Stephen H. Long Trail 1819 — 1820

Day 13: September 5th, 2008 North Platte — Ft. Morgan

Map North Platte to Ft. Morgan Map North Platte to Ft. Morgan
Map North Platte to Ft. Morgan

My ear plugs kept up this time. And promptly I totally sleep in and get up by a quarter to eight. Lucky me that I will cross into another time zone today. Therefore I am still early up today anyways. After checking out I only drive the short distance to the Village Inn. Kindly, the rain has stopped which kept my dry when loading my stuff into the truck this morning. The service is pretty good and they also don’t have the Canadian Bacon here. So I am able to order the typical American breakfast.

After breakfast it is time to hook everything up in my truck. This takes some time. Finally I am able to drive to the next gas station. I remember that the Sinclair gas station next to this place was rather expensive. Therefore I immediately drive into the city. All in all I must take this direction anyways. And indeed, the gas station at the Interstate charges almost 15 Cents more than the one in the city. This is really daylight robbery!

I am glad that have not be fallen again for this and I leave around half past ten. First I drive through North Platte. On my drive I also pass the mechanic where I wanted to make a stop to get new oil hoses and who have sent me to the Chevy dealer last year.

Highway 30, NE Highway 30, NE
Highway 30, NE
Highway 30, Hershey, NE Highway 30, Hershey, NE
Highway 30, Hershey, NE

Then I continue on Highway 30 to the west and through Hershey, Nebraska.

Highway 30, NE Highway 30, NE
Highway 30, NE
Highway 30, Mountain Time Zone, NE Highway 30, Mountain Time Zone, NE
Highway 30, Mountain Time Zone, NE
Highway 30, Paxton, NE Highway 30, Paxton, NE
Highway 30, Paxton, NE

Near Paxton I cross the time zone and I am now in Mountain Time Zone.

Highway 30, Ogallala, NE Highway 30, Ogallala, NE
Highway 30, Ogallala, NE
Highway 30, Ogallala, NE Highway 30, Ogallala, NE
Highway 30, Ogallala, NE
Highway 30, NE Highway 30, NE
Highway 30, NE
Rd West M N/W County Rd 55, NE Rd West M N/W County Rd 55, NE
Rd West M N/W County Rd 55, NE

On the highway I make really good miles and I pass smaller and bigger villages. Also the weather clears up more and more and until I have gravel again under my wheels for the first time, the road has even dried out completely.

Railroad St, Big Springs, NE Railroad St, Big Springs, NE
Railroad St, Big Springs, NE
Highway 138, NE Highway 138, NE
Highway 138, NE
Highway 138, State Line NE and CO Highway 138, State Line NE and CO
Highway 138, State Line NE and CO

Now I drive through Big Springs and a short distance further I cross the state line to Colorado on Highway 138.

Highway 138/1st St, Julesburg, CO Highway 138/1st St, Julesburg, CO
Highway 138/1st St, Julesburg, CO
CR28, CO CR28, CO
CR28, CO
Colorado Welcome Center, CO Colorado Welcome Center, CO
Colorado Welcome Center, CO
CR28, CO CR28, CO
CR28, CO
CR28, CO CR28, CO
CR28, CO

At the Colorado Welcome Center I make a brief lunch break.

River Rd, CO River Rd, CO
River Rd, CO
River Rd, CO River Rd, CO
River Rd, CO
River Rd, CO River Rd, CO
River Rd, CO
CR29/Main St, Ovid, CO CR29/Main St, Ovid, CO
CR29/Main St, Ovid, CO

Then I continue on River Road. At Ovid I am back again at Highway 138.

Highway 138, NE Highway 138, NE
Highway 138, NE
Highway 138/Railroad St, Sedgwick, NE Highway 138/Railroad St, Sedgwick, NE
Highway 138/Railroad St, Sedgwick, NE
CR385, CO CR385, CO
CR385, CO

On this one I drive through Sedgwick and after this through Crook before I cross the South Platte River.

