Wade and I decided to "hit the road" yesterday for an overnight. Living in TImnath, CO, we're only 2-hours from the Oregon Trail and Scotts Bluff. Driving 30 minutes and being in the Colorado Rockies is commonplace for us. But have we ever taken the time to drive to Scottbluff, NE to see the Nebraska panhandle's topographical wonders and acknowledge its significance in the history of the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails? Never. Until yesterday.
Rather than taking I-80 east from I-25, we took 2-lane highway 85, just north of Cheyenne and drove through the desolate rolling hills of eastern Wyoming's ranch land. We stopped in at B&V Coffeehouse in LaGrange, WY. In addition to making good coffee, they also serve tasty Wyoming beef hamburgers, homemade potato chips and apple pie. From LaGrange, we drove on to the Wildcat Hills Wilderness Area before going on to Scotts Bluff National Monument. Amazing views. Amazing history.
An interesting observation is that the bluffs were landmarks for so many for decades when the Oregon Trail was that era's version of an Interstate highway. But now you have to really want to visit Scotts Bluff since it's 45 minutes north of I-80.
We ended our day at the Skyview Drive-in Theatre, watching the new Indiana Jones movie with local fireworks in the background. Does it get any better than that? (Well maybe. Disclaimer: It's not such a great movie.)
I'm glad we took a couple of days over the 4th of July weekend to drive up. Well worth it. If I could post a couple of photos here, I would.
Thanks, as always, for sharing your thoughts, opinions and memories with us, Jim.
Brian - What a fantastic day you two had. There is more than we can ever get to when we stay off the Interstate. I love the small towns, which is part of the reason I travel so much on a motorcycle. Feels like I see more and miss less. Eastern Wyoming does have a unique appeal and from Scottsbluff over to the sand hills of Western NE is also a unique travel experience. I kind of think every American should, at some time or another, visit Independence Rock. Anyway, great to hear from you as always. Going to be in Colorado with my bride late this month, most likely the Springs and Grand Junction but chance we might get your way.
I really enjoy your essays and stories Jim. This one reminded me of a couple of months I spent as a young man with the Indian Health Service traveling to different Lakota reservations in S Dakota including Rosebud and Pine Ridge. And having a friend take me to her grandmother’s cabin deep in the reservation with strips of deer meat drying in the line. Fantastic.
It also reminded me of the grooves my wife and I saw in the Via Appia in Rome. Imagining the thousands of chariots and wagons that carved grooves still evident in the rock road from two thousand years ago just blew my mind.
And I, among many apparently, also enjoyed very much the article about “the rock and the submersible.” A nice entwining of the very personal and tragic and historic.
Thanks, Mark. I did some reporting up on the Lakota Reservation in my late 20s, and in the winter they sure were living hard life. I've always want to ride a motorcycle on the Appian Way, but still have not made it to Italy. Have seen most of Europe though, a half dozen times. And thanks for your thoughts on the NFLD piece. It was near and dear to my heart. I can understand how all that happened, I just don't know why it was allowed to happen. - JM
I have to say I've been there. Chyanne Wy. I can't remember the name of the motel, but Roosevelt stayed there. They have several pictures of him posted on the walls. I stayed there quite often when the company I worked for was paying. Holy fu-!. Giant rooms with kitchenettes. And the best rocky mountain ostyers you're ever gonna eat. If you eat 'em. Plus an attached liquor store. With Coors. But it's not the same beer you guys were drinking. Pre-strike I'd assume. Dad and friends used to pool their money and drive to Dallas. Coors was only solid cold and Dallas was as far south from Golden as it was delivered. After the strike Dad and friends quit buying it.
I went to Golden Co. once. Not at all what I expected. I went to a company called Coors Tech. Not beer at all but, a chemical company owed by them. I didn't see any clear mountain springs. Just an industrial suburb of Denver. Oh well.
Been out IH-80 and SH-30. They love their Platt river. After your essay I can see why. Think I remember seeing some postings about Lewis and Clark as well. And a rest stop with a bridge over IH-80. Prolly wasn't there when you guys made your trip.
I lived in Marshall TX for a while. They have some wagon ruts there. Stage coach ruts really. Not like the ones your pictures show. These are deep after years of use. The coaches dug trenches through any rise leaving pits, over time, deeper than the Coaches themselves. Over a hundred years old. I would just look and wonder at them. Who, what, and where where were they going?
Much like the wagon trails going west. Did they make it? What did they do when they got there?
Wyoming is a strangely interesting place. I love the western part of the state, but even out on the the plains, with the broken country and isolation, it suggests a certain mysteriousness and the old rugged individualism upon which this country was supposedly built. That's mostly a myth, of course, but when you travel through parts of the US, you get to wondering, eh? I love to travel American roads, though; not much I like more, and will start doing more of that again soon. Expect to get a new motorcycle in a few months, and I will be compelled to get that thing out on the American road, which means every day there will be a new thing to see, think and write about, and share. Can't think of anything that makes me happier, and then having those words reach people like you, man, that is a fulfilling experience. Thanks, as always, for your support and thoughts.
Such timing with this piece, Jim!
Wade and I decided to "hit the road" yesterday for an overnight. Living in TImnath, CO, we're only 2-hours from the Oregon Trail and Scotts Bluff. Driving 30 minutes and being in the Colorado Rockies is commonplace for us. But have we ever taken the time to drive to Scottbluff, NE to see the Nebraska panhandle's topographical wonders and acknowledge its significance in the history of the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails? Never. Until yesterday.
