Day 9 – On way to Scotts Bluff then Sundance, Wyoming

We begin Thursday, 6/8/2017, leaving Ogallala at about 8:30am and begin to see varied landscaping from the flat farm lands we have been driving through.  On our way to Chimney Rock which is a landmark in the migration west.

The terrain might have begun a little different but then continue to pass multiple farmlands and also pass several old barns, like this one in the corn field. 

Over the past several days, we have come across several of these large cow or cattle processing pens.  It still is beyond us as to which these are for milk cows or holding pens for cattle.  Either case it holds many animals.

As we drive along US-26 and before we reach Baynard, NE where we will visit Chimney Rock, we pass a number of trains like this one, mostly pulling what looks like coal cars both filled and empty.

Driving along kind of paralleling the Oregon Trail route we reach Chimney Rock.  Before the visitor center is a campground with a number of motor homes not unlike traveling along the Oregon Trail with covered wagons.

Chimney Rock as it was seen by those traveling along the Oregon Trail heading to Oregon or California.  We could not walk up to the pinnacle but that was okay because we could see it just as well from this distance.  No walking is a good thing because of the rattlesnake warning signs.

We watched a movie about the people migrating along this route and then left the National Monument.  Back on the road again I happen to look left and saw this old barn in front of Chimney Rock. 

There are more of the buttes rising out of the land as we drive further west towards Scotts Bluff. 

We drive to the top of Scotts Bluff and hike around; here we can see the other formations in the area.  Where you can see the road in the distance is where the Oregon Trail would pass. 

Moving around to the western end of the trail, I take this picture of Carmen in front of the rising buttes and valley floor.  The Oregon Trail continues just below the center of the picture and continues up the valley.

As we round a bend in the trail, Carmen gets this picture of a bird getting ready to take off with something in its mouth.  I think I scared it away because it flew away as I moved to see it.

Continuing on the trail, Carmen took this picture of me.  Well at least I’m not wheezing and breathing hard.  Well onward around the rest of the trail.

Looking from one of the trails we followed to the other trail we were on.  If you look closely at the horizon in the center, left of the two mounds is Chimney Rock.  That is 22 miles away and would have taken two days for those on the Oregon Trail to travel.  Wow, it only took us about 40 minutes, what a difference, although I could have taken a nap.

The views from the top of Scotts Bluff were amazing.  We were even able to see several cacti in bloom.  This one was close enough to the trail so that I was able to get a picture.

Besides cactus there were all kinds of flowers, but Carmen was surprised when she saw this Black-eyed Susan.  At least that is what we think it is and this surely looks like one.  There was only a couple that we saw and wonder how it got there.

Walking back Carmen took this picture of another trail, which we did not hike, that traveled to a cave.  It is interesting because it looks as though it is being protected by three sentinels watching the path. 

Before leaving we get our last look from the top of Scotts Bluff looking down to the entrance of the National Monument.  I should also point out that besides the Oregon Trail following where the road goes between the formations that this is also the route for the Pony Express.

After our visit to Scotts Bluff, we stopped to eat at the Log Cabin in Gering.  Then we drove to Alliance, Nebraska.  Here we will stop and see Carhenge.  Similar to Stonehenge, but made with cars!  We were driving near this site and I had to stop and see it.  Can you believe it?  Charlie, you would have spend hours here, you could even roll the tires.

I could show you many of the different forms taken at this site including this “Spawning Salmon” sculpture.  Anyway, we are off to the next place, which is a long drive to Sundance, Wyoming.

On US-385 north, we are continually passing farm lands.  And might I say barns.  

The land remains mostly flat, but guess what we found in one of the fields we passed.  Maybe its for sale.

After passing into South Dakota we begin to have hillier landscaping. 

We reach Rapid City and I-90 in South Dakota and head west.  We have the Black Hills to our left (looking south) of us where, if we had the time is Mt. Rushmore, Deadwood, and Sturgis all of which we have been to before.  But it is already late and we still have to get to Wyoming.

In Wyoming and nearly to Sundance where we will spend the night, we see this on the side of the road.  It looks like a plane that is a windmill, but we have no clue.  Maybe it is just art? 

At the hotel and it is late.  We have driven quite a distance today and tomorrow we will go to Devils Tower before heading to Dickinson, North Dakota and our visit to Theodore Roosevelt National Park.