We left Estes Park and curved down though the Rocky Mountains with the roaring river and signs warning of Mountain Sheep crossing.
There were many lodges and cabins crowded into any available space between the massive rock walls.
We also saw many fly fishermen. Bob wondered how many fish could still be in the river with fly fishing being so popular.
We were soon in the town of Loveland and then crossed into high plains country. It was sad to leave the mountains and we soon lost the hazy sight of them as we moved east. We cut up to Highway 14 east as it was marked scenic and we passed through huge, beautiful farmland. It reminded us of the Dakotas as you could see forever.
We were soon in the town of Loveland and then crossed into high plains country. It was sad to leave the mountains and we soon lost the hazy sight of them as we moved east. We cut up to Highway 14 east as it was marked scenic and we passed through huge, beautiful farmland. It reminded us of the Dakotas as you could see forever.
We were in the Pawnee National Grassland. It was remote with very few settlements. A campground named Crow Valley advertised listening to the coyotes sing you to sleep and another sign warned of the next fuel available being 60 miles away.
The few towns we went through were dusty little 4 corners with maybe a cafe and gas station. Then we stopped in the bigger town of Sterling for gas and there were actually big box chain stores there. We planned to turn south on 61 to pick up 36 east and actually got lost in the little town. There were one way streets and we almost turned the wrong way when a big truck blasted at us, thank goodness! We ended up following train tracks and got on highway 76 from back roads. Who would think we could get lost in such a small town. 76 was a freeway that merged with 80 in Nebraska. We decided that a freeway might be good for awhile to make some time and get across some of the farmland. At North Platte, we dropped south on 83 to get down to 36 east and on to back roads. There were rolling hills and miles of farmland and prairie. It was beautiful and reminded us of the north Texas hill country.
We stopped in McCook, Nebraska for groceries and crossed into Kansas as rain and wind moved in. It rained hard and then cleared as a lovely rainbow came out. We were both tired and beginning to get worried about a campground. I was searching my campground books and the internet and coming up with a big zero. Back road travel is beautiful, but it has it's drawbacks. Near Norton, Kansas we saw a State Park called Prairie Dog and decided we'd better pull in.
There was just a little building and a sign was posted that due to lack of funds, there was only someone on duty from 8:00 to 12:00.
The few towns we went through were dusty little 4 corners with maybe a cafe and gas station. Then we stopped in the bigger town of Sterling for gas and there were actually big box chain stores there. We planned to turn south on 61 to pick up 36 east and actually got lost in the little town. There were one way streets and we almost turned the wrong way when a big truck blasted at us, thank goodness! We ended up following train tracks and got on highway 76 from back roads. Who would think we could get lost in such a small town. 76 was a freeway that merged with 80 in Nebraska. We decided that a freeway might be good for awhile to make some time and get across some of the farmland. At North Platte, we dropped south on 83 to get down to 36 east and on to back roads. There were rolling hills and miles of farmland and prairie. It was beautiful and reminded us of the north Texas hill country.
We stopped in McCook, Nebraska for groceries and crossed into Kansas as rain and wind moved in. It rained hard and then cleared as a lovely rainbow came out. We were both tired and beginning to get worried about a campground. I was searching my campground books and the internet and coming up with a big zero. Back road travel is beautiful, but it has it's drawbacks. Near Norton, Kansas we saw a State Park called Prairie Dog and decided we'd better pull in.
There was just a little building and a sign was posted that due to lack of funds, there was only someone on duty from 8:00 to 12:00.
We had to self register and slide an envelope with the $25 fee into the slot in the door. We drove down a path next to the building past piles of junk and then a dead end. We decided that maybe this wasn't the right way as we saw no hook up places or other campers. We were able to back around and go back out to the entrance where we saw a sign pointing towards the campground down a narrow paved road. Up over a hill and around a curve and here was a very nice campground on a small lake with several motor homes and trailers. It was beautifully peaceful with many trees and a clean bathroom. It was perfect! We settled in, had dinner and went for a nice walk in the moonlight. We slept with the windows open and sometime in the night, the yip of coyotes.
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