Breakfast report – same ole, same ole…almost – but a mini cheese omelet and bacon (right out of the freezer) in addition to sausage gravy and grapes! Microtel getting the breakfast award.
On the way toward the Continental Divide, picking up speed. I think we are into the horses heading for home syndrome.
After miles of the Wyoming Great Basin barrenness, greenery began to appear. And we’ve pinpointed some stops for the next trip (besides Bone, Idaho! And have to check on a John Wesley Bones who started a trading post in Lincoln City, OR) – a swing thru Laramie, 7,000ft. ( founded by La Ramie, a French fur trader) which is worth another visit – and surrounded by beautiful countryside. And Cheyenne down the road merits a stop. One notable thing about the Wyoming landscape is the numerable snow fences along the interstate and the highway warning lights, when highway is snowbound – an instruction to exit highway at next exit – with gates that can go down to prevent entry. That must be one blizzardy stretch of highway. And the motels have plug-ins for car batteries.
IPod disappointments – traveling across Nebraska, Willa Cather’s “My Antonia,” set here in the early 1900’s, was eagerly anticipated. But we couldn’t find it. Had to settle for some BBC travel , photography and birding podcasts. …and some country music.
Nebraska, flatter, grassier, progressing, west to east, from hay to corn – lush cornfields. The highway followed the Platte River, a trail marker for the early settlers, until it swung north and into the Missouri – thus rich farmland with irrigation possibilities.
Microtel: Looks like the last one in Rawlins on the exterior, but Mott warned “not so sure”. The minute lobby (a Microtel feature) was out of the 1970s’ - mauve marbleized wallpaper with border – damask love seat and chairs with lace head and arm covers…..and the smell of curry wafting about. We were ready to bolt. But the room was just fine – if not as contemporary as our last nights stay –not oppressively dated – and the air was fresh.
Lincoln is a town of 225,000 and bustling. The University of Nebraska is adjacent to downtown, certainly a factor. Big rail center. Nice vintage buildings, many of brick. Revived warehouse area attractive. I can imagine it is a very livable city.
Dinner – I’ve found a restaurant in Lincoln that I would recommend, a modest recommendation, but still …..I guess the only one on this 3 week trip. In the revived warehouse section of Lincoln, Lazlo’s is an old micro brewery that serves good steaks cooked perfectly over hickory. The napkins were cloth – with 2 forks within. The salad had been dressed!
Fox News: 6 of 9 Rawlins watches ABC
Mozz Stiz: 8 of 9 Lazlos does not have them on menu
Lincoln, Nebraska - Old Warehouse Marketplace by train station
Lunch - From the Flying J Truck stop!!!
Rawlins and Laramie
the mountain picture with the two fences is fantastic. make sure you make a big print of that
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