Windmill, Overland Trail Museum, CO Windmill, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Windmill, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Blacksmith, Overland Trail Museum, CO Blacksmith, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Blacksmith, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Farm Utilities, Overland Trail Museum, CO Farm Utilities, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Farm Utilities, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Print Shop, Overland Trail Museum, CO Print Shop, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Print Shop, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Farm Utilities, Overland Trail Museum, CO Farm Utilities, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Farm Utilities, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Barber Shop, Overland Trail Museum, CO Barber Shop, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Barber Shop, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Barber Shop, Overland Trail Museum, CO Barber Shop, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Barber Shop, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Bathtub, Barber Shop, Overland Trail Museum, CO Bathtub, Barber Shop, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Bathtub, Barber Shop, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Barber Shop, Overland Trail Museum, CO Barber Shop, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Barber Shop, Overland Trail Museum, CO
School, Overland Trail Museum, CO School, Overland Trail Museum, CO
School, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Overland Trail Museum, CO Overland Trail Museum, CO
Overland Trail Museum, CO
Overland Trail Museum, CO Overland Trail Museum, CO
Overland Trail Museum, CO
Church, Overland Trail Museum, CO Church, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Church, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Church, Overland Trail Museum, CO Church, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Church, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Church, Overland Trail Museum, CO Church, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Church, Overland Trail Museum, CO
General Store, Overland Trail Museum, CO General Store, Overland Trail Museum, CO
General Store, Overland Trail Museum, CO
General Store, Overland Trail Museum, CO General Store, Overland Trail Museum, CO
General Store, Overland Trail Museum, CO
General Store, Overland Trail Museum, CO General Store, Overland Trail Museum, CO
General Store, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Living Room, Overland Trail Museum, CO Living Room, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Living Room, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Living Room, Overland Trail Museum, CO Living Room, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Living Room, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Kitchen, Overland Trail Museum, CO Kitchen, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Kitchen, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Overland Trail Museum, CO Overland Trail Museum, CO
Overland Trail Museum, CO
Gas Station, Overland Trail Museum, CO Gas Station, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Gas Station, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Gas Station, Overland Trail Museum, CO Gas Station, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Gas Station, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Utility Vehicles, Overland Trail Museum, CO Utility Vehicles, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Utility Vehicles, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Utility Vehicles, Overland Trail Museum, CO Utility Vehicles, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Utility Vehicles, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Railroad Station, Overland Trail Museum, CO Railroad Station, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Railroad Station, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Rabbit, Overland Trail Museum, CO Rabbit, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Rabbit, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Railroad Station, Overland Trail Museum, CO Railroad Station, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Railroad Station, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Wagon, Overland Trail Museum, CO Wagon, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Wagon, Overland Trail Museum, CO
Overland Trail Museum, CO Overland Trail Museum, CO
Overland Trail Museum, CO
Overland Trail Museum, CO Overland Trail Museum, CO
Overland Trail Museum, CO

Like the other days I drive alternately on pavement and gravel until I arrive at the Overland Trail Museum. At the counter is a music student, who has already finished her studying. The museum has a lot of old tools. Outside they have rebuilt a real small village with blacksmith, barber, church, residential building, railroad and gas station. All is built like in the years 1850 — 1950. And the best is that nothing is covered behind glass and you can walk everywhere freely. This gives me the chance to get some nice pictures and video.

CR370, CO CR370, CO
CR370, CO

Around half past four I have seen everything and I say good–bye to the music student. But we still start a small chat and she tells me that she will drive to Denver tomorrow to visit relatives. This will be a big family reunion. She was originally born and raised in Sterling. When finally saying good–bye I hand her one of my business cards over that she has a memory on who has visited her at the museum.

CR59, South Platte River, CO CR59, South Platte River, CO
CR59, South Platte River, CO
CR59, CO CR59, CO
CR59, CO
CR59, CO CR59, CO
CR59, CO
CR W 7, CO CR W 7, CO
CR W 7, CO
CR W 7, Union, CO CR W 7, Union, CO
CR W 7, Union, CO
CR W 7, CO CR W 7, CO
CR W 7, CO

Around five I continue on in direction of Ft. Morgan in the almost usual alternating between pavement and gravel.

CR T 9, CO CR T 9, CO
CR T 9, CO
CR T 9, CO CR T 9, CO
CR T 9, CO

At Snyder I drive a short distance on Highway 71. Then I am soon back on my backroads.

Highway 52/Main St, Ft. Morgan, CO Highway 52/Main St, Ft. Morgan, CO
Highway 52/Main St, Ft. Morgan, CO
Highway 52/Main St, Ft. Morgan, CO Highway 52/Main St, Ft. Morgan, CO
Highway 52/Main St, Ft. Morgan, CO
Highway 52/Main St, Ft. Morgan, CO Highway 52/Main St, Ft. Morgan, CO
Highway 52/Main St, Ft. Morgan, CO

Around half past six I arrive at the Super 8 in Ft. Morgan, which I miss as usual on the first approach. But the entry is almost invisible, because it is well hidden between McDonald’s and Arby’s. You enter via the restaurant drive–in to reach the motel.

I take again a room on second floor. Unfortunately I loose the handle when I try to get my suitcase upstairs. Great, it looks like I will need a new one now. When I take a closer look at my suitcase in the room I realize that I have only lost a screw. It unscrewed over time due to vibrations. After searching for quite a while I find the screw somewhere in my clothes and I am able to screw the handle back on.

During check–in they recommended the Memories Family Restaurant for dinner. But in my room I look for alternatives and chose the Country Steakout. My taste goes more for a good steak tonight. The restaurant is at the city limits and has a nice interior. From the look you would expect something pricey. But the price is like at the Outback Steakhouse, so it’s not overpriced. But the steak is not as tender as at the other steakhouses. Also the meal size is not really big. The salad must be fetched by yourself at the salad bar, which I don’t really like. But I have no other option.

But therefore you receive a whole can of Pepsi at your table. At least you must now not rely on hoping that the server will eventually fill up your empty glass. Maybe they have even done this, because my server is extraordinary slow. Just before nine I pay and drive back to my motel.

There I write all my emails first. Then I start checking my video taping of today. Into the bargain, I get the run in the meantime before I can finish my video tape checking. After this I write my diary. Around half past twelve I am eventually able to make myself ready for going to bed. I am almost not able to keep my eyes open. Slowly things are really taking it out of me…

  • Sights
  • Overland Trail Museum (Fee $4)
  • General
  • Breakfast: Village Inn, North Platte
  • Dinner: Country Steakout, Ft. Morgan
  • Motel: Super 8, Ft. Morgan
  • Distance: 205 miles