The Salt Shaker

These pictures are from Sunday, May 27th as we crossed Iowa on US-20 from Sioux City to Dyersville.

US-20 is not as interesting in Iowa as it is in Nebraska because it bypasses most of the small towns and then it becomes a divided highway.

There are a lot of farms, some in good condition like this one and others falling into disrepair like so many in New York.  There are a lot of terraced fields, especially in the western part.  The corn is mostly little more than ankle-high at this time.

We saw two or three wind farms although it never seems as windy here as in Nebraska.

An example of a barn quilt.  We first learned of these from a write-up in our local paper about several of these painted on barns near Brockport.   As I recall, the idea started here in Iowa.  We saw two today.

Maybe the best kept secret along US-20 in Iowa is this beautiful example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian architecture.  We picked up a couple of ideas we’d like to incorporate in our own home.  And, amazingly, the tour was free.

Tonight we are in a little county park outside of Dyersville, Iowa.

As we crossed northern Nebraska on US20, at times it looked much like upstate New York.

There are not nearly as many old motels along 20 as there are on Route 66, but I think every one advertises wireless or high speed internet.

What are those strange looking trees? With all the wind that blows across Nebraska, I was surprised not to see more windmills.

These old-fashioned utility poles also caught our eye.

On Route 66, we saw lots of old Phillips 66 stations, but here in Nebraska, Sinclair rules.

As we came to the eastern end of US20 in Nebraska, the road turned into a roller coaster.  Click on the picture to see a larger one for the full effect.

Tonight we’re in North Sioux City which is in South Dakota right where SD, IA, and NE meet.

These pictures are from Friday, May 25, but we are staying in a lovely Nebraska State Park with no wi-fi so they will be posted later.

Note to Andy:  this picture was taken on Colorado 71 as we headed to Kimball, NE.

Scotts Bluff in western Nebraska.  Because of the badlands in this area, the Oregon Trail used this pass to continue west.

There was a 1.5 mile trail up the bluff which we hiked.

And what is this?

It’s part of Carhenge in Alliance, NE. 

Looks like we aren’t the only visitors from New York…

And finally, still going north, the landscape changed once again and we found ourselves in the Pine Ridge area at the oldest state park (est. 1921) in Nebraska.

It’s impossible to drive through Colorado without getting Rocky Mountain High… so many breath-taking vistas.

It was about 25 degrees when we got up this morning but only a heavy frost on the ground… until we began to climb up Monarch Pass.

At the top which is on the Continental Divide…

It warmed up a bit as we continued east staying on US 50 until we got to Pueblo.  There we turned north and headed on to Colorado Springs which lies just east of Pike’s Peak 

There we visited the Garden of the Gods…

And tonight we are on the high plains of eastern Colorado in the little town of Limon. 

We left the Grand Canyon yesterday after hiking out on Sunday.  Tonight we are in Gunnison, Colorado where the temperature is predicted to dip into the low 20’s tonight.

Earlier today, we traversed many miles with grades up to 10% and views like this:

We also visited Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (alt. about 8900 ft) where it began to hail on us.  Spectacular views… hope to come back on a nicer day to do some hiking.