Westward Bound

• I-80 was the logical choice to get us to San Francisco quickly, there to visit with high school buddies and their wives. With the October 11 wedding date immovable, our more leisurely explorations were saved for the return trip.
  
  Along the way, Iowa’s State Capitol, a short diversion off I-80, provided a colorful lunch stop. The five-domed Capitol Building reminds us of something we might see in Russia rather than in the midwest.

  

  The dates inscribed inside the lofty central dome are those of the Civil War:
  

  

  Outdoors, the view from the Capitol Building steps leads the eye, at least, right into downtown Des Moines:
  

  

  
  We headed, instead, for Lincoln NE for a special reason. Patty’s uncle and aunt live in Lincoln and, happily, were at home and eager to visit when we passed through. Over delicious food at Laslo’s Restaurant, we had a most enjoyable get-together:
  

  

  
  If you have traveled along I-80 west of Lincoln recently, then, surely, (unless you were asleep) you have noticed this structure spanning the highway:
  

  

  Its name is the Great Platte River Archway Monument, in position since an August night in 1999. While I-80 was closed for 8 hours, the Archway was rolled across the highway into position in one piece. Securely anchored ever since, it opened its doors in 2000. We had ample time to view this tourist attraction as we planned to stay two nights in nearby Kearney NE (which we quickly learned is pronounced like “car knee”).
  

  

  Inside the main entrance (visible above), this escalator dramatically transports visitors to the Archway exhibits:
  

  

  The museum contains dioramas, depictions of life in the Platte River Valley (then and now), a Conestoga wagon, several vintage cars, an early auto camp, small drive-in theater and a roadside cafe. Interestingly, the nearest highway exit for the Archway is three miles west!
  

  

  

  Across a small lake lies the earth lodge, built in 2010 by members of nearby Indian tribes. It was constructed in the traditional way without nails, screws or modern adhesives:
  

  

  Roomier than it appears, such an earth lodge would once have housed two families, totaling about 40 people of all ages:
  

  

  
  Our diversion in Kearney also made possible a delightful bike ride along the Kearney Canal:
  

  

  

  The bike paths we reveled in were an amalgam of several linked trails between our hotel and the trailhead at Cottonmill Park:
  

  

  Though recent drought conditions have diminished its lake, the park is still a pleasant place for picnicing or to rest, hike or mountain bike.
  

  

  The canal, fed by the Platte River, was completed in 1886 for irrigation and power generation. Cottonmill Park was then a storage reservoir above the town. Electricity made possible several factories including a cottonmill in operation by 1892. Its tenure, however, was short-lived due to a shortage of labor, a faraway source of cotton (Texas) and the need for coal in the wintertime to generate electricity.
  
  We were amazed at the extent city fathers went to keep bikers dry at this roadway underpass:
  

  

  
  At nearly 22 miles long, Lake McConaughy in Nebraska may be surprising to some; it certainly was to us. Just north of Ogallala, this huge reservoir was created by blocking the North Platte River with Kingsley Dam in 1941. The dam and the lake are the largest in the state and provide for irrigation, power generation and recreation.
  

  

  The photo below taken from the crest of the dam looks down at the spillway and the river valley beyond:
  

  

  
  Continuing west, we drove through Sidney NE, the county seat for Cheyenne County,
  

  

  and entered Wyoming. Almost immediately, the countryside looked “western”:
  

  

  Central Wyoming along I-80 had a rugged, semi-arid appearance. Northeastern Utah was similar:
  

  

  Passing Salt Lake City, the land flattened and we passed through the Great Salt Lake Basin:
  

  

  

  [Salt Flats Panorama provides both a fascinating closeup AND a panoramic look at the salt flats. This 360 degree, high-resolution photo is from Martin van Hemert’s website at: http://www.utah3d.net]
  
  Sparks NV marked the end of our Nevada desert crossing. Staying overnight, we found the nearby Scheels Sporting Goods store rather entertaining. Not only does this store have its own Ferris wheel inside but upstairs are talking mannequins of many of the Presidents (ala Disney’s audio-animatronics). For example, in the photo below can be seen a seated Franklin Roosevelt:
  

  

  Not far from the store, our timing was just right for oohing and aahing over a gorgeous sunset. In the foreground is Marina Park Lake:
  

  

  
  With splendid weather and fall colors at hand, we decided to leave I-80 and cross the Sierras at Carson Pass. From the east side to the summit, the road (Hwy 88) and the views could not have been better:
  

  

  

  

  

  
  Descending into California’s Central Valley, all that remained to our westward journey was to cross the delta country and arrive, at last, at our destination in Pleasant Hill.