Our route north to Montana took us through Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming. We passed through Tuscaloosa, AL and Joplin, MO where tornados ravaged the cities in spring of 2011. Sadly, there is still wide spread destruction. In keeping with our tradition of visiting all the college football stadiums in the southeast, we stopped in Starkville, Mississippi, to visit Mississippi State University.
We purposely went through Kansas and Nebraska since we had never been there before. Northern Kansas was full of sunflower fields, and Nebraska, corn fields. We made a quick stop in Gothenburg, NE to see one of the original Pony Express Delivery Stations. It actually is not in its original location, but was moved to the park where it now resides in 1931. This was especially interesting to us as we both worked for Pony Express before they went bankrupt in 2000.
Our campground on Lake McConaughy in Nebraska (outside North Platte) was very remote. We had to drive on dirt roads through cow fields to get there, a VERY rough ride. Continuing on to Wyoming we passed Chimney Rock, outside of Scottsbluff. An interesting rock formation to say the least.
Our last stop before Montana was Guernsey State Park in Wyoming. This has to be one of the most beautiful state parks we have stayed at. We were very isolated, the only campers in the campground. It kind of spooked us out at night. Of course, Dick pleaded his case for wanting a hand gun…. We grilled out for dinner and breakfast the next morning.
One of the most beautiful scenic drives we encountered was up in Northern Wyoming. The yellow, orange, and red colored leaves interspersed in the Black Hills National Forest looked just amazing. Our ride took us through the town of Aladdin, with a population of 15 people. Just about the only building in town was 110 years old and housed the local post office. Very cool! We passed by Devils Tower after leaving the forest.
As we crossed over into Montana we did a HIGH FIVE….we were finally here!! One of our MOST favorite places in the country!
