Wilson Price Hunt Trail (‘Astorians’) 1811 — 1812

Day 36: September 17th, 2006 North Platte — Iowa City

Next to Applebee’s is a Village Inn, where I already had breakfast before. Indeed, they put a whole coffeepot at your table. But it is not really well filled up. Also the amount of hash browns is more a joke than a breakfast. But in exchange, I have finished breakfast very quick. Because I will have again a very long day, this is still okay.

Interstate 80, NE

I stop at the gas station next to the restaurant. This one does not charge more than the one in the city. Therefore I can also take this one. Around 9am I am back on I–80 East. It is still not really warm with temperatures around 35 degrees. But at least it is not raining. Also the roads are dry.

Interstate 80, Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, NE

And it stays this for the whole day. What a difference to yesterday. It seems, I eventually have left the bad weather behind me.

Just before Omaha I encounter a warning message via my CB radio: Because of an accident, they have shut down the Interstate! The traffic jam is already around 10 miles! I take a quick look at my map and search for a way on highways to circle around the traffic jam. This way I have the luck to drive once again on gravel, which I would have not expected.

Church Rd, NE

Just before I am back on the Interstate, I make another stop at a gas station. Because I am already off the Interstate and I am halfway to my destination, I use this opportunity for the stopover. Around half past one I am back on the Interstate and have circled around the whole traffic jam. In the meantime, traffic is already rolling again. But I am sure it would have taken much more time, if I would have tried to drive through this traffic jam.

The rest of my traveling is now without any issues. At Omaha, I cross the state line to Iowa.

I make good progress and arrive in Des Moines, IA, soon.

Interstate 80, IA

Interstate 80, IA

Just past 6pm I arrive at the Motel 6 in Iowa City. There the roads are a bit wet, but it is not raining anymore. Unfortunately there are no rooms left on first floor. Therefore I must drag my suitcases on the upper level. I put my stuff into the room and check my video taping of today. Then I ask at the reception for directions to the closest Outback Steakhouse. They immediately hand me over a map with directions. Equipped this good, it is not an issue to find it.

Around half past nine I pay and drive back to my motel. Also tomorrow I will have a long drive and I will loose an additional hour due to the next timezone. And I don’t want to arrive too late at my friends Jean & Matt in Detroit. Before I left for dinner, I messaged them, that I am still within my schedule — that was not really for sure thinking of the bad weather in the mountains…