Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 12:02:55 -0400
Reply-To: Harold Teer <teer.vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Harold Teer <teer.vanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Sights to see in the plains states (LVC)
In-Reply-To: <67f8ac6c0906042209o2644eacby3e3c17cb3635a331@mail.gmail.com>
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A few years back, my wife and I stopped at a rest area outside of Omaha,
Nebraska on I-80 as we were heading west. At the time, the rest area would
lend you an audio auto tour cassette tape. It could have also been on CD
but the van only had a cassette player. We got it and followed it as it
took us off of I-80 onto a parallel road off the interstate. Plenty of real
farming towns, museums, surplus stores, etc. It was one of our best drives
and our opinion of Nebraska is much different and much more positive than
people who just stay on I-80.
Hopefully, this audio tour guide is still available.
Harold
___
Harold Teer
1991 Westy (Vangaux)
Harrisonburg, VA
On Fri, Jun 5, 2009 at 1:09 AM, Gary Bawden <goldfieldgary@gmail.com> wrote:
> Greetings, fellow Vanagonauts,
>
> The other day I mentioned that Nebraska is home to some surplus
> stores. The one I'm thinking of is the sort of place you Westy owners
> could pull into, go browsing, and the next day (or three), you'd have
> the solution to opening your top with the eight kayaks, three mountain
> bikes, and six large bear-proof containers on top. I envision an
> electric-over-pneumatic switch on the dash, which, when depressed,
> would assist your top to open with the help of a pair of air
> cylinders, powered by a nifty belt-driven compressor you were able to
> bolt on somewhere on your anemic 1.9 waterboxer. And for those of us
> who just have the plain-vanilla Vanagons, surely something
> steampunkish would come of a visit!
>
> Then I got to thinking about the poor old maligned plains states in
> general, and how true it is that most folks find crossing them rather
> boring. And I'd have to say that if you're in a hurry and are forced
> to take the Interstate, it's pretty hard to pick out any interesting
> features, no matter where you are.
>
> So, IF you have the time, here's a short list of stuff to see in (some
> of) the plains states:
>
> Nebraska:
> Lincoln has Burden's Surplus, 1015 W. O Street (see above)
> Minden has Pioneer Village, which is home to a steam-powered
> merry-go-round, complete with an asthmatic calliope. Also exciting to
> gearheads is a huge collection of early engines, including outboard
> motors.
> Sydney has Cabela's flagship store, containing their bargain basement!
>
> Kansas:
> Just west of Emporia is the Flint Hills, which is one of the last
> remnants of the great plains that was spared the plow.
> Mushroom Rock State Park may not be on a par with Arches National
> Monument, but still, rocks in Kansas...woo-hoo!
> Speaking of Kansas rocks, check out the mile upon mile of hand-hewn
> limestone fenceposts, a testament to the pioneer's versatility.
>
> The Dakotas:
> Somewhere I read, years ago, that either North or South Dakota had the
> world's tallest radio tower. Worth seeing? Your decision!
>
> So obviously this is not an exhaustive list. I just like to point out
> from time to time that to really enjoy the sights, you've gotta get
> off the Interstates! And the coffee? Pretty bad, all right, but who
> cares? We can take our own fixins' with us!
>
> Gary
>
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