On-the-Road Ogallala to Grand Island, NE 05-24-11

We had hoped to spot a sandhill crane lagging behind the migration, so we drove the 50 miles around Lake McConaughy peering into every shorn wheat field and low marshy tract of land.  But no luck.

We are not in a hurry so we stopped for wildflowers (the book is in the car tonight!) and birds and interesting viewpoints.

We even spotted some large trout in the flooded margins of the lake.

Someone took pity on the tourists driving this loop road and provided a Rest Stop.  As you can see there is a trail trodden in the grass indicating that tourists at least checked it out.  We didn't. 

We stopped beside this marshy area to look for birds - lots of red-winged blackbirds - and at a few other places. We saw many Eastern Kingbirds, swallows, house sparrows, vultures, a few hawks, but no cranes.  

We turned off the road to the Ash Hollow Visitor's Center only to discover it doesn't open until Memorial Day.  But there were wildflowers blooming along the road, including this blue penstemon.

Ash Hollow was an important stop for the pioneers splitting off from the California bound trails.  The ash groves provided shade, wood, fresh water and a chance to rest before heading off along the North Platte River for the Oregon Trail.  We read that there are remnants of the ruts made by the wagon wheels and indications of a sort of capstan used for lowering the wagons down into the hollow.  Although the land appears somewhat flat, it is full of ravines which were to steep for wagons.

These metal cranes at the Crane Meadow Visitors Center were the only ones we saw.  The center had already closed at 5pm, so we didn't even have a chance to see the displays.  Next time?

 

We looked for a motel of our choice, but settled for a Holiday Inn in Grand Island, NE.  Since we were tired and rain was threatening we decided not to drive anywhere else and had dinner in the empty dining room and discovered why it was empty.  I doubt that either Ruth Powers or I have ever left grilled salmon on our plates, but what we were served was dry and tasteless.   They even ruined the baked potato!  As I have been writing I have nibbled on crackers from my food bag and will probably dream of a great breakfast before we go on to Lincoln  to visit the Int'l Quilt Study Center and Museum at the Uof Nebraska.  The weather predictions are not favorable, but we'll just keep going as fearlessly as we can!