Ever since I started writing trip reports, it’s affected the way I travel. I never used to take photos of meals before. It’s still not a huge priority to me, but it’s something I wouldn’t even have thought of until I started writing these things.
But every once in a while, I encounter that rare situation where the heavens align. The muse is fully present, and inspiration strikes like a bolt of lightning. The situation is so right that I only need to be present to observe it. If I listen closely, I can hear the trip report chapter practically writing itself.
The creation of that system allowed for such freedom and opportunity that any ordinary citizen, released from the shackles of government oppression, could pursue his or her dreams with a zeal heretofore unmatched in any society in the world. Americans heeded the call of opportunity, and excelled.
Rumor has it we even created disco music on a dare.
Those same visionaries who created a towering work of art in the Nebraska prairie saw to it that any pilgrims making the journey would not lack for the comforts of home along the way.
And there it was, simply laid out in front of us, basking in its own majesty. It needed no introduction. No fancy visitor center. This hallowed ground simply needed to be experienced.
This place is a museum of modern art.
Indeed, if you asked Julie, she’d probably have said it felt like time itself was standing still. Later, we took advantage of the convenient restrooms in the gift shop. (Of course they have a gift shop.)
“I’m glad they had a bathroom,” said Scott.
At this point, we could see lightning strikes in that direction, but we tried and failed to capture any of them on camera.
Pickings were slim as far as restaurant choices in Scottsbluff, but we found a place across the street called the Whiskey Creek Wood Fire Grill.
ulie got a s’mores kit that included her own little grill to roast the marshmallows.
I got a giant bowl of peach cobbler. I do not regret this decision.
You kinda walked into that one.
I wonder if they'll ever finish it. I have my doubts.
Control of the remote is my very last stronghold in the house.
Well, stop pulling my finger!
Sounds like the voice of experience.
And what, may I ask, was Mrs. Knowitall's impression?Put your back into it! Lifting with the knees is for sissys!
It took me a moment to clear my throat, and find my voice, before I could ask the kids what they thought of this place.
“It really was something,” said Sarah.
“I’m glad they had a bathroom,” said Scott.
Dave ignored us and played a game on his iPod.
Drew asked for a cookie.
OMG it is worth all that for the s'mores kit...I want that!
I know what you mean there, however, I was taking pictures of food long before I ever started writing trip reports. I find that now I take more "documenting" photos like entrance signs and stuff like that.
Yes I know what you mean. Sometimes we luck out that way. Most of the the time I belabor over the words to try and piece together something mildly amusing.
In theory.
I would cop to creating jazz before disco.
Well lookit there a loo with WiFi!
As a classic car collector I was thinking. All those could be parted out for $$$$.
Well you can not argue with that.
Of course they do!
I think I would agree with Scott.
Great picture! Everyone is looking at the camera!
I think it looks like you did OK. Both yours and Julie's meals are filled with pork products!
That looks awesome!
Not too shabby on that one either!
I suspect.... not in my lifetime.
It's so cute that you think she lets you have control of the remote.
Stop pointing at me!!!
Naw. But I did return a van one time....
"Okay sir. Here's your van. Brand new! Only 35KM (22Miles) on it!"
10 days later....
"Here's your van back."
"Any problems?"
"Nope."
"Did you notice how many kilometers are on it?"
"Yep. About 7,000 (4,350Miles)"
Loved the look on her face. (Why yes. I get unlimited miles.)
I'll get to the update later. Busy, busy, busy.
Put your back into it! Lifting with the knees is for sissys!
And what, may I ask, was Mrs. Knowitall's impression?
Well it was several chapters but all caught up.
Very cool stuff. I saw a tour of one of those missile silos on "60 Minutes" (I think) a while ago. Looks like a great tour.
A Mighty Wind = A Mighty Wind
So cool that you got to visit Hilton Head! I apologize if you already talked about it in the banter (which I had to skip over in the sheer interest of trying to get current), but how did you like it? Was the water warm enough to go into the ocean.
I kind of fell far behind... Sorry for that! But at least I am still in time to wish you and your family a Happy New Year!!
Having been at the real Stonehenge (twice actually), I must say stones lend themselves more to being impressive than cars. However, the stone version is now so restricted in access that you had definitely far more fun at the cars version. At Stonehenge you are kept outside of the stones and can only look at them from quite a distance. Too much vandalism. I wonder how they deal with that at Carhenge... Looks like it would be at least equally popular as the stone version...
Whelp, holidays are over now, and I think that I actually may have a little bit of time back to myself again to behold he wonders of TRs like yours again. Well, actually, there's only one whose proudly displays national treasures like Carhenge. Not sure I could have gone on living without vicariously experiencing such a proud and unique piece of Americana.
You truly do the DISBoards proud.
