Friday, September 29, 2006

Day 5 -- Torrington WY to WaKeeney KS

From the Oregon Trail to the Red Brick streets of Oberlin....



The Nebraska AAA map marks US-26 as a "scenic" route, (their only one...) and does have some pretty sights. Scott's Bluff, Chimney Rock, and the Platte River make up a pleasant backdrop for the day's drive. We stopped at a few historic sites along the Oregon Trail, including the grave of Rebbecca ??? -- found by a railroad crew years later who showed their respect by bending the railroad right-of-way enough to leave the spot undisturbed. Also one of the spots where Narcissa Whitman, the first woman to traverse the Oregon Trail, camped with her husband and party on their way to found a mission near Walla Walla Washington. Unfortunately, after existing with the natives for some years, the Whitmans were killed when a passing wagon train brought measles, and hence, death, to the Cayuse Tribe: http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Whitman.html




Chimney Rock was the "half-way" point in the typical Oregon Trail passage, and so marked an important landmark for the tens of thousands who made the journey.




After rejoining I-80 (the replacement for old US-30, the Lincoln Highway), we continued on to North Platte where we headed South to find some traces of Marilyn's roots. Oberlin Kansas has the prettiest red brick streets I have ever seen. I remember seeing some remnants of brick streets in my home town of Grand Rapids, Michigan, but the Oberlin "brickyards" are kept in impeccable condition and are truly beautiful. Anyway, back to Marilyn's roots. Her grandfather Guy ran a hardware store and plumbing business in Oberlin, and for some time held the office of Mayor. Her great-grandfather had the first windmill in the area. http://www.oberlinkansas.org/towns/oberlin.html



Marilyn found her grandparents' old house, which now appears to be inhabited by "night people" and probably hasn't been painted since her grandfather passed away over 30 years ago. Wanna see the present occupants? Here they are on the front porch, quaffing a couple of brewskies...



We pushed on south through the night to I-70 and then headed East to a well-deserved rest in WaKeeney. Total mileage for the day was just under 400.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

The cobblestone streets are still in good shape.