Rather than taking I-80 east from I-25, we took 2-lane highway 85, just north of Cheyenne and drove through the desolate rolling hills of eastern Wyoming's ranch land. We stopped in at B&V Coffeehouse in LaGrange, WY. In addition to making good coffee, they also serve tasty Wyoming beef hamburgers, homemade potato chips and apple pie. From LaGrange, we drove on to the Wildcat Hills Wilderness Area before going on to Scotts Bluff National Monument. Amazing views. Amazing history.
An interesting observation is that the bluffs were landmarks for so many for decades when the Oregon Trail was that era's version of an Interstate highway. But now you have to really want to visit Scotts Bluff since it's 45 minutes north of I-80.
We ended our day at the Skyview Drive-in Theatre, watching the new Indiana Jones movie with local fireworks in the background. Does it get any better than that? (Well maybe. Disclaimer: It's not such a great movie.)
I'm glad we took a couple of days over the 4th of July weekend to drive up. Well worth it. If I could post a couple of photos here, I would.
Thanks, as always, for sharing your thoughts, opinions and memories with us, Jim.
Brian - What a fantastic day you two had. There is more than we can ever get to when we stay off the Interstate. I love the small towns, which is part of the reason I travel so much on a motorcycle. Feels like I see more and miss less. Eastern Wyoming does have a unique appeal and from Scottsbluff over to the sand hills of Western NE is also a unique travel experience. I kind of think every American should, at some time or another, visit Independence Rock. Anyway, great to hear from you as always. Going to be in Colorado with my bride late this month, most likely the Springs and Grand Junction but chance we might get your way.
If you find your way north to Fort Collins/Timnath, please visit. You're more than welcome. We're home in late July.
Leave the light on. I'll drop you a line if we can make it work! Be great to see y'all.
Such ruts, from chariot wheels to wagon wheels to railroad tracks. We do scar our way through time.
Once again, great read to start Sunday morning. Many thanks.
I really enjoy your essays and stories Jim. This one reminded me of a couple of months I spent as a young man with the Indian Health Service traveling to different Lakota reservations in S Dakota including Rosebud and Pine Ridge. And having a friend take me to her grandmother’s cabin deep in the reservation with strips of deer meat drying in the line. Fantastic.
It also reminded me of the grooves my wife and I saw in the Via Appia in Rome. Imagining the thousands of chariots and wagons that carved grooves still evident in the rock road from two thousand years ago just blew my mind.
And I, among many apparently, also enjoyed very much the article about “the rock and the submersible.” A nice entwining of the very personal and tragic and historic.
Anyway, thanks.
Thanks, Mark. I did some reporting up on the Lakota Reservation in my late 20s, and in the winter they sure were living hard life. I've always want to ride a motorcycle on the Appian Way, but still have not made it to Italy. Have seen most of Europe though, a half dozen times. And thanks for your thoughts on the NFLD piece. It was near and dear to my heart. I can understand how all that happened, I just don't know why it was allowed to happen. - JM
Having taken many a road trip across the vast great plains, plunging a dry throat into an ice-cold pitcher of Coors at a dusty bar, I concur.
I have to say I've been there. Chyanne Wy. I can't remember the name of the motel, but Roosevelt stayed there. They have several pictures of him posted on the walls. I stayed there quite often when the company I worked for was paying. Holy fu-!. Giant rooms with kitchenettes. And the best rocky mountain ostyers you're ever gonna eat. If you eat 'em. Plus an attached liquor store. With Coors. But it's not the same beer you guys were drinking. Pre-strike I'd assume. Dad and friends used to pool their money and drive to Dallas. Coors was only solid cold and Dallas was as far south from Golden as it was delivered. After the strike Dad and friends quit buying it.
I went to Golden Co. once. Not at all what I expected. I went to a company called Coors Tech. Not beer at all but, a chemical company owed by them. I didn't see any clear mountain springs. Just an industrial suburb of Denver. Oh well.
Been out IH-80 and SH-30. They love their Platt river. After your essay I can see why. Think I remember seeing some postings about Lewis and Clark as well. And a rest stop with a bridge over IH-80. Prolly wasn't there when you guys made your trip.
I lived in Marshall TX for a while. They have some wagon ruts there. Stage coach ruts really. Not like the ones your pictures show. These are deep after years of use. The coaches dug trenches through any rise leaving pits, over time, deeper than the Coaches themselves. Over a hundred years old. I would just look and wonder at them. Who, what, and where where were they going?
Much like the wagon trails going west. Did they make it? What did they do when they got there?
Thanks again Mr. Moore. Wonderful thoughts.
Wyoming is a strangely interesting place. I love the western part of the state, but even out on the the plains, with the broken country and isolation, it suggests a certain mysteriousness and the old rugged individualism upon which this country was supposedly built. That's mostly a myth, of course, but when you travel through parts of the US, you get to wondering, eh? I love to travel American roads, though; not much I like more, and will start doing more of that again soon. Expect to get a new motorcycle in a few months, and I will be compelled to get that thing out on the American road, which means every day there will be a new thing to see, think and write about, and share. Can't think of anything that makes me happier, and then having those words reach people like you, man, that is a fulfilling experience. Thanks, as always, for your support and thoughts.