DAY NUMBER 19
09.05.2007
Long day of driving with little scenery change....
Illinois corn field at 80 MPH......
Kansas corn field at 80 MPH.......
Nebraska corn fi..... Errrr.... TOM! I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!
Apparently Nebraska corn is not to be photographed at speeds above 60 MPH whilst traveling on two lane roads...
But wait, let's start at the beginning........
As usual it started at o-dark thirty... Packing a Z4 by moonlight is somewhat challenging...
Today's mission is one of putting miles under the wheels of Tom's trusty Z4.
So a lot of 80 MPH pics starting with the St Louis Arch.....
Bush Stadium at 80 in the rain......
Kauffman Stadium almost, at 80....
Just have to look under the truck and use some imagination.
The difference between KS and NE?
In KS you have to drive up to pay your revenue, in NE they come to you.
What trip thru Kansas is complete without a visit to historic Holton, KS.
Also gives us a chance to talk with people whom are knowing of RoadsteLes's family.
Blaine, now why am I standing here?
This joke just never gets old....
Upon the recomendation from the shop aboves mother daughter duo....
We went to the most bodacious eatery in all of Holton.
Tom was in pig heaven with all the license plates.
But we couldn't dally to long as we were parked in the "seedy" part of town.
Never know when someone might steal a couple of nice BMW wheels to put on the ole John Deere.
A few to many run ins with disgruntled patients?
Oh yes, now we are back to Mr. State Trooper.....
After our roadside interview regarding Kansas speed limits vs. Nebraska.
He set up waiting for his next victim which came in the form of a Corvette trying to escape NE...
But alas, it was not his day either....
As for the NSP, you mess with my roomy, you mess with ME!
Well now that our ride is in the NSB data base it was time to shop.....
Luck being with us, we happened to see this one at the local premier rental agency.
The new ride ran less than stellar so we stopped at the local Nebraska BMW dealership,
only to find that all the techs were busy as it is harvest time and them John Deeres don't fix themselves.
As Betsy and John already know Tom is a constant multi tasker.
Time to give Tom's phone a rest and head to bed.....
DAY 20
09.07.2007
While trying to find some gas in Historic North Platte Nebraska, we came upon Uncle Carl the State Weights and Measures Man.
Well, he should have been checking quality instead of quantity.
Really bad tank of gas.............check engine light came on.......16.7 MPG ....black exhaust
Beautiful Historic Downtown North Platte.
Tom, now why did you send me here?
At our stop for informantion, exercise and fluids management,
we found Nani the parrot (on a leash) out on a family trip.
Upon leaving the rest area, all heck broke lose as we were caught up in the great Nebraska median fire of 07!
Not a ball of string, but the largest American flag, 52 by 100 feet, in Nebraska.
Also in Chappel, a B24 bomber exploaded and crashed in 1944 after being struck by lightning.
Cabela'sWorld Headquarters is located in Sidney, Nebraska and this is their flagship store.
Tom stocked up on more squirrel killin ammo while we were there..
There was even a large clearance room.....
Stuffed elephant (on the left) and Blaine inside Cabelas.
Tom would rather deal with this ursidae, than Blaine at o-dark-thirty.
As another bear of a storm brews, the convoy must be quick like a bunny and head to Nebraska's second largest flag.
Flags are a big deal in Sidney as these big babys are manufactured here locally.
This is a 30X60 flag hung on a 140 foot tall pole set in 20 tons of cement and rebar.
Finally we got out of Nebraska, land of bad cops and gas.
Had to stop in the metropolis of Buford for gas as the guage said we only had 6 miles worth of crappy gas left.
Blaine wanted to run the guage down to 0 to see if it went into minus numbers..
But he was vetoed by the only common sense in the car.
I bought some yummy Deer Doo at the local Buford Supermart.
But it claims a population of 2...
apparently Bush's No Child Left Behind program is working as 50% of the population has gone on to higher education.
Well someone has to stake out the high ground.
Blaine, where is the oxygen mask?
A monument to the the Lincoln Highway, first transcontinental highway
Some people were cold and had to get the coat out at this elevation.
Is it just me or does Abe have a certain Zombiest look to him!
Sinclair Refinery at 80MPH.
Maybe they need a Juan Pablo type to help them sell gas.
As the day winds down we head into the sunset over I-80....
and
on to our respite for the night at the Beruit Inn of Rawlins WY.
How did you get this number?
No, I don't want any insurance.
We might have to start a little fund raiser so when can have the growth on Tom's ear removed.
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