Calling my Bluff

Alliance to Scottsbluff, Nebraska Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Another fairly featureless day, but at least this one had an intriguing destination. Scotts Bluff, a butte which rises dramatically 800 feet above the prairie, was a landmark for earlier travelers on the Oregon Trail. It also rises above the eponymous town, which pushes the two words together. Both were named for Hiram Scott, a 23-year-old fur trader who was found dead at its base in 1828.

You could see it from far out, although today the wildfire smoke kept it hidden until I was fairly close. I was only able to get one shot, in shadow as it rose above the North Platte River. It’s a national monument, and there is both a hiking trail and road to the top, but it was almost 100° today, and I held off.

I imagine many of you, when flying across the country, have noticed those intriguing green circles made by irrigation booms with a center pivot. I was able to see one of those up close, although it was so huge it took a while to grasp that I was looking at the edge of a giant curved field.

Today was also remarkable for long talks with Anne, Howard, Ellen, and my therapist, and of a random act of kindness. Looking for a place with some shade, I found a desolate general store with a sign saying “opening soon”. Linda, an older woman with a paintbrush, said I could go inside to talk, and there I found a fully functioning soda fountain machine, complete with ice and root beer. What heaven, this was the only establishment I passed the entire day. Linda and her husband Kevin were hoping to open it within a couple of weeks. She wouldn’t let me pay for the huge quantities of root beer I consumed. They told me of a balloon festival in Scottsbluff, and where to find groceries and food, and a good bike shop. That little shop was surprisingly well stocked, I got new cycling gloves and some elbow pads for my aero bars, that I have been looking for for months. Bike shops in the big cities didn’t have them. More Easter eggs amongst the desolation.

Distance 61 miles, 5,117 total. Time 7 hours with stops. Elevation gain 953 feet

©️ 2021 Scott Luria