The only red gate, you can't miss it." He was right. It's open from 8AM-8PM, and it's called a "self-guided tour." But you can only walk so far, since the viewing area is fenced off. You do get some good views of the stadium, though. And with the weather as perfect as it was when I was there, the views couldn't be beat.

Speaking of the weather... I couldn't believe my eyes when the thermometer in my car said it was 95 degrees. I thought maybe it was just getting hot from all the direct sunlight. There were few clouds along my way, and what clouds there were were wispy. So I checked the weather app on my phone, and dang if it wasn't 95 degrees! I was in a hooded sweatshirt for the 2nd half of the game last night, and now this?! I didn't realize that it would get this hot in Nebraska in mid-October. I was trying to keep my arms and any exposed skin shielded from the sun while I was driving, and that was a task. But I digress.

I also tried to find a college bookstore of some sorts in Lincoln; only one listed on the internet was open today, and when I went there, they had relocated, so I tracked that down, and all the lights were still off. Oh well, Nebraska, I tried. No pennants or pins from you in my collection.

I saw a lot of withered-looking crops on the side of the road today. I think most of it was corn and wheat, but I'm no expert, and at 75 mph, I wasn't stopping to check. I did go under the Archway Monument on I-80 today. That was odd. I took the exit, but then there was a connecting road to get to this massive crosswalk-looking thing over the interstate. So, I just got back onto I-80 and drove under it instead. I'm sure I missed a real treat inside of it.

As I said at the start of this entry, I'm off the road early so I can get some schoolwork done - I've still got one more mini-essay to write, and with what I'm expecting to do for the next few days, I don't think I'll get another time to do it before it's due on Tuesday. I also hope to get the schoolwork done in time to go watch Sicario tonight at the local movie theater. Tomorrow I'm planning on seeing Denver, the University of Colorado, and Colorado State University before ending up in Wyoming (did I mention how expensive Colorado is?). So, it's going to be a long day tomorrow.

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[D MJ Binkley]

Nebraska
Flat lands and great farm lands.

[D MJ Binkley]

Nebraska
Flat lands and great farm lands.