We started our day by poking around Scottsbluff, Nebraska. What a bustling, seemingly thriving community! There's a huge sugar beet processing plant here which is surely the largest employer. And farmers come into town for supplies and equipment from a hundred miles around. A local mentioned there was low unemployment and a housing shortage.
A prominent feature of the area is Scotts Bluff National Monument (named after Mr. Scott who mysteriously died here). Spectacular! Geologically interesting as well as a favorite pass west on the Oregon Trail and Pony Express. A road goes to the top for great views of Scottsbluff and surrounds. (Once again we are reminded of the legacy of the Great Depression and the New Deal and the CCC).
We then headed south and west on secondary roads across the grasslands into Colorado. Cattle grazing, an occasional oil well, lots of wind turbines, cute tiny outposts and even a sheep feedlot (AWFUL stench! Way worse than a dairy feedlot).
We came into Fort Collins, a northern suburb of Denver and found the usual - traffic, overwhelming retail and Colorado State University. About 20 miles west and up through Big Thompson Canyon we arrived in Estes Park and found the Grags Lodge, one of the old timers in this mountain resort town. Quiet dinner at the hotel, smores by the fireplace in the lounge, pleasant conversation with some folks from Wisconsin.....life is good. Tomorrow we'll explore Rocky Mountain National Park, then we're back to this hotel.
 |
| Near Stoneham, CO |
 |
| Typical Oil Well |
 |
| Sheep Feedlot - YUCK |
 |
| More interesting clouds |
 |
| John and his Indian Buddies |
 |
| Big Horn Sheep in Big Thompson Canyon |
 |
| View from our hotel room in Estes Park |
 |
| Scottbluff Suger Beet Plant |
 |
| Scotts Bluff |
 |
| Beet Pile |
 |
| National Monument |
 |
| Visitor Center |
 |
| View East from the top |
Great pics! Did your new Indian friends dye your hair pink?
ReplyDelete