A full crew participated in the latest expedition north into Nebraska, necessitating a caravan style passing. Skies remained overcast most of the way, but a promise of clear skies at the intended destination encouraged hastening travel. Indeed, it took very little time to get to Nebraska City, which offered the first opportunity to bask in the sun and indulge in sustenance at a local park.
Steinhart Park stood mostly empty, requiring no effort to establish mess camp. Rain had passed through during the travel time, and the promised sun shone through with every passing moment. The well-groomed park provided the perfect respite for those less accustomed to two hours of cramped transport conditions. While they romped on the nearby playground, one of the crew busiest himself rallying steak sandwiches on the available grill space. It was a greater effort than had been originally intended. However, no complaints issued from anyone when all was said and done. A bit more relaxed and ready for another hour of restraint, the part turned west, after taking a moment to investigate local armaments.
The Strategic Air Command (SAC) & Aerospace Museum near Ashland, Nebraska is a huge space, hosting some fantastically preserved artifacts from the Cold War in a relatively new facility. It is a one of kind museum showcasing more than 30 different aircraft from that era, along with associated efforts towards scientific exploration, and technological innovation. The museum also hosts a small learning space for children to experiment with the variety of forces and effects involved with flight. The crew had a fantastic time investigating every corner of the museum, truly enjoying the variety of exhibits and hands-on experiences.
The afternoon left most famished again though, leading to discovery of The View at Mahoney (Eugene T. Mahoney State Park to be exact), just next door to the museum property. Settled in anticipation of dispersing famine, accommodations turned out cramped and noisy. Staff packed every guest into one small glass balcony, where the sound of conversation from every corner bounced around the room, while the remainder of the restaurant stood empty. Migration to outdoor seating resolved the issue, but even that could not really help the hopelessly mediocre food. Coupled with a requirement to pay entry fee to the park, the experience was not the best of the day. If we had only ventured a little further down the road we might have noticed the local steakhouse before making that choice. Another future journey may be required to further investigate this alternative situation discovered "right smack dab in the middle of everywhere." Every expedition into Nebraska uncovers something unique.
Hesitant to get too serious about the journey home, the entourage were encouraged to enjoy an early evening stroll along a minor trail in Platte River State Park. The well-trodden path is mostly wide and level, leading to a small waterfall along the creek. It was investigated on an early excursion passing through the state and proved the perfect little snippet of time to take in a bit of nature, before plunging through 50 kilometres of cornfields and another 250 kilometres of Interstate.
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Further Reading
Ashland, NE
Nebraska Game & Parks
Round the Bend Steakhouse
Nebraska Game & Parks
jusTodd memoirs - June 2001
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