Still 40 miles or so from the Nebraska border I passed a support vehicle for a coast to coast cycling group, and I passed cyclists for the next 50 miles or more. I later spoke to one of the riders and found that there were 60 of them.
U.S. 365 overlaps U.S. 20 for a few miles west of Chadron, Nebraska. I live less than a mile from 20 and have driven parts of the highway in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa. Just three states to go!
On 20 I saw a Carhenge billboard. When a friend visited this work of automotive art, no one wanted to admit that it existed. I guess times have changed a bit.
There are big signs marking the entrance to the carhenge parking lot. There were four cars there when I arrived. A sign at the entrance told about the history of this stonehenge replica made of old cars, as well as the real stonehenge. It also showed than carhenge now has corporate sponsors. McDonald's invites visitors to stop for a free postcard. The Outpost, a convenience store, offers "carhenge souvenirs" as well as beer and other treats. K-Mart simply states that it exists.
The extent of the souvenirs at the Outpost seemed to be t-shirts and postcards. The shirts come in a variety of colors and have, in hot pink, a sillouette (sp?) of carhenge and "Carhenge - Alliance, NE on them. They are 50/50 and just not worth the $12, in my opinion. The postcards, two designs, are a quarter a piece, but you can get the same cards five for a buck at McDonald's.
Just as they were two years ago, the postcards at McDonald's are kept under the counter in a zippered bank bag, and the staff seemed reluctant to pull them out. The first one is free, but additional cards are $.25 each or five for $1. All proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House.
Since our federal government repealed the speed limit blackmail law six months ago, states have been allowed to set the limits without fear of loss of highway funds. For those of you living outside the U.S., our traffic laws, including speed limits, are set at the state, not the national, limit.
In South Dakota, the limit on interstate highways is 75, 65 on other rural roads.
A Nebraska law enforcement officer was kind enough to tell me that in this state the limit on interstates is 75, on other four lane roads 65, and on two lane rural roads 55, not 70, until September first, when it becomes 60, not 70.
In North Platte I stopped at the Fort Cody Trading Post, a wonderful collection of western souvenirs. I now know where my Buffalo-Bill-drops-his-pants tilt pen came from.
I didn't have time to visit Harold Warp's Pioneer Village. Maybe next time.
I am now at the Lazy V Motel in Grand Island. a cute clean cheap place with great neon. It was recommended to me, and it is nice to finally be staying in some place other than big national chains.
Since all I will be doing Sunday is driving home, this is probably the last report. Later!