I'm sorry, but you got one piece of the TR wrong though. You cannot, under any circumstances, put "good" (as opposed to great) in the same paragraph as describing a pulled pork sammie. It is simply not done. Especially when displayed proudly next to a small bowl of mac and cheese. Please refrain from this error in the future.
Ok, so the bluffs are actually pretty cool. Not Zion or Bryce cool, but picturesque nonetheless.
All caught up! Fun to see my old stomping grounds in the Black Hills. Custer State Park is some fun driving for sure!
Ha, I know how boring the drive across Nebraska is, but no idea there was an outstanding diversion there, in the form of Carhenge.
Hope you had a good time at Hilton Head. I skipped reading comments, so not sure if you said - are you writing about that trip?
Hey! Carhenge looks great to me! I would have totally stopped (and bought a postcard!!!).
Nebraska was a "border crossing" state where we did not spend the night or do anything of great interest. It was more of an unplanned, "We are this close to Nebraska, we should go to Nebraska ..." kind of thing. We ate at McDonald's and then tried to hunt down something to photograph to prove we were actually in Nebraska. We wound up with a picture of the kids in front of the city hall in downtown Blair, Nebraska. It's become something of a joke in our family, "Remember that trip to Blair, Nebraska?". I almost feel like we should head to Omaha and go to the zoo and eat a steak to "legitimize" our checking off of Nebraska on our states visited map, but then I think ... nope.
Ever since I started writing trip reports, it’s affected the way I travel. I never used to take photos of meals before. It’s still not a huge priority to me, but it’s something I wouldn’t even have thought of until I started writing these things. There are many times when we’re visiting a certain place that I’ll notice something quirky or funny and think, “Oh, this will get some laughs when I write about it,” or something along those lines. Conversely, sometimes I’ll encounter a situation where I’ll how wonder how I could ever make it interesting to another reader.
*--Apologies in advance to my Canadian and German readers.
Do you enjoy the convenience of microwaveable instant meals? Thank Mssrs. Stouffer and Swanson, Americans, probably.
invented basketball
Rumor has it we even created disco music on a dare.
They say never to fight a war on two fronts, but in World War II, we did just that, and won! (Fine, with the help of several other nations, if you want to be picky.)
The guy who invented the air-cannon that shoots hot dogs and t-shirts into the crowd at sports events.
The kids were overcome with joy, either at finally being able to see this place with their own eyes or at being able to get out of the van for a few minutes.
This place is a museum of modern art. Walking paths lead you around the various pieces by heretofore-undiscovered artistic geniuses.
Later, we took advantage of the convenient restrooms in the gift shop. (Of course they have a gift shop.)
“It really was something,” said Sarah.
“I’m glad they had a bathroom,” said Scott.
Dave ignored us and played a game on his iPod.
Drew asked for a cookie.
And that, my friends, is why we travel.
Scotts Bluff was a major landmark on the Oregon Trail. After traveling hundreds of seemingly endless miles across the flat Great Plains, travelers would be relieved to see the bluff standing high, signifying that they were finally just about done with Nebraska.
I was in the mood for barbecue, so I got a pulled pork sammich.
Julie wasn’t overly hungry so she opted for a tiny little soup-and-salad combo.
Dessert was better. Julie got a s’mores kit that included her own little grill to roast the marshmallows.
I got a giant bowl of peach cobbler. I do not regret this decision.
I think I can speak for all of us when I say we’ll never see anything quite like Carhenge again. Hey, why is everybody cheering?
Side note: my brother and his wife gave my daughter a Harry Potter wand that can act as a TV remote for Christmas. We haven't tried it out yet. But it's like they're trying to start a war.
I have had the exact same experience after a few of these road trips! We've been on the receiving end of a few comments from the rental agent checking us back in, like, "Wow, you guys really piled up the mileage." Makes us laugh every time.
Oh, is that where the good life is? Silly me, looking in the wrong places all this time….Our journey took us south, into the state of Nebraska.
My bet’s on this one. It does make for cool Hulk out pictures.Or maybe it was the chance to let off some steam by pretending to Hulk out.
If you look closely, you can see that thing was made in Canada. I have two thoughts. One, that someone actually spent money to ship it down. And two, I just imagine the puzzled faces of the cars around the truck driving it down, trying to figure out what the heck it is.Such as this thing:
Perhaps not overly exciting, but it is nice. Reminds me of Cars.Scotts Bluff was a major landmark on the Oregon Trail. After traveling hundreds of seemingly endless miles across the flat Great Plains, travelers would be relieved to see the bluff standing high, signifying that they were finally just about done with Nebraska.
My girls would go nuts for this. I can envision more than one flaming marshmallow coming out of that if they ever got their hands on it.Dessert was better. Julie got a s’mores kit that included her own little grill to roast the marshmallows.
