April 20, 2010 On The Road Part 2

Great Platte River Road Archway Monument

Kearney, Nebraska

Like brave 19th century pioneers who settled this wild land, the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument has endured horrible adversity, and also celebrated day-by-day victories. A victory is when the parking lot fills and the gift shop is abuzz with souvenir seekers. Or when Jack Nicholson was filmed in a scene here for the movie About Schmidt.

Adversity? Try attracting speeding drivers to stop at a privately-owned, $64 million "log bridge" arching over busy I-80 -- when there's no exit off-ramp.

The Archway is a relative newcomer to Great Plains tourism, installed in grand style one night five years ago and opening in 2000. Using giant multi-wheeled transporters, the 1,500-ton, 309-foot structure was rolled across the highway in one piece on the night of Aug. 16, 1999. The interstate was closed for eight hours while the archway was locked onto its support platforms. (Team Roadside was caught up in the tangle, on our way from the Birthplace of Kool Aid in Hastings, Nebraska to the Ice Replica of Sonja Heine's Heart -- now melted -- in Omaha).

Wow, until a few minutes ago when I did this research I never realized you could actually walk in this structure.  vm

We are headed west on I-80… pretty apparent isn’t it?  Our friend, Margaret Bushon, had told me a couple of days ago that we needed to make a stop in Paxton, NE to visit Ole’s Big Game Restaurant.  We arrived in time for breakfast and what a great one it was for very little money.  I will let you Google this for further information…I have so many pictures.  Just let me say that Ole bagged each of these creatures himself…there are over 200 in the restaurant area.  I have to admit I cringed when I saw the beautiful polar bear…Ole what have you done! 

We pulled into the Kimball RV Park in Kimball, NE to spend the night.  It is a small town of about 2500 people but it does have a Dairy Queen and at least 5 bars.  There were only 3 rigs, including us, in the park.  I get the feeling we have stayed here in the past…will have to check out some old pictures.

We had a thunderstorm last night after a beautiful sunset.  The sky was magnificent.  I am sure my pictures don’t do it justice.

      Wednesday morning  April 22

Got up early and was able to catch the sun coming up.  God is good.

Gotta run…we will be in Wyoming in a few hours.  I’m excited.

Moving on.