In June, my family and I traveled over 3000 miles from Texas to Nebraska (Fort Robinson) to South Dakota (Badlands National Park) and to Colorado (the Rocky Mountains National Park). Throughout the trip we tented it. Overall, the trip took nine days. (I may post reviews of these campgrounds and musings later).
We are an active family and our interests are many. History, nature, culture, and outdoor sports all fall within the realm of our enjoyments, so we travel quite a bit. This tradition goes back to my childhood when every summer my mother and father, brother, and maternal grandparents traveled the country in a 3/4 ton van and 30-foot camper. In the intervening years, the family vacations have continued from Tennessee to Idaho, and many other points both within and without those bounds.
This year, however, our little family of three struck out on our own since a coordinated vacation amongst several families was not possible. We had also planned to attend the Santa Fe Trail Rendezvous in Raton, New Mexico, but since dry conditions and wildfires made a mountain man gathering too dangerous, the 'vous was canceled, so we quickly cobbled together other plans.
So, on June 6 we left home early with our Subaru Outback packed with cabin tent, bed mats, and camping gear for three. We took a westerly route through Fort Worth and through Oklahoma and Kansas. At Corker City, we stopped to see "the world's largest ball of twine," at Sadie's request.
We stayed our first night in Kearny, Nebraska, and had supper at a Runza restaurant, which we enjoyed very much. The Day's Inn that we stayed at was newly opened and was very nice. We slept well in preparation for our next day's journeying.
Day Two took us to several historically-significant locations. We took a look at a sod house at Ash Hollow and read the historical marker at the site of the Battle of Blue Water. Chimney Rock National Historic Site was on the way, and it was neat to see a landmark used to navigate the Oregon Trail westward over 150 years ago. Scott's Bluff, another landmark, was just north of there, so we spent some time driving to the top of cliffs to view the surrounding plains. We spent two hours, and Sadie got the first of her Junior Ranger badges this trip. She also got a copy of Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House on the Prairie."
Historical marker near the battle site.
Chimney Rock from the visitor's center. We wished we could get closer, but it was not to be.
A view of the bluffs from an overlook
Our trusty workhorse taking a break as we enjoyed a late picnic lunch
The Bluffs from the picnic area
Mitchell Pass, where the Oregon Trail passed beneath the shadow of the bluff. Scott's Bluff was named for an unfortunate fur trader who was left behind and died, and later buried, somewhere near the cliffs.
Day two was a long day but would prove to set a theme for our adventures. Throughout the trip the Oregon Trail would continue to be a topic of conversation as several of our stops would be related. At the end of the day, we arrived at Fort Robinson, Nebraska. We pitched our tent at the Soldier's Creek campground which would be our home for the next two nights. The night was cool and the cottonwood trees made it look like snow. Stephanie cooked in camp and then we settled into some much-deserved rest.
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