This morning I made a quick breakfast in the rain and got back on the road. My intended route goes through Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho and home to Washington. I want to avoid the I80 pass in Wyoming that I had trouble with last time, and I90 is lower elevation. And, not all that much further.

I dawdled my first few hours on the road today. I took county and state highways that took me through all the little towns, and I crossed my first west to east route going south to north this time. I travelled Post Rock Scenic Byway, where early Czech settlers crafted fence posts of the native limestone.

I followed a random sign with no idea what it was pointing to and I found this. The Garden of Eden in Lucas, KS.

Self appointed the Grassroots Arts Capital of Kansas, it has spun off the fantastical sculptures of 19th century civil war veteran SP Dinsmore to adorn the town with other quirky local art. I’ll post some photos of the sculptures and art.

Fork art anyone? In Lucas, KS.

More town art.

I’m not sure how to formulate my thoughts around this sign.

I stopped for lunch in Holdrege, NE and spotted a place I’ve heard of called Runza. They make a sandwich pocket of the same name that is supposedly like a bierock so I thought I should check. My verdict, it is larger, greasier, and saltier than a bierock. I guess they had to adapt to a fast food palate.

I was looking for a park where I could eat my Runza and stretch my legs and this city park is gorgeous! People are fishing, picnicking, walking, playing with kids. Facilities are all so new and nice. It’s so much more than I expected.

After lunch I ended up back on I80 west. That has to be the worst highway in the country. SO flipping many big trucks. TWO of them came into my lane when I was alongside them, and I had to honk and brake to avoid being hit. I got into a routine of waiting until I could clear the whole length of the truck, then gunning it to pass them as fast as I could. I was only on 80 for about 100 miles but it felt like 1000.

Tonight I’m camped at Ogallala Lake in Nebraska.

It’s so quiet here. At home you’d be out of luck finding a campsite at a state park on the weekend, and I was worried about that since I left on a Friday. But sites here are mostly empty. I’ll head north toward Badlands NP and the Black Hills tomorrow. I’m planning a day of less driving more fun!