I definitely would've stopped at Carhenge if I had been nearby! I'm fairly certain it didn't exist when I was there, however - roughly 35 years ago. That definitely ranks up there in the pantheon of cheesy roadside attractions, imho.
Oh, man. I can so relate to this.
Wait until you start doing things you'd never dream of doing... just for your TR.
I heard some idiot stood in line for two and a half hours just for a photo with some characters because he thought his readers would get a kick out of it.
Do not be that guy.
No worries. I'm at work so can't see the video anyway.
God love 'em!
You're welcome. Aren't you happy a Canadian invented that for you?
Good! Now I know who to blame!!
You're welcome.
Now that man is what greatness is all about.
Brings a tear to my eye.
Simply stunning. I hear Druids from Detroit may be responsible.
I'm positive it was joy at seeing that glorious sight.
Positive.
Whoa! Do not tick her off!
Oh, come on man. It's obvious you're not doing your fair share of the lifting.
That one's the best of the bunch.
Huh. I'd heard of Carhenge... but didn't know there was more.
I'll be darned. I looked at it and was like
But when I read the title.... I totally saw it!
Huh.
What did they have for sale in the gift shop?
Man! Talk about inspiring!!!
Oh, man. You got me with that one.
I was reading along.. "uh huh. okay. yup. interesting.... wha????"
What are you doing taking pictures? RUN!!
Looks good. Too bad it only got an okay.
That looks like a lot of food for not hungry.
That's cool! Not a huge s'mores fan, but.... cool!
Now this. This I want!
We're all applauding your wonderful chapter!
Wow. Are you ever going to have fun with that!
"He's at the 40! The 30! The 20! He's going to go all... <click> "Today on The View...."
There's a certain sense of... larceny when you do that though, no?
Oh, is that where the good life is? Silly me, looking in the wrong places all this time….
My bet’s on this one. It does make for cool Hulk out pictures.
If you look closely, you can see that thing was made in Canada. I have two thoughts. One, that someone actually spent money to ship it down. And two, I just imagine the puzzled faces of the cars around the truck driving it down, trying to figure out what the heck it is.
Perhaps not overly exciting, but it is nice. Reminds me of Cars.
My girls would go nuts for this. I can envision more than one flaming marshmallow coming out of that if they ever got their hands on it.
Oh man, that's crazy! You'd have to be a moron to do something like that.
It was the Battle Hymn of the Republic. I needed theme music as I went over the top in that chapter. All that was missing was General Patton in front of a giant flag.
You and your unwanted factual information!
Because you can't un-see that? I get it.
Ah, yes. The Detroit Druids. I think they're a Red Wings farm team.
That must be it. Sometimes you're just so overwhelmed that your words fail to catch up with the emotion you're feeling. I'm sure that's what my kids were experiencing.
That's been obvious for...oh, about 18 years.
There's another one coming up from Kansas City I think you'll like, then.
Carhenge! So much more than a crappy tourist trap!
I have to admit it. The Captain Oblivous Law of Art states: if I can re-produce it, it's not art. I could not reproduce these works.
A few t-shirts, hats, postcards, shot glasses, magnets. The usual trinkets. Not sure why Sarah didn't want a postcard for her wall in her bedroom.
It just makes you want to run out and book a trip to Nebraska, doesn't it?
Hello?
Hello?
Is this thing on?
Just trying to put myself in the shoes of the pioneers on the Oregon Trail. "Oh, thank God! Something besides flat land!"
Not quite as tender as pulled pork ought to be. But they can't all be home runs.
Yeah, she was kind of stunned. I think that was a half-salad!
Anything with fire is cool!
Oh, good! I was worried it might be slightly heavy-handed.
A fate worse than death.
Thankfully, Julie and Sarah like football. I do not deserve these women.
Yes! Like you're getting away with something. I keep waiting for the guy to come back and say, "Well, we've had to institute a fee if your mileage exceeds 3,000..."
You're welcome.
I've seen them play.
Uh, huh.... I'm betting..... longer.
Oh, man. I hate typos. Anyway, you accidentally spelled "less" wrong.
On a serious note, I had a conversation with a cousin of mine who was researching Inuit art. I made a comment that I didn't like a lot of it and her response was that "I didn't understand it"
Uh.... no. I either like what I see or don't. I don't care what someone else says about it.
No postcard?!?!?
Sorry, what? I was picking at my fingernails.
Actually... wouldn't it be the opposite?
"Martha? This going west is a breeze! Nothing but flat, easy land..... oh, crap..."
"David! Don't cuss so in front of the children!"
Half!?!?! What's a whole salad? "Here ya go, this should keep you happy until.... 2018."
Man cook with fire. <grunt>
I wouldn't know. I just skipped that part.