Robert Stuart Trail 1812 — 1813

Day 31: September 11th, 2007 Scottsbluff — North Platte

The lump above me wakes me up at a quarter to seven. Because I am not able to fall asleep anymore I get up and make myself ready for breakfast. Yesterday I have even seen a Shari’s Restaurant, where I always thought, they are only located at the west coast. The breakfast is good again and around half past nine I pay and drive over to the next gas station.

Old Highway 92/Old Oregon Trail, NE

Then I continue to Scotts Bluff, a single mountain in the middle of this plane. First, I check out the Visitor Center. There I am able to learn something about the history. There have been two paths for the Oregon Trail: Either over the hills or along the river. But the trail along the river was nearly impassable, due to the soft ground. Today, a road takes you up to the summit of this mountain. Of course, I drive this road after seeing the Visitor Center.

Old Highway 92/Old Oregon Trail, Scotts Bluff NM, NE

Summit Road Tunnels, Scotts Bluff National Monument, NE

North Outlook, Scotts Bluff National Monument, NE

North Outlook, Scotts Bluff National Monument, NE

North Outlook, Scotts Bluff National Monument, NE

North Outlook, Scotts Bluff National Monument, NE

North Outlook, Scotts Bluff National Monument, NE

South Outlook, Scotts Bluff National Monument, NE

There are two hiking trails at the summit, where you have picturesque views of the planes and in western direction to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. How must have felt the early settlers, when they have suddenly seen this giant mountains at the horizon after strenuous weeks through the plains?

Old Highway 92/Old Oregon Trail/M St, Gering, Scotts Bluff NM, NE

Then I continue on Old Highway 92/Old Oregon Trail, smaller County Roads and Highway 92 through Gering in Nebraska.

Chimney Rock, NE

Chimney Rock, NE

From there, it is not very far to Chimney Rock on Highway 92. Also there is a small Visitor Center. But for me there is no real new information available. The rock, which looks like a chimney, can only be seen from a distant. A small gravel road takes you closer to the rock, but not to the foot. I take my pictures and do my video taping, then I drive back to the main road.

Courthouse and Jail Rock, NE

The small backroad in parallel to the bigger Highway 92 is private property and locks me out again. Therefore I must take the highway to Bridgeport. Because I am still good in time, I also visit the third marker for the early settler treks: The Court and Jailhouse Rock. There are no signs or even a Visitor Center around. In return, a gravel road takes you directly to the rocks.

Then I drive again back and another time through Bridgeport.

Then I continue on Highway 92 in eastern direction. Another attempt to travel on backroads fails already after a short distance due to private property.

Rd 54, NE

Rd 54, NE

But finally, the highway is getting smaller and turns into a gravel road — and unfortunately also in a real bad washboard road.

Highway 92, NE

At Oshkosh I return to the big Highway 92, which takes me just past Lewellen to the northern shores of Lake Ogallala. Finally the road is getting smaller — and turns into a gravel road again.

Keystone Sarben N Rd, NE

Keystone Sarben N Rd, NE

Then I must again travel on Highway 92 for a short distance before I turn onto Keystone Lake Rd and pass the small village of Keystone.

N Oak St, Paxton, NE

Up to Paxton I am able to travel on smaller backroads. There I finally leave the smaller highways for today and I continue on the big Highway 30.

This one takes me up to North Platte and my destination of today, the local Motel 6. Even that I got a little bit lost, I already check in at 6pm. Usually, I should have known the directions to this motel. But until toady, I always approached from the Interstate…

I receive a 10 percent voucher for a steakhouse. But as there is a well–known and good Applebee’s nearby, I take this one for dinner. But before, I check my video taping of today, write my diary and enter the next GPS coordinates. Then I leave for dinner. Again, I try the Chicken Bowl. And again, I am not able to eat the whole bowl — although I was really hungry this time!

Around nine I pay and make a brief stopover at Wal–Mart. There, I eventually buy coolant water, drinking water, my luggage strap and one CD. At the parking lot I fill up the coolant water and realize, that the seal at the coolant water overflow reservoir is leaking. That’s why I always loose coolant water when offroading, because the water will reach the cap!

But what is really starting to worry me in the meantime are the oil filter hoses. They are already leaking so extreme, that I am afraid of traveling long distances. Let’s see where I may be able to let them exchange. Around a quarter to ten I am back in my motel and enter the rest of my GPS coordinates. While doing this, I listen to my CDs…