Day 16: Ogallala, Nebraska to Nebraska City #fiveexplore #travellingduringcovid19 #roadtripusa2020

Day 16 – August 1st

This was a straight line to nowhere.

The sign outside the gas station said, ‘you are nowhere’. Today we drove for five hours in a straight line across Nebraska.

We stopped at Front Street in Ogallala at a steakhouse which replicates an Old Western town. We then stared at the flat countryside for several hours. After the curvature of the Rockies the straight lines of Nebraska were a significant contrast. Along the highway various signs advertised the tourist sights, like a defibrillator trying to breathe life into an emergency victim.

There was no saving Nebraska, but we did happen upon a delightful tourist attraction near Nebraska City. Nebraska City sounds like it should be large and important, but it is tiny. Omaha and Lincoln are the large urban outposts of this state.

Arbor Farm contained a scenic Tree Adventure where the children were able to climb and meander through wooden bridges across a forest of trees. Visitors can bounce on a WonderNet and explore eleven different treehouses.

The humidity soon gave way to thunderous downpours and we escaped to the gift shop where adults could delight in a wine tour and the children gorged themselves on apple slushies and ice cream.

Lines of apple trees surrounded the attraction and a large greenhouse sheltered a variety of plants. The feel was decidedly European. We stayed down the road at Lied Lodge. A large downstairs indoor pool overlooked the surrounding woodlands. An up-market restaurant served a range of locally made wines and beers. The concierge and receptionist attended our every needs. Yet a stark reminder of middle America greeted us as we visited the pool.

Overweight locals drinking White Claw dominated the spa pools with their offspring and wives. They interspersed with each other and ignored any semblance of social distancing.

We managed to scramble a few minutes in the pool, then escaped upstairs to order dinner from the restaurant. Like pigs in an opulent trough we gorged on steak, pork, and chicken wings from the comfort of our hotel room.

Our three weeks of travelling are turning into the final straight back home. Tomorrow we wind through the states of Iowa, Kansas and Missouri as west becomes east. The Mississippi River is the gateway back to where America began its journey. As we say goodbye to the Wild West, perhaps there will still be hidden jewels on the final leg of our journey.

In addition to this daily blog, you can check out our Instagram feed for more photos and short posts documenting our 2020 road trip @fiveexplore