Whizzing through the Mid-West

Jean checking out
alternate transport

After picking up the RV we found ourselves an RV park in a place called Peculiar (it wasn’t) to unpack and reorganise ourselves.  The next day saw us heading northwards through Kansas City to a town called St Joseph.  Visited the Patee House Museum.  Definitely one of the best museums around.  Many interesting exhibits.  The Pony Express headquarters was based here so a lot about their short history is on show.  Another neat twist, that really gets you looking at everything, is they have 20 items that don’t belong.  If you discover at least 17 of them you get a $1 share in the Hannibal and St Joseph Rail Road.  We got our share.
   

Working carousel, sadly just for children

Continuing north we made our way into Nebraska.  Parked up in Peru ready to hike to some cliffs to see some sandstone carvings, got 15 minutes up the track when we were stopped by a gate and a notice that read the

Luckily we are law-abiding
citizens and didn't jump the
fence - lots of shooting later
on in the day

track was closed during the hunting season.  We beat a hasty retreat.  Actually it more the mosquitoes that forced the retreat as we had headed off down another road.  We decided to

It was a lovely sunset though

park up for the night at the trailhead and were rewarded with a display of lightning bugs flashing in the grass a short distance away.  We did hear shooting throughout the evening so pleased we didn’t jump the gate. 

For the next 3 nights we parked up at an RV park at Pacific Junction in Iowa not too far south of Omaha.  Introduced ourselves to some of our neighbours – some contractors from all over the US working locally.  Great to meet you all.  Thanks for the southern chilli and moonshine.  Looking forward to your house warming party in Tennessee Howard.  Don’t forget our invite, daygum. 

When you remember we're driving an F250
you get an appreciation for the size of this tree
versus the size of the road

Our first day trip was in Iowa, firstly to Brayton where there is a huge tree at the intersection of 2 narrow gravel roads.  Not a big deal?  It is when you see the size of it versus the width of the road.  I lost track of the number of times I drove round and round – once is never enough plus the photographer needed to get first, the photos and second, the movie, just right.

Hitchcock House

Enough frivolity, time for some culture.  Visited Hitchcock House in Lewis.  This was one of the many buildings utilised by the Underground Railway.  One of the many interesting facts that came out was that while slavery was outlawed in Iowa it was against

Section of the basement where
the runaway slaves were hidden.
No one knows for sure what
was used to block the entrance
so curtains have been put up.

the law to harbour runaways from other states.  Fortunately there were a lot of people around to flout that law but it was a dangerous time for everyone involved.  Margaret runs a very interesting tour through the house and has some great stories.

Next day headed into Nebraska and visited Boys Town.  Originally set up in 1917 as a home and school for underprivileged boys.  There was a movie made about 

Sue gives a bit of size
perspective to the ball of
stamps

Boys Town in the 1930’s that starred Spencer Tracey.  Once this movie aired Boys Town received a lot of mail from all over the world.  The stamps from this mail they have glued into a massive ball.  They stopped sticking the stamps on the ball some time in the 1970’s so there are some neat old ones on view.

The Antipodes were (re)discovered

Leaving Boys Towns we headed to Nebraska City via Wahoo.  Why Wahoo you say.  With a name like that, how could we not.  Wahoo!

In Nebraska City we had planned to visit the cave of the old abolitionist, John Brown.  Unfortunately it wasn’t open the day we came through but there were a lot of funky, painted trees throughout the City.

One of the many colourful trees in Nebraska City

So of course the Mills sisters stayed in Mills County

We’re on a schedule now to get to St Louis on the east side of Missouri to pick up Wally when he gets here later this month.  This means a few big travel days. 

Trumpet Call Harmonica

First big travel day had us heading north into South Dakota.  Stopped for lunch in Vermillion and visited the National Music

Harp Guitar

Museum.  Neither of us are particularly into music (apart from listening) but we both thoroughly enjoyed this museum with its many and varied displays.  Would recommend it to everyone.

Hands up who started humming the Deliverance tune when they saw the banjos

From there we headed north to Sioux Falls (but only when she’s drinking) then turned east and made our way to Mitchell, stopping at the Porter Sculpture Garden along the way.  Wayne has made some weird and wonderful items and has them displayed in a paddock just off the Interstate.  Quite intriguing some of them.

Life imitating art

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish

Mitchell has a Corn Palace – a place where the local growers would showcase their produce to the country.  Every year they have a new theme

Mitchell Corn Palace

for the murals.  They were just putting this years murals up the day we were there.  Plus they sell popcorn.  Lots and lots of popcorn.  We tried some of the white chocolate and raspberry and some of the caramel but weren’t tempted to load up the RV.

Some of the external murals

Continuing west we called in at the Original 1880 Town just past Murdo.  As the name suggests it’s a tourist town done in the style of 1880.  It’s been used as the set for a number of movies and has a couple of streets of both authentic and built-in-the-style buildings from that era.  Just

Fire Station complete with
engine

outside the main entrance is an old train from the 1950’s now done up as a diner.  We decided to eat there just for something different although it was typical US takeaway fare minus the fries (maybe that’s what they were eating in the 1950’s).  We wandered round the town for an hour or so before continuing north.

Saloon - no license for alcohol but you can get a nice, cold sarsaparilla

We stopped for the night just below the North Dakota state line in a town called Lemmon.  In the morning we had a walk around the Lemmon Petrified Wood Park before heading into North Dakota proper.

This building houses some dinosaur bones

Mills sisters behind bars (don't get too excited - we're on the outside looking through)