Start odo 31719, heading to Lancaster Event Ctr, 4100 N 84th St, Lincoln, NE 68507.
Drove north then west, avoiding Kansas City MO. Decided to drive a few mph slower to see if I could get the fuel mileage higher. Many more trees, fewer open fields, so what I saw yesterday was certainly due to farming. Northern MO is flat. As I drove west, I was surprised by how wet were the fields. Either there was a huge storm in the last few days, or this is by design. I saw lots of water diversion dams, lots of drainage ditches, and the land looked like river bottom land. I saw lots of starlings chase a white bird, then also saw a coyote amid the birds. Coyote must have been trying to catch birds. Also saw an Amish one-horse buggy.
US-36 W is the Chicago-Kansas City expressway. Passed the birthplaces of Walt Disney, Gen. John J Pershing and JC Penney. Chillicothe is the home of “Sliced Bread.”
Just east of St. Joseph, an 18-wheeler took a curve too fast and blocked the highway. My GPS showed roads where I could backtrack and avoid, so I started. The roads were gravel, connecting farmers and fields. After five miles of 20mph on those gravel roads, I got back to US-36w and proceeded. The ambulance passed me, so I guess I saved time. Of course, for the next couple of highway miles, my tires shed gravel and mud, slinging them gratuitously.
East of St Joseph, I crossed the Platte River. Not sure if this is the river of “westward ho!” fame, but it reinforces why I’m seeing bottom land and lots of water in the fields. Lots of levees.
Went north on I-29 just east of St Joseph. Crossed briefly into Iowa, crossing the Nishnabotna river, notable for its Indian name meaning “canoe making river.” Then Iowa 2 west across the Missouri river, climbing from the bottom land to the bluff on the Nebraska side.
Got near Lincoln and found a Whole Foods for supplies. On to the Lancaster Event Center, where I am surrounded by a thousand horse trailers. Some have storage on top for surrey racing carts. No shade, and the AC is having trouble cooling the RV. Hope it continues to work!
Today was 323 miles, and just under eight hours elapsed driving.
