Underway 0755CT. 82 degrees at 8am at the horse event center; no shade yesterday. Start elevation about 1400 feet, and rose all day quite steadily to 4200 feet by the time I arrived in Sidney NE. Steady southerly cross wind all day, sometimes veering to a straight head wind. The head wind made me slow significantly to preserve fuel mileage.
I crossed the Platte river several times, as I-80 makes its way along that valley. The Platte has several very wide areas and there’s lots of land with water sitting in fields.
I saw lots of sand mining operations. One company, Paulsen, has left cement mixer barrels all along the fields next to I-80.
At Kearney, all of I-80 passes under The Archway, a museum explaining the Great Platte River Road. Kearney claims to be the sand hill crane capital of the world.
At several places along the Platte watershed, cottonwood trees were sailing their cottony seed pods everywhere, making it look like mild snow. I saw a lot of red wing blackbirds and brown headed cow birds.
The temperature along the road rose steadily all day, topping at 105 degrees F. I kept an eye on engine temperature, but it never rose into dangerous levels.
Arrived at 1426MDT at the Cabela’s world headquarters in Sidney NE. Quite a nice full service RV park as a part of the store complex. First come, first served, and usually only about half full. Pull into any open site, then go into the store to pay. Outdoor temperature is quite hot, but should cool as the sun sets. Overnight a front passed through, with the wind rocking the Goose on its leveling struts.
