great platte river archway

This monument was dedicated to the settlers traveling westward back in the day of covered wagons in 1843 to 1869. It honors the spirit of the half million men, women, children and horses that battled their way through treacherous terrain and made their way westward.

Along with the wagon spirit, there is also spirit of design and engineering in creating the Great Platte River Archway. The monument is pretty big. It is composed of a 1,500 ton structure that stretches across the 308 foot wide highway. Amazingly enough, the archway was erected without inhibiting traffic or creating gridlock, the modern day treachery for travelers.

truckin

Where can you find a library, orange julius, chapel and truck-o-matic? The World's Largest Truckstop. I'll admit, I did not see a Ripley's stamp of approval anywhere confirming the neon lights claim. But, knowing that you can wash away both your sins and dirt off your 18-wheeler in a one-stop shop, it's plausible.

Even if it's not true, it sure is the grandest truck stop I've come across. And, if it's in the cards and our paths cross again, I now know of place where I can watch a quick flick to wait out rush hour traffic. That is, if there is ever rush hour traffic in the middle of Iowa on I-80.

winds of change

better in the mountains

Even a strip mall parking lot looks better in the mountains. The gargantuan field of asphalt and forest of light poles almost look natural in the higher altitude. Almost.

wild west by buffalo bill

built ford tough

hey kool-aid

I've always wondered where Kool-Aid came from. Not the invention of the Kool-Aid powder. Everyone knows that Edwin Perkins derived the idea of Kool-Ade - the original, outlawed spelling in 1927, from Jell-O. But I wondered where the physical location of where Kool-Aid, the man, was born. This year, the agony of not knowing has finally ended. He was born in an expectedly, sterile environment in Hastings, Nebraska. While the building was a little lack-luster, the sugary, sweet bits of knowledge are safely set aside for eccentric party trivia. Now, if I could only figure out where Cap'n Crunch hailed from. So begins my quest to track down mom's worst enemy: sucrose-loving characters.

gps

I've heard so many positive things about handheld gps systems and was eager to try one out. This summer I got my chance to try my luck. I punched in the destination and waited for the device to show me the way. Sure enough, the gps was giving me directions, but I think the gps was giving me directions for another car. The roads on the screen did not match the road I was on.

Unimpressed by the device, I decided to go old school Lewis and Clark and figure out our route by reading road signs. As I looked out the window, I realized that the gps may have lead us astray.

largest ball of stamps

Just outside Omaha, Nebraska, in Boys Town you can stop by the visitor's center to see the largest ball of stamps. The lacquered, sphere of canceled postage stamps measures 32 inches in diameter, weighs 600 pounds and contains 4,655,000 stamps.

At first I wasn't believer. Then I read the sign a second time. At the top of the sign I noticed a familiar script that read 'Ripley's Believe It or Not.' The little logo tilted the scale towards the ball of stamps and made me a believer. Afterall, if you can't trust in Ripley, then who can you trust.