Sand Turtles, Lake McConaughy, NE

Silent, Sandy, and Sacred...

I was surprised to find these sand sculptures along the shores of Lake McConaughy in Nebraska. And a few other sand piles looked like sacred spots along the roads of India, only theirs are very colorful and have strips of foil. I have a book of them. So you never know what is around you until you take the time to explore. I am trying real hard not to go from Point A to Point B.

Lake McConnaughy,NE

This part of Nebraska is covered with small fields of sunflowers. The wind blows hot and dry.

Then the next day the wind was still and muddy-moist. These trees do not like to get their feet wet. But I enjoyed wading and it felt almost like a caribbean island.

Surf's up....

Kingsley Dam viewed from The Hilltop Inn where I ate country fried steak. My first meal out...

I had the best seat in the house...again I was the only one. One couple came in after me...

This fresh water inland lake was created to generate electricity in the late thirties, but now is heavily used for recreation as well. It is about 26 miles long and 130 feet deep. So when the wind blows, it kicks up waves. The soil in the area is sandy and I got my first tropical beach experience in the middle of the cornhusker state. It was like being on a deserted island because no one was roaming the aspen and willow lined coves. I parked the Turtle next to the sunflower fields with views of the lake on 3 sides. Trains went by carrying coal from Denver, but the wind was blowing the sound away from me and the yellow-gold Union Pacific engines seemed liked toys on an electric track.

Inching Across Nebraska

From mid-Missouri all the way around Omaha, NE to Greenwood just East of Lincoln, into Lincoln to get a hair cut and groceries and to try to exchange my new Garmin GPS because the screen cracked(no luck, I have to call Garmin), then to Prairie Oasis RV about an hour west of Lincoln. Prairie Oasis had a small lake with a small dock and small paddle boats. It was all the size of some ride in an amusement park. But I enjoyed putting my feet in the water while sitting on the dock. There was no way I was going to use their mini-beach area. This one was probably a foot deep. I was surrounded by corn fields that went on for miles. The place should have been called Cornfield Oasis. I was planning on driving to Ogallala, NE where there is a huge lake with white sandy beaches. But The Turtle mis-fired as I was leaving a rest stop and I decided to stay at a campground in North Platte, NE where I am now-at a Toyota dealership. They said she needed new spark plugs and a fuel filter. The problem was minor and the misfiring happened only once. But I am still waiting to get to Lake McConnaugh(sp?) near Ogallala to test their beach area.

Royal Detour

If you are going to detour, this is the way to do it. I29 North from Rock Port, Mo almost to Omaha, NE was closed due to major flooding of the Missouri River. I saw silos and a few farm houses that looked like islands along the interstate. I mean it was tragic for those involved, but for me it provided a beautiful glistening view, and the new route was like a roller coaster lined with rows of undulating corn fields and out of scale windmills. I put the wind giants into another perspective and noticed it matched the crack in my side-view mirror.

Missouri Wetlands,General Pershing State Park

Our wetlands are being challenged everywhere. Here are some photos of an area that is dedicated to preserving, educating, and providing easy access to their hidden beauty. I spent two days at General Pershing State Park near LaClede, MO, Black Jack's boyhood home. Each day , I discovered more. I seemed to be the only one that was interested in nature , but there were only a handful of campers because of a heat wave. The night I arrived a big storm shook The Turtle. The weather was cool and again I felt blessed-as if the Wetland Gods wanted me to send some message. Also a young man from Missouri State Parks took lots of photos of me doing some hiking along the trails. I am not sure what he will do with them. I was sweating like some of the plants you see, but not nearly as cool as they were.

Piney Campground, Home to Turtles

My camp spot had the best view yet. The Turtle loved it as she could see red- eared and yellow- bellied turtle heads popping up everywhere in Kentucky Lake. This is the Southern entrance to Land Between the Lakes (was Land between the Rivers until TVA took over). She also saw something as slow as she was...barges, five of them, each a football field in length being pushed by riverboats with paddle wheels. Well, maybe they didn't have the paddle wheels, but The Turtle can be a bit old-fashioned as well as slow.

Turtle playground and beach area...the beach was better suited to turtles- only 3 feet deep and pretty stinky on the shore---Canada Geese poop is not pretty. When it gets in the water it looks like seaweed...all green and webby. I didn't tell The Turtle, but I saw a dead relative(of hers, not mine) in that swimming area. The next day, I had an upset stomach...YUK...no more beach areas in state parks!

But the day's rest gave me energy enough to make it all the way to Columbia, MO. I got up at 6 in the morning and arrived here at 6 in the evening. The RV Lady put me in the handicapped spot because she said there were strong storms coming after 2 am. The storm shelter is next door. And so is everyone else. But I am here because of internet access and not because of the view. They have a nice clean pool. I hope we don't get blown to Kansas. So far we have not had a drop of rain since I left.

Warhol...very appropriate as Andy is from Pittsburg, like Tom. I love the show and Nashville, TN and thanks, Tom, for treating me to the Frist. You have to see it to really appreciate Warhol's contribution to art and culture, music and dance. Don't form an opinion unless you can see the whole Warhol.

Home of Third Man Records....Nashville reaches out to the world with its music. Tom was once an agent for The Everly Brothers.

Tom Newby and me in a crooked frame...no, there is no image editing and so how was this done?

Time to wonder.....Ever been to Cheekwood in Nashville?