'Travels with Charley'

Before he died, Novelist John Steinbeck bought a Chevy Pickup and a truck camper and took 5 months to drive across America (in 1960).  Aside from a lot of great thoughts and observations, one stood out.  Steinbeck points out that traveling on the interstate gave him no knowledge of the country.  Just like the truck drivers, he knew little else except about the truck stops.  Driving on the interstate gave his mind overwhelming time to wander.  He instead chose to stay on secondary roads and avoid the 'great wide traffic slashes which promote the self by fostering daydreams'.  Have a day to kill over Thanksgiving break, Mooney and I took a 3 hour detour across Nebraska.  We kept to the highways and back roads.  I wouldn't have sold you on this so much if it were not true, Steinbeck has it right.  If you have the time, stop at the parks, Mom and Pop Restaurants, and shady looking bars.

That is a 'Hay Buster'.  If you know what it does, let me know.

My Great Grandpa has a flag pole dedicated to him on the Custer County Fair Grounds

ALL of the highways I took paralleled railroad tracks...I LOVE trains.

A rough estimate, 95% of the towns have a grain elevator/silo.

I won't touch the stuff, but Mooney loves McDonalds.

That is a big pile of corn.  Almost all elevators store some of the grain outside so they can manipulate the moisture by combining it with the dry stuff in the elevators/silos.

More corn.

6-Man Football Championship

Arthur won the Nebraska 6-Man Football State Championship (No typos, that is a 6).  Six-Man football is played with the same ball, but is a different game.  The field is smaller and the scoring is different.  It is a highly active game with lots of action.  If you get the chance, definitely go watch one.  It will make normal football seem redundant and boring.

South Dakota Trip

A good friend and I went on a camping trip to SD.  We stopped at Chimney Rock, Toad Stool State Park, Custer National Park, and CarHendge.  

Arthur, Ne

I'm moved and settled in Arthur, Ne.  If you're ever out this way, let me know.

The Last of Alaska

I decided to leave Alaska and return to Nebraska.  I plan on returning in a few years (read: 30+).  I can say that I learned a lot while I was up there but am looking forward to grocery stores and socializing again.  These pictures were taken the beginning of May.

Before and After

A typical snow storm...the pre and post shoveling.

New Camera

Elim, Ak

We went to Elim, Ak last weekend for a 3 day Elementary Basketball Tournament.  Elim is west of Nome, Ak and is sheltered from the wind, hence the trees.  We missed the iditarod by about 24 hours but got to see the Serum Run mushers.  They run the original route that took the medicine to Nome, Ak.  It is not a race but more of an enjoyment of the history.