When we decided to visit Nebraska we did so for one reason only; to add it the list of states we have been to. We planned to hit a small corner of the state and get out as quickly as possible. After all, who wants to drive for hundreds of miles in a straight line through cornfields and more cornfields. Well, we were wrong about Nebraska.O'Neil, Nebraska, to Omaha, Nebraska

310 Miles

2409 Total Miles

When we decided to visit Nebraska we did so for one reason only; to add it the list of states we have been to. We planned to hit a small corner of the state and get out as quickly as possible. After all, who wants to drive for hundreds of miles in a straight line through cornfields and more cornfields. Well, we were wrong about Nebraska.

Yesterday, Nebraska surprised us. We entered from South Dakota in the Northeastern part of the state. The terrain was hilly and presented us with good views and interesting riding.

Today, we drove a circuitous route through northeastern Nebraska that took us from O'Neil to Omaha. Had we been in a hurry and ridden the most direct route the trip would have taken just a few hours. instead, we drove for over 300 miles in a route that took us from O'Neil to Royal to Sioux City, Iowa, and then down to Omaha. We were clearly not in Colorado, but the drive was interesting and well worth our time.

The day started in O'Neil. While packing our bikes we met Jess Burns, a 72 year old retired insurance agent from Paris, Texas. Jess, along with this wife and grandson, 12 year old Adam, were on route to Southeastern South Dakota, where Jess and several others were going to construct a church. Jess does this sort of thing every year. Last year he, along with 100 other men, built a church in four days. He does this as a volunteer because "I've been pretty lucky and this is just a little something I can to do."

Jess and grandson Adam

We had breakfast at the Blarney Stone restaurant in downtown O'Neil. O'Neil is apparently proud of its Irish heritage because shamrocks are all over town. Breakfast was good.

We left O'Neil and drove to Royal, Nebraska, home of the Ashfield Fossil Beds State Historical Park. The fossil beds were quite a find. About 20 years ago a farmer noticed that erosion had exposed some large fossils on his property. It turned out to be a significant archeological find. A volcanic explosion at Yellowstone millions of years ago (180 times bigger than Mount St. Helens) spread a four foot layer of volcanic dust throughout that area of Nebraska, killing and preserving thousands of fossil remains. The fossilized animal remains found include rhinoceros, saber-toothed deer, raccoon-dogs, three-toed stallions and camels. The park has a wonderful display of a fossil bed that Jane Voorhies, a volunteer at the park, explained to us in great detail. If you want more information go to: http://www.ashfall.unl.edu/index.html

People who find fossil remains on their property can bring them in for analysis by on-site paleontologists

The first major fossil bed unearthed

After the fossil beds we drove (out of our way) north to Highway 12 to ride the final 70 miles of the Outlaw Trail. Promoted as scenic and interesting, it was just OK. At the end of the Outlaw Trail we arrived in Sioux City, Iowa. We had lunch there and also shopped for some needed items. At lunch, Cleve had the Georgia barbecue Memphis-style with Texas sauce - in Iowa. Very confusing to both of us.

We then rode down scenic Highway 75 to Omaha. It was a fine ride that further dispelled our pre-conceived notiions about Nebraska. Before any of you jump in your cars and rush to see scenic Nebraska, however, we feel certain that we saw the best the state has to offer. Our guess is that the western 3/4 of the state is nothing more than flat cornfields.

We found a room in a downtown Omaha hotel, where we are spending the evening. Tomorrow, we drive to Independence, Missouri, to spend a little time with Harry Truman.