Through Kansas and Nebraska

May 23, 2021

The drive through Kansas was great because we did not travel on any interstate highways.  The truck drivers stay away from the secondary roads because two lanes and small towns reduce their production. Our drive to our campground at Lake Ogallala in Nebraska was just as pleasant for the same reasons.  When we arrived at Lake Ogallala about 4pm, our campsite was fifty feet from the lake and we were parallel with the lake so the view of the beautiful lake was not obstructed by anything.  The temp was 81°, sunny, gentle breeze, not a cloud in the sky. Now all of this sounds good, but as the early evening got closer, around 7pm, the sky started getting dark, the wind started picking up, and it started spitting a little rain.  By 7:30, there was a severe heavy thunderstorm warning, a tornado watch, strong winds, intense downpour, and pea sized hail.  The rv was shaking and rocking like a ride simulator at Disney.  The wind was actually coming across the lake so hard it seemed like it was pulling the water from the lake and slapping it against the rv.  But an hour and a half later, the wind and rain stopped, the skies cleared but the temp dropped to 51°.  There was no damage and no injuries so we welcomed a good night’s sleep.

May 24, 2021

We awoke to a beautiful day with clear sunny skies, but cool temps. This was going to be the shortest driving day of the whole trip so we took our time and checked into Curt Gowdy State Park a bit early.  This state park is absolutely gorgeous! But like most of the area, a bit windy.

 

May 25, 2021

On the last leg of our trip before our destination, we stopped in Rawlins, Wyoming to see the Wyoming Frontier Prison Museum. The guided tour with interesting historic stories was a great insight into the lives of incorrigible people and one look at the concrete beds makes one think ‘hmmm, I’m glad my parents taught me how to behave.’  The 5’ x 7’ cells were not heated nor did they have hot water in the showers that were big enough for 30 men at a time to take a shower. The inmates were allowed to paint the inside of their cells any color they wanted and interestingly enough, many were painted yellow or light blue.

                                            Main entrance to the prison

                                            Showers for the inmates. Above and below

                                            The prisoner library room. Above and below

                                                        Rows of cells. Above and below

                                                      Individual cell with a pillow and mattress

                                                        Visitation room

The white plumbing pipe in the middle of the room above was a place where defiant prisoners were handcuffed and whipped with a rubber hose.