IA, NE, WY, CO, UT new dinghy

  June 20:  We are making our way across this amazing country.  Everyone should be required to drive on some of these roads. Namely one: south on Route 128 from Colorado Route 70 to Moab, UT.  "OMG" must have come out of mouths uncountable times, the camera shutter clicking incessantly, but never really capturing the intensity or size of the late setting sun on the huge, tall, glowing red cliffs and unique rock formations.   It was 8 pm, another hour until sunset here, but we decided to take the scenic byway.  Always take roads designated "scenic byways."  This may be crazy to some but spectacular views fill me up.

   We checked into the bug free registered bare bones Motel 6 in Moab, UT for $150 and realized the regional differences when we compared it to the Lied Center in remote Nebraska City where we paid the same amount for a beautifully decorated room; a hotel with a  spa, work out room, Olympic size pool, hot tub, sauna, restaurant and manicured grounds (home of Arbor Day).  We highly recommend this place on your way across the country.
     June 17th we stopped at Nebraska City after Iowa City to visit a family farm, put my hands in the 4th generation owned farm dirt, and got an amazing tour of state of the art farm equipment from the tenant farmers.  We all grew up with the phrase, "Never sell the land," drummed into our heads.  I hope I can hand it down and follow the Native American good-for-7-generations philosophy.  This was all after a 13 hour drive from beautiful Niagara on the Lake through progressive wind mill filled Michigan, IN, IL and also progressive Iowa.
  But back to chronologically following the trip to Iowa City June 14-17 to see Amy and Stephen, Drew's two children.  It was a fun time to bowl, eat at a favorite restaurant, Mondo's and Longhorn Steak House, and do the requisite shopping trip at the mega sports store, Sheels at Coral Ridge Mall.

 Mike, Drew and Amy with Iowa football Herky hats at Sheels.

Jill and Amy at the bowling alley.

Amy, Jill and Mike
  
We stayed at a chain hotel with a pool and hot tub that a couple of times we had all to ourselves.  My music sounded like I was in the shower, echoing around the room while I sang with my iTune playlists.
View out our motel window of the forever rain clouds and hayfields and huge sky. 

  On to the next farm as we crossed Nebraska's table land, after the hills of Iowa and eastern Nebraska.

As we head west the land gets drier with fewer and fewer trees next to the very high Platte River.  It's at the top of its banks after raining all but 3 days of May.  Upon Karin Jones recommendation we stopped in Kearney at the 2 story Archway to America museum that was built over the Route 80 highway!

A movie is on the wall with an escalator going right into the covered wagon

 It was one of the best interactive museums I've experienced.  We learned that several Disney creative artists worked on this exhibit that traces the history of transportation across the US from the settlers with Conestoga wagons,

 through stagecoaches, the building of the transcontinental railroad racing from east and west, to the first cars bumping over rutted roads and people camping or staying in little rented cabins en route.  Then the laying of the Lincoln Highway later numbered Route 30 near route 80.  There are life size people, all the forms of transportation and an audio earphone system that changes with where you stand and catches up if you move before the narrator is finished.
  After 7 hours of driving we arrived at Karin and John Jones's home in western Nebraska, Harrisburg, and their protective German Shepherd, Ranger.  We headed to Scottsbluff National Monument to see the sunset and drive up to the top to experience the many views.

After driving up we walked toward the top, and I spotted a rattle snake.  It simply was sunning itself in the last rays of the day and then slowly slithered into the grass.
  John farms the western family farm.  He planted peas, corn and wheat this year in three strips to be rotated rather than wheat and millet.  I also walked the farm,

talked government farm programs, and visited their playful yearling horses.

Karin's dad was in the park service so she was able to recommend other ways to cross Wyoming and Colorado that proved breathtaking to see.

 The dinghy is in the US from South America! Now to get Tweety back with Shawnee.  We also need to make sure they have the middle seat for this baby.