The Platte River Valley

Outside of Fort Kearney this morning

Breakfast in the rain

Crossing the Little Blue River

Marysville, home of the Pony Express


Dispatches from the Prairies

It was here at Fort Kearney that all the disparate trails from the east used by the explorers, missionaries, mountain men, settlers, prospectors, and pony express riders came together to form the broad passage following the Platte River into the mountains of Wyoming. Fort Kearney itself vanished right after it was abandoned due to the inauguration of the national railroad in 1869. I say vanished but really since there were no trees here then, the locals relocated all the wood minutes after the last soldier faded over the horizon. The fort that is here now is merely a replica.

I spent last night at the Fort Kearney Historical Park campground which I had pretty much to myself. Lonely in a late fall kind of way. Camping was $12 (no power) and $1 for 5 minutes of hot water in the showers. I set up beside a rain shelter overlooking a pretty little lake which was a good thing because it poured all night and in the morning I dragged all my stuff to the shelter where I sat watching the rain fall in the lake while drinking tea. The life of an international explorer. Finally, bored senseless, I put on my rain gear and headed for town.

I am deep in the prairies now. Constantly surrounded by enormous fields of corn stretching away in all directions as far as the horizon. The colours are gold and green with dots of silver for silos and grey lines for roads. Occasionally I pass a ethanol refinery where they turn food into gas. The land is great rolling waves of hills and I am seldom out of high range in my gears although the wind is mostly in my face. There are few cars and mostly wide paved shoulders to travel and I have been making good time.

Physically, my butt still aches at the end of the day but the latest of my pains is my palms which go numb after awhile. I have been wrapping socks around my gloves as cushions. I look more and more like the gypsy your mother warned you against.

Today I arrived in Kearney (pop. 27,000). If you are ever in Kearney and want to meet some nice people, go to Kearney Cycling and Fitness. Third generation Justin fixed my bike with Dad overseeing and telling me about memories of his favorite park in Saskatchewan (Dad still comes in to work part days). I really like Americans. Pity about their foreign policies. I am laying up here tonight in a motel to give my body time to recuperate. I'm going to lounge and dry my stuff and buy grub for the next few days also.

Thinking of you all

ps thanks to all for the comments - I look forward to reading them so much

ps Neil - You were right about my losing a week - I have 13 days left, starting tomorrow, before we meet. Maybe Casper would be a better rendezvous than Wheatland since the difference in distance would eat up a couple of days for me - does your bus continue on to there? As a plus, Casper is the start of the scenic road. Let me know if that option is okay with you?

ps Colleen - did you win next year's golf membership?

ps Glad to hear from you, Irene and Patrick.

ps Glad to get news from you, John. Colleen told me of your email and let's talk when I get to Vancouver.

